After years of making memories in your home, you’re ready to sell it and want to do it right. Here are a few things to do when you are getting ready to sell your home so that you can optimize value, save time and money, and attract the right buyers for your beloved home. Declutter The first and more obvious benefit to decluttering is that it will make packing and moving much less of a hassle. The other benefit is that buyers love to see space and storage. The more space, the

The second half of the year is well underway and the housing market, so far, has shown a slight dip in mortgage rates and signs of falling home sales. To us, the future may be uncertain. To experts, the future of the housing market looks somewhat predictable. These experts foresee stabilized and perhaps slightly lower mortgage rates, relatively high home prices, and lingering supply issues despite an uptick in inventory. We’ve all heard that a possible recession is headed our

In our last post, we discussed home improvements to make your space feel more like your own. Another way to create flow in your home is to give it a deep clean. Inspire both productivity and relaxation with these spring cleaning ideas. Wash your couch Weeknight Netflix binges or Sunday Night Football on the couch means it can get dirty over time. Add pets and kids to the mix and that couch needs a good clean. First and foremost, use something like a lint roller to remove all

With a little grit and some creative inspiration, you can add market and personal value to your home without breaking the bank. Here are some tips and tricks on how to get started improving your home, followed by some suggestions for small yet budget friendly improvements. Tips and Tricks to Get Started Start by making a Pinterest account and create a board of homes and interior/exterior design styles you enjoy. This will act as inspiration and help you get a creative vision

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are crucial to the safety of your home. Statistically speaking, having a working smoke detector reduces the risk of death by fire nearly in half. It’s important to know where to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and which type to get. Where to Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors First, you’ll want to install them in your living areas, such as the living room, TV room, play room, etc. Place one in each hallway close to slee

With the hardships that 2020 brought on, many of us could use a financial tune-up in the new year, or, maybe you are looking to reach new heights in your financial goals for 2021. We want to share a few tips for getting your finances in check. 1. Write Down Your Motivation To start out your year of amazing finances, write out why making and managing your money is important to you. How will good financial habits improve your life? What are your goals for your financial situati

Aside from the main goal of helping someone or something in need, volunteering in your community can have a variety of benefits. People have different motives for volunteering, yet it proves to be a worthwhile and positive experience for many. Here are three benefits of volunteering and a reminder to do so. To find volunteer opportunities in your area visit www.volunteermatch.org 1. Meet New People and Build Community Being a part of a team with a common goal can help you for

It’s no surprise that many people enjoy working from home. It’s nice to avoid time spent in traffic and, of course, who doesn’t love wearing sweatpants at work. However, a study done on the work-from-home experience says that only around 20% of people in the United States want to say goodbye to the office forever, with most people preferring both work-from-home and office time if they had the choice. There are benefits and downsides to both situations, and with the current tr

10 Things to Do to Prepare Your Home for Fall. Fall is a wonderful time in Washington— if your home is ready for it. Yes, this is the time of year to fix small problems before they become big, and big ones before they become catastrophic. Here are 10 tips to help: 1. Look up. Examine your roof closely. Remove moss, clear debris from your gutters and downspouts, and repair any damage. 2. Look down. Check for signs of animals and insects around your home and garage, includi

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Staying active during retirement is essential to good health, and volunteering in your community is one of the best ways to engage. There's plenty of evidence that suggests volunteering can have incredible benefits to our health, longevity and well-being. A recent Georgia State University (GSU) study published in The Journals of Gerontology found that volunteering just a little more than eight hours a month can make you healthier and happier. Here's why: Volunteering provide

At Penny Lane we take a holistic approach to your finances, with your home often being the centerpiece of your investments. We are excited to announce that Terry Rutland has joined our team at Penny Lane Financial as our Senior Loan Officer. Terry has been in the mortgage business for over 17 years and is a Certified Mortgage Advisor®. He enjoys helping clients and their families find the right mortgage through education, guidance and customer care. His expertise lies in a

As we head into the holiday season, now is a good time to plan a special outing with family or friends. Here are some upcoming events in the South Sound area that are sure to make your season bright: Homemade for the Holidays November 3-4, 2017, Fri 4pm-8pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Thurston County Fairgrounds. The 26th annual “Homemade for the Holidays” fills four buildings with handcrafted items from 100 talented crafters. There’s a bake sale by Lacey Presbyterian Church, and