The critical information that a home inspection reveals regarding the condition of a home will make you aware of any costs of repairs needed, either right away or in the future.

A home inspection will also reveal any parts of the home that are not built to code. It presents an opportunity to withdraw from the deal if the property condition is not satisfactory and the seller is unwilling to negotiate correcting insufficiencies prior to closing or making any compensating adjustments to the selling price.

For a buyer who is planning to upgrade or remodel a home, a home inspection is a valuable tool in planning and budgeting for the desired work to be done.

The results of the inspection will help determine if the costs are reasonable and if the buyer wants to move forward with the purchase.

Buyers are encouraged to be present for inspections so they can see the inner workings of their prospective new home. Home inspections are also a great source of providing maintenance tips for the home.

An inspection is helpful in making sure that the right insurance coverage is obtained. If certain certifications are needed, the home inspector can help provide what insurance companies require.

I can help you better understand the inspection process. Please give me a call.

The answer is resilience. It’s the ability to bounce back and successfully recover from trauma or painful experiences, and it can do a lot to make life a little easier, especially if you make a concerted effort to build up your reserves. According to psychotherapist Joshua Miles, resilience is important for several reasons. Not only does it enable us to develop protection mechanisms, but it also helps us maintain balance by improving learning skills, increasing physical health, and boosting the immune system.

There are several ways you can work on developing your resilience. Start with making small lifestyle changes that feed positively into your mental well-being. This can take the form of meditation, walking, listening to music, developing your hobbies, and making time for family and friends. Practice being straightforward and assertive with others. If unreasonable demands are made of you, be prepared to say how you feel. It’s okay to say no.

Look after your physical health by developing regular sleeping patterns, exercising, and eating a healthy, balanced diet. Lastly, be less hard on yourself and celebrate your wins. If you don’t achieve what you aim for, forgive yourself. Remember that resilience is about dusting yourself off and trying again.

Yields 6

For each heart, first place a mini scoop of ice cream onto each round part of the heart and then one mini scoop on the bottom section of the heart. Squish ice cream down and together a bit to fill in heart completely.

Place another heart cookie on top. Make sure it is securely stuck down so it doesn’t slide around. Dip sandwich in sprinkles and gently roll around until ice cream is covered. Repeat until you have 6 ice cream sandwiches.

Place ice cream sandwiches in freezer-safe container lined with parchment paper, then allow to set in the freezer. If you need to layer them, parchment paper in between stops them from sticking together.

Keep it easy for guests and yourself. Provide a flexible time frame for guests to drop by and one for which neither you nor your guests need to commit to something big like a meal. Focus on easy snacks and beverages that people can pick and choose from at their own leisure.

Reflect the locale. If you’ve moved to a new location, add a local touch to your snacks and drinks. Not only is it a nod to the culinary culture of your new surroundings, but it’s also a fun way to explore the produce in your local grocery stores.

Pay attention to party flow. The way you set up the party space can inform how people mingle. Scatter snacks and drinks around the house to create an inviting space that encourages people to move around and enjoy each other’s company.

Send invitations in good time. For friends you’re already connected with, the usual channels like text invites work fine. For new neighbors, knock on doors a few days ahead or in enough time for them to organize their schedules and for you to prepare for numbers to ensure you have enough snacks for everyone.

Don’t worry about the decor. If unpacking is still in progress, focus on simpler touches that can be put up easily, like candles, flowers, and party pieces. These details add charm without requiring extensive preparation.

Enjoy yourself. Embrace the nerves that come with meeting new people; your neighbors are attending because they’d like to get to know you! A housewarming party could be the start of beautiful new friendships and more.

If you’d like more ideas to feel more at home in your new home, call or email me. I’m always here for referrals and recommendations for suppliers and service providers for your new home needs.

The good news is that by both prioritizing and forming a strategy around downtime, we can flip the script on seasonal blues. Here are some tips to help you unlock the therapeutic powers of tailored relaxation.

Schedule “you” time. The best restorative results come from intentional relaxation. Get as specific as possible about what benefit you want to get out of your time. Schedule weekly relaxation appointments with yourself to stay ahead of the burnout curve.

You deserve it. You don’t have to “earn” rest. We live in a world that is focused on productivity, so we forget that we deserve rest and require it to stay at peak performance. Instead of feeling guilty or anxious about everything we’re not doing while relaxing, shifting this mindset allows us to truly unwind.

Set stimuli boundaries. Block out any stimuli that does not serve your relaxation intention. Oftentimes, scrolling through social media, watching the news, or checking email is extremely counterproductive to relaxation.

Create a ritual. For many, the commute between the office and home helps to cue the brain to go into relaxation mode. Working from home blurs those lines between when it’s time to work and relax. Try creating your own daily transitional rituals, such as taking a walk, going to the gym, or turning on some tunes. Experiment to find what works best for you.