Real Estate Information Archive

If your house feels like it’s in a perpetual state of clutter, it may not be your fault. Have you ever dated the wrong person? You know, “it’s not you, it’s me?” Well, it’s not you, it’s the tools you’re using. If you’re using the wrong tools for the job, organization just isn’t going to happen.

To have a home that’s not only clean, but also totally organized, buy these six organizing essentials. (You’ll thank yourself later.)

For Your Spice Collection

This spice organizer looks simple… almost too simple. But looks can be deceiving – the tiered organizer is life-changing when it comes to spice organization. It’s sized to fit inside any cabinet and doesn’t require nails or screws to install.

By stacking your spices, you can get a full view of your spice setup and, best of all, you’ll never have to dig through the onion powder and oregano to get to the paprika again.

For Pots, Pans, Cookie Sheets and Cutting Boards

The secret to an envy-worthy kitchen isn’t beautiful granite or a massive fridge. It’s these cabinet organizers.

Your pots, pans and cutting boards may be hidden behind cabinet doors, but it makes a world of difference for your nightly cooking endeavors when they’re neatly stacked and separated. Bonus: You can set these sturdy babies right inside your cabinets, no installation is required.

For Brooms, Mops and Swiffers       

We love this gadget because it’s super easy to install, doesn’t use a lot of space and keeps your mops and brooms off of the floor (where they’ll can collect dirt and dust.)

For Bathroom Supplies and Styling Tools

Got a tiny bathroom? To maximize on storage space in the loo, invest in this ingenious slim slide-out shelf that can fit between your vanity and your shower. Tip: This organizer also works great between the washer and dryer or the refrigerator and cabinets.

For Toys, Books and Games

These colorful storage bins are perfect for picking up clutter, fast. They can hold toys, books, games and just about anything else you want to toss in and tuck away. Plus, they’re machine washable – unlike other fabric bins that will lose their shape if machine washed.

For Laundry Supplies         

A few of these baskets might actually make laundry bearable (no promises, though). Use one for stain removers, fabric softeners and detergents, and use another for lost laundry items like solo socks, loose change and bobby pins. Look at you, being all organized.

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.

See if this Tupperware situation sounds familiar:  Lots of round lids. Too many square containers. No properly stored food. Total chaos.

Using Tupperware (and its other-brand brothers) is an easy way to keep leftovers organized, but only if key plastic pieces quit disappearing! Instead of blaming the kitchen elves, create a Tupperware organization system. That way, you’ll always have the right lid-container combination within arm’s reach.

Here are a few easy ways to control the mess:

1. Get Consistent

Nothing is worse than having ten circular lids when all you need is a square one! You may have to spend a little money up front to consolidate your Tupperware, but it’s easier to keep track of everything if they’re the same shape. Tip: While you’re at it, invest in Tupperware that’s mostly the same size. Mixing and matching will be way easier!

2. Nest and Contain

If you do decide to keep different sized containers around, nest the smaller ones inside the large ones! You’ll open up a ton of cabinet space and keep better track of your lids.

3. Collect Your Lids

If your lids keep disappearing, make a habit of putting them all in one large plastic bin or basket. Then stack your Tupperware bottoms next to the bin. Think of the bin as confined chaos. Next time you grab a Tupperware bottom, search through the bin for a lid that fits.

4. Be a Brand Snob 

We’re not suggesting that you only buy a certain brand – just keep them separate. By designating a different bin for each brand you own, it will be easier to find matches on the fly. So you’ll have a Gladware bin, a Tupperware bin, a Target-brand bin and so on.

5. Use a Big Pot

Do you have one oversized pot that gets used like once a year? Dust it off and use it to store your Tupperware! You’ll open up valuable cabinet space and keep all of your containers in one spot.

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.

Here are a few signs that a tough day has smacked you directly in the face:

1.) You sat down at your desk at 8:30 AM and did not move until 6:45 PM.

2.) You passed a puppy on the street and didn’t even stop because you were so busy.

3.) A trip to the office snack drawer was the best part of your day.

Sound familiar? Yeah…tough days are terrible. And the truth is you really can’t avoid having them every once in a while. But you can work to forget about them!

Here are seven simple things you can do at home to erase the mark of a tough day:

1. Keep Bath Salts Handy

You would be surprised how much stress and frustration can be fixed with a warm bath. Add some soothing salts to the mix, and you’re on your way to Chill-Out Town. If your current bath salt stockpile is low, ScoutMob is a great place to find different scents. Anything with sage or lavender is going to be especially good at taking the edge off.

Tip: Making your own personal bath bombs is pretty easy! Here’s our step-by-step guide.

2. Prepare a Room with No Screens, and Lots of Music

We’ve talked about how electronics and screens can disrupt your sleep, but they also prevent you from de-stressing. Your favorite music, on the other hand, will lower your blood pressure and decrease stress hormones. Sounds pretty great, right?

If you have a spare room, get some music up in that beast and keep the TV, laptop, iPad and phone far away. Come home, grab yourself an adult beverage, and listen to some music for an hour or so. May we recommend Taylor Swift’s jam Shake It Off?

3. Kiss Someone

According to a study conducted by Northwestern University, an emotionally charged, ten-second kiss will release a ton of endorphins and make you feel better almost immediately. So when the Day from Hell strikes, suck some face. It doesn’t even need to lead to sex – just enjoy the kiss!

4. Set Yourself Up for a Repetitive Action

Our bodies really dig repetition. It’s one of the reasons that people find things like knitting and praying with a rosary to be so relaxing. If those two activities aren’t really your thing, here are two more ideas:

1. Do a craft. This post has 10 DIY wine cork projects – number three and seven are repetition city.

2. Sweep or mop your floors (it helps to do the whole “wax on, wax off” thing from The Karate Kid).

You may feel silly at first, but give it a shot. We bet you’ll wind up feeling a lot more relaxed than if you’d just binge-watched a Netflix show or ate a pint of ice cream (or both).

5. Put Away Your Dishes

One nice thing about mornings: usually nothing terrible has happened to you yet. Take advantage of this boon! Make a habit of emptying your dishwasher (or clearing out the sink) prior to leaving the house. That way, if fate craps on you during the day, you can at least rustle up a clean plate, fork and cup for wine without much struggle.

6. Treat Yourself

At the end of a long day, treat yourself with a taste of something sweet. Eating something sweet actually pauses the production of the stress hormone glucocorticoid, so you feel better pretty much immediately. A little bit can go a long way! One small peppermint candy or piece of chocolate has the same effect as a large slice of cake. 

7. Walk Around the Block

After a rough day, it's temping to pour a tall glass of wine and veg out with your favorite Netflix show. Before you settle on the couch for the night, force yourself to take a ten minute jaunt around the neighborhood. Even a slow walk will boost endorphins, which will reduce stress hormones. Bonus points if you leave your phone at home! 

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?

Starbucks has started serving their Pumpkin Spice Latte, and that means one thing: fall! Take advantage of these final bouts of warm weather before they’re gone and prepare your house for the upcoming winter months by banging out the following tasks around the house.

1. Change your linens and move your mattress. Strip and vacuum your mattress and machine wash all of your bed linens, including your comforters, duvets, bed skirts and pillows. Then, turn your mattress front-to-back and end-to-end – flipping your mattress prolongs its life by evenly distributing the wear. For more tips, read:Maintain Your Mattress.
2. Inspect your windows. Start by cleaning your windowpanes, then your drapes or blinds, and finish with the window tracks (a vacuum with a hose attachment works best for this last job). If your windows are older, you likely have weather stripping to help seal your windows and keep cold drafts and moisture at bay. Inspect this weather stripping to see if it’s torn, damaged or needs to be replaced. Proper weather stripping can reduce your energy bills by as much as 30 percent! For a step-by-step guide to cleaning your windows, read: Inspect and Maintain Your Windows.
3. Inspect your exterior doors. For each exterior door, check the weather stripping that runs along the bottom and side of it for any cracks, leaks or wear. Close the door and place your hand along the bottom and sides of it. If you feel a draft coming through, you should replace your weather stripping. For extra insulation, purchase a few draft stoppers, which cost about $5 at your local hardware store.
4. Check your gutters. During the fall and winter, your gutters are filled with leaves, rainfall and snowmelt, so the clearer they are now, the better you’ll fare come winter. Break out a ladder (always practice proper ladder safety) and remove all dirt and debris from your gutters by hand. For a step-by-step guide, read: Gutter Cleaning.
5. Clean and store patio furniture. It’s always a good idea to clean your patio furniture before you store it inside for the winter. Different types of patio furniture require different cleaning techniques, so to learn how to properly clean your type of patio furniture, read: Clean Your Deck / Patio. Tip: Remove any stains from your furniture cushions before putting the chairs into storage, because if a stain sits on the fabric all winter, it’ll be more difficult to get out.
6. Clean light fixtures and dust ceiling fans. It doesn’t take long for dirt to create a film on your light fixtures and a layer of dust to form on the blades of your ceiling fan. To clean your glass light fixtures, denture tablets are actually one of the most effective products. To remove dust and dirt from your ceiling fans you simply need a ladder, canned air and all-purpose cleaner.

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.

Are you getting the most out of your smartphone’s camera?

If you mostly use it for selfies and cute photos of your cat, the answer is no.

With a few strategic snaps, your smartphone camera can save you time and money at home (in addition to sharing your amazing brunch with the world, of course).

Here are eight ways a snap of your phone camera can make life easier:

1. Audit Your Fridge

Before you head out to the grocery store, snap a picture of your open refrigerator. Make sure everything is in plain sight before you take the photo! The photo will help you remember what you have, so you’ll know exactly what you should buy and won’t be left wondering if you have any milk left while trolling aisle six.

Tip: Fridge too messy to photograph? Organize it today!

2. Keep Track of Disassembly Projects

If you need to fix something with a lot of different parts, take a quick photo of the assembled item before you take it apart. It’ll be way easier to put Humpty Dumpty back together again that way.

Tip: If the project is extra complex, we recommend shooting a couple of photos from different angles and at varying levels of detail.

3. Find a Qualified Pro to Help You Out

If your home improvement to-do list is growing, and you don’t have the time (or interest) in knocking things out yourself, get some help from the pros! Snapfix allows you to snap a photo of your project, and then sit back and let someone find you a pro. It’s that easy!

4. Pick the Right Paint Hue

Painting is one of the quickest ways to update the look of a room, but choosing a color isn’t easy. Before you head to the home improvement store, take a panorama of the room you want to paint. Then, take a few close-up snapshots of the fabric in the room. That way, you’ll be able to pull out distinct colors that may work for the wall. Using the panorama, choose a few different paint chip hues at the store.

Tip: Use the 60-30-10 rule. That means 60 percent of the room should be a dominant color, 30 percent of the room should be a secondary color and 10 percent should be the accent color.

5. Keep Track of Your Appliance’s Serial Numbers

An appliance serial number is something you probably never think about until there’s a problem. To make your life easier, take photos of your appliance serial numbers and store them in a folder on your computer. It’s a nice backup system!

6. Never Forget a Borrowed Item Again

Have you ever searched for a certain book, remember you lent it to someone but …. who? To get your belongings back, take a quick photo every time a friend borrows something from you. Tell your friends to smile, and snap a shot of their face with the borrowed thing. That way, you’ll always know where your stuff is and who to bug to get it back. You can also send them the photo as a not-so-subtle reminder to return the item!

7. Always Have Your Prescription Numbers Handy

There’s no need to hold onto empty pill bottles! Instead, take a photo of your prescription number as soon as the medicine comes in from the pharmacy. Next time you need a refill, you’ll be able to quickly pass along necessary information, even if you don’t have your medication with you.

Tip: Some pharmacies will even scan a picture of the barcode if you have a clear enough image.

8. Have Your WiFi Password Handy, Always

When guests visit, one of the first questions asked is typically “What’s your WiFi?” To avoid scrambling to remember or worse, moving your router to look at the back of it, take a photo of the long password. That way, all you need is your phone to get your friends online. 

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.

If Mr. Bean was going to hide a spare key to his house, here are two spots he’d probably choose: under the door mat, or inside the dead-giveaway plastic rock in the garden.

Don’t be like Mr. Bean. His house is really easy to rob! Instead, take a page out of James Bond’s book and try one these secret-agent worthy places to hide your key. You’ll save yourself from the hassle of getting locked out and the disaster of getting robbed in one fell swoop. 

1. Inside of a Tree

Is there a tree on your property? Then you’ve got a perfect key hiding place. Simply cut out a square chunk from the bark that’s large enough to cover your key. Then trim a bit off the back of the “chunk” so there’s enough space to leave your key in the hollow. Replace the bark chunk, and enjoy your perfectly camouflaged key. Tip: Consider marking the location of the hollow with something like an old nail so that it isn’t too camouflaged and is easy to find.

2. Wedged Between Two Bricks

We’re all for well-maintained brick, but one small chink in the mortar can be good news! Put the brick blemish to good use – if there’s enough space for a key, wedge it in there. Just make sure the key fits in a way so that it’s both inconspicuous and easy-to-remove. Spending an hour trying to dig a key out from between two bricks is almost as frustrating as paying a locksmith to let you back in.

3. Inside of a Wind Chime

Pop quiz: What do burglars hate? Noise! That means that if a potential robber is searching for a spare key, they’re probably not going to go digging inside your wind chimes. Tip: To make this method even more secure, replace the wind chimes’ “knocker” with an entire ring of keys (only one of which actually opens your door). Even if a burglar finds the keys, they’ll have to struggle with the ring of decoys.

4. On Your Car

There are a lot of magnetized lock boxes on the market meant to hide a spare key for your car, but we think these can be used for house keys, too. Think about it: When is a burglar most likely to try and break in? When you (and your car) aren’t at home. There are certainly some flaws to this method (no car, no keys), but it’s still worth considering.

5. With a Neighbor

Okay, this one may not be super-spy clever, but it’s worth mentioning because it is super effective. Leaving a spare key with a trustworthy friend or neighbor means that access to your home is just a knock (or phone call) away. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about a burglar finding it on your property. Again, there are problems – if your neighbor isn’t home, you can’t get inside – but if you have a close friend next door, give this method some consideration. 

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.

If you were handed keys to a motorcycle right now, would you assume you could drive it? For most of us, the answer is no – not without some guidance. Your home is no different!

If you’re the proud owner of a new home, avoid making these five costly assumptions:

1. Do-It-Yourself is Always the Way to Go

When it comes to decorating, doing it yourself is usually the most cost-effective option. Beyond that, it’s important to know your DIY limits. Unless you’re trained, don’t take on an electrical or plumbing project on your own!

Not only is it dangerous, it could wind up costing you more than you expected to purchase the necessary tools and materials or fix potential problems. It pays to hire a professional service provider for any job that requires plumbing or electrical work. 

2. Fire Isn’t a Real Threat

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 400,000 United States homes caught fire last year, resulting in more than $8.5 billion of damage. If you’re a new homeowner, make fire safety a priority.

Buy a fire extinguisher for every level of your home and one for your garage. Make sure you have working smoke alarms, and test them regularly to keep your family (and your property) safe.

3. Small Problems Can Be Ignored

If your toilet is running, it’s easy to ignore, especially when there are larger problems looming. But, ignoring the small issues can lead to expensive fixes down the road. For example, a constantly running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water a month, meaning you’re spending on average over $300 on wasted water. Save money by fixing small problems as soon you discover there’s an issue. 

4. Windows and Doors are Energy Efficient

When you’re moving into a new home, you should always do a summer energy audit, with special focus on your doors and windows. If you assume that the previous homeowner took the time to make sure air wasn’t leaking in or out, you could end up wasting as much as $600 a year! Do an energy audit as soon as you move in to make sure you aren’t wasting precious dollars.  

5. The More Expensive the Air Filter, the Better

Instead of going for the most expensive air filter, go for the right air filter for your furnace unit. Check your owner’s manual to make sure you have the right type. Then, unless your furnace specifically needs a fancy filter, choose a pleated filter. Typically, this $1 one-inch pleated filter will do the job and won’t cost nearly as much as the higher-maintenance fiberglass option.

Having “hard water” means that your water supply contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. While hard water is generally harmless to drink, it can damage your boiler and clog your pipes, which are expensive to repair or replace (a new boiler can cost as much as $10,000!). To prevent these problems, it’s important to identify and remove hard water by installing a water softener. Use these steps to test for hard water.

1. Fill your plastic bottle with about 10 ounces of water from your kitchen sink. Add about a teaspoon of liquid dish soap, close the plastic bottle and give it a good shake. If the soap foams up naturally, you probably don’t have hard water and can end your test at this point. If it doesn’t foam, but instead forms a milky film at the top of the bottle, hard water could be an issue and you need to continue the test.

2. If you have public water, contact your local water utility and ask them for a recent hard water reading. If you have a private well, you’ll need to test your water yourself. Contact your local department of health and ask them which labs in your area can test your water. You can usually send a sample of your water to them and have it tested for free. It’s generally best to avoid home tests, which can be inaccurate and unreliable.
    
3. Check your results. Hard water is generally measured in grains per gallon (GPG) of dissolved minerals. If your water has more than 4 GPG, your hard water levels are considered high.
    
4. If your GPG is 4 or higher, it’s a good idea to install a water softener to reduce your levels. A water softener can cost anywhere from $100-$3,000 depending on the model, method of softening and water volume requirements of your house. It’s also a good idea to have your water softener professionally installed, which can cost $100-$600.