Tuesday, July 31, 2018

This Historic Connecticut Home Once Hosted a Dancing George Washington

Built in 1680 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this center hall Colonial home on 1 Sill Lane, Old Lyme, CT, is not only a living testament to early American architecture - it's also got a storied past of its own.

The home once served as a storefront during the Revolutionary War and was largely used as the Peck Tavern throughout the second half of the 18th century and early part of the 19th century.

It's even rumored that George Washington stopped by to dance in the former ballroom, which is now used as the master bedroom.

The house was also once headquarters for the Old Lyme Guild, an organization started in the 1930s that exhibited and sold arts and crafts.

For a period of time, there were even shops for cabinetmakers, bookbinders, metal workers, potters and weavers out in the barn.

"Can you imagine the conversations that have happened in this house? That's something I like to think about," says the homeowner.

In addition to its spectacular history, the home is also architecturally significant. Hand-hewn beamed ceilings and corner posts, original wide board floors, and rare double-arched paneling that was specific to the Connecticut River Valley in the 18th century are just a few of the unique features in the home.

Updated for modern living (yet still keeping the historical integrity), the home now has geothermal heating and cooling, a modern kitchen and updated bathrooms, as well as plenty of space for entertaining.

"It's been a wonderful house to be able to share with friends and family," says the homeowner.

The home is listed for $1.195 million by William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty.

Photos courtesy of Peter Harron.

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Monday, July 30, 2018

5 Expenses Homeowners Pay That Renters Don't

Homeownership may be a goal for some, but it’s not the right fit for many.

Renters account for 37 percent of all households in America - or just over 43.7 million homes, up more than 6.9 million since 2005. Even still, more than half of millennial and Gen Z renters consider buying, with 18 percent seriously considering it.

Both lifestyles afford their fair share of pros and cons. So before you meet with a real estate agent, consider these five costs homeowners pay that renters don't - they could make you reconsider buying altogether.

1. Property taxes

As long as you own a home, you’ll pay property taxes. The typical U.S. homeowner pays $2,110 per year in property taxes, meaning they’re a significant - and ongoing - chunk of your budget.

Factor this expense into the equation from the get-go to avoid surprises down the road. The property tax rates vary among states, so try a mortgage calculator to estimate costs in your area.

2. Homeowners insurance

Homeowners insurance protects you against losses and damage to your home caused by perils such as fires, storms or burglary. It also covers legal costs if someone is injured in your home or on your property.

Homeowners insurance is almost always required in order to get a home loan. It costs an average of $35 per month for every $100,000 of your home's value.

If you intend to purchase a condo, you'll need a condo insurance policy - separate from traditional homeowner's insurance - which costs an average of $100 to $400 a year.

3. Maintenance and repairs

Don't forget about those small repairs that you won't be calling your landlord about anymore. Notice a tear in your window screen? Can't get your toilet to stop running? What about those burned out light bulbs in your hallway? You get the idea.

Maintenance costs can add an additional $3,021 to the typical U.S. homeowner's annual bill. Of course, this amount increases as your home ages.

And don’t forget about repairs. Conventional water heaters last about a decade, with a new one costing you between $500 to $1,500 on average. Air conditioning units don't typically last much longer than 15 years, and an asphalt shingle roof won't serve you too well after 20 years.

4. HOA fees

Sure, that monthly mortgage payment seems affordable, but don't forget to take homeowners association (HOA) fees into account.

On average, HOA fees cost anywhere from $200 to $400 per month. They usually fund perks like your fitness center, neighborhood landscaping, community pool and other common areas.

Such amenities are usually covered as a renter, but when you own your home, you're paying for these luxuries on top of your mortgage payment.

5. Utilities

When you're renting, it's common for your apartment or landlord to cover some costs. When you own your home, you're in charge of covering it all - water, electric, gas, internet and cable.

While many factors determine how much you'll pay for utilities - like the size of your home and the climate you live in - the typical U.S. homeowner pays $2,953 in utility costs every year.

Ultimately, renting might be more cost-effective in the end, depending on your lifestyle, location and financial situation. As long as you crunch the numbers and factor in these costs, you’ll make the right choice for your needs.

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Originally published August 18, 2015. Statistics updated August 2018.



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Monday, July 23, 2018

How to Build Your Own Vertical Garden With Shipping Pallets

Take your green thumb to new heights (and small spaces!) with a vertical garden.

This DIY is a great way to integrate a little greenery into any space, including an apartment or small porch.

Supplies:

  • Two pallets
  • Tarp
  • Hammer
  • Pry bar
  • Gloves
  • Safety goggles and ear protection
  • Sanding blocks or sandpaper
  • Paintbrush
  • Water-based stain
  • Water-based clear sealant
  • Two 3 1/2-inch utility hinges
  • Screws
  • Landscape fabric
  • Staple gun and staples
  • Screwdriver or screw gun
  • Scissors
  • Organic potting mix
  • Fertilizer
  • Plants

A note on plant choice: Before you go wild at the garden center, consider your vertical garden’s placement.

To grow most vegetables, herbs, succulents and annual flowers, you will need at least six hours of direct sunlight. A shady spot limits your choices, but you can still create a lush planting of shade-loving foliage plants, begonias and coral bells.

Many vegetables and annuals will only succeed in certain conditions, so read the tags to decide if they're right for this season. Finally, consider the potential size and habit of each plant before packing them into such a small space.

1. Source heat-treated pallets

Many pallets are treated with toxic chemicals, so look for the initials “HT” to select heat-treated pallets. The wood should also be hard, clean and relatively smooth.

2. Add space by removing boards

Wearing ear and eye protection (it’s a loud process!), remove every other board with a pry bar. This will give plants sunlight and room to grow.

3. Sand rough spots

Wearing gloves, remove any debris. Sand down the splinters and rough edges, hammering down or replacing any protruding nails.

4. Apply waterproof stain

For a decorative finish, apply a water-based wood stain. Using a paintbrush, paint along the grain of the wood, and wipe off any excess stain with a rag.

If you're growing vegetables or herbs, line the inside with plastic before planting. This will prevent chemicals from leaching into the potting mix.

Allow the stain to cure for at least 24 hours. Once dry, apply a layer of water-based clear sealant to protect the wood from the elements.

5. Connect pallets with hinges

Stack the two pallets together, ensuring that the bottom edges are level. Attach the hinges to the sides of the pallets with screws, placing them about one-third and two-thirds of the way down for stability.

You may also choose to drill pilot holes first to prevent splitting.

6. Cut landscape fabric

Since pallets come in all shapes and sizes, use the first sheet of landscape fabric to create a template. It should provide ample planting room, as well as about an inch of overlap for the stables.

Once you've tested the template, cut the remaining sheets to the same size.

7. Line pallets with fabric

Create a pocket by tucking the landscape fabric into the opening, and staple it in place along the outer edge. Repeat for the remaining pockets.

If extra moisture retention is needed, include an extra layer of fabric.

8. Add organic soil

Before adding potting mix, move the pallet garden to its final location, making sure that it will receive enough sunlight for the plants you've chosen.

Fill each pocket about three-fourths of the way full with moisture-retentive potting mix. Set aside some potting mix so that you can add a layer after planting.

9. Add fertilizer

If the potting mix doesn't already contain fertilizer, sprinkle fertilizer over the surface according to label instructions.

10. Add plants

Before planting, water each plant to keep their brittle roots from breaking. Then slip each plant's rootball out of the pot, soil and all. Gently tease apart the roots with your fingers, and nestle them into the potting mix, one by one.

Since excess water will drip down to the lowest pockets, fill the upper pockets with drought-tolerant plants such as succulents, sedums, rosemary and lavender. In the lower pockets, incorporate thirstier plants like ferns, basil and mint.

Once the plants have been arranged to your liking, cover with another layer of potting mix, and lightly sprinkle with water to help the mix settle around the roots.

Caring for your vertical garden

Water the uppermost pocket every morning, allowing enough water to reach the other plants. You may need to water two to three times for thirstier varieties of herbs and vegetables, particularly on hot days.

Feed plants once a week with a liquid fertilizer to replace any nutrients that leach out from the potting mix.

Now it's time to enjoy your vertical garden and its bounty.

As plants outgrow their space, transplant them to the garden or larger containers. You may also choose to start from scratch each season, planting a whole new garden from seeds or transplants.

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Thursday, July 19, 2018

When Selling a Home, the Neighbors Matter

Few sellers consider their neighbor's home when preparing to sell their own. Why would they? Their biggest concern is getting the soon-to-be-listed home painted, cleaned and landscaped for great curb appeal.

But all that effort could be for nothing, if just one of your neighbors doesn't care much for appearances.

If you find the neighbor's home unappealing, imagine your potential buyer's first impression. The fact is, your neighbor's unsightly property can diminish your own home's curb appeal, no matter how much you've done to improve it.

The good news is, you have options - you’ll just have to plan ahead a bit. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your neighbors don’t cost you money when you sell your home.

Build good relationships

Even if you don't have a plan to sell now, it's good practice to maintain a friendly relationship with the neighbors. You never know when you'll need them.

It's not uncommon for issues to come up during a sale. Problems regarding fence repair, retaining walls or easements can often bring a neighbor into your home sale process.

Having a good relationship with your neighbor from the beginning will help to ensure their cooperation when you need them at a critical time in the home sale.

Keep them in the loop

If you plan to sell your home in the near future, it's a good idea to give the neighbors a heads-up well in advance.

If you think you'll need assistance from a neighbor for whatever reason, it will be easier to approach them if you've given them notice. Knocking on their door to tell them you're selling and then requesting their cooperation right away won't help.

Offer to pay for improvements

It will be difficult to ask your neighbors to reseed their lawn, pull their weeds, change their fence or paint their door to help your sale. Ask them to pay for it, and you can expect resistance.

If you need your neighbor to do some curb appeal work to help your sale, the money should come out of your pocket.

On top of that, you can't force the neighbor to use your landscaper, painter or contractor, even if you're paying for it. It's their home, not yours, and you need to tread lightly.

Although many neighbors will appreciate the offer to spruce up their home on your dime, others may be hesitant. Bullying them to work on your timeframe or within your rules won't help, and it could backfire once your home lists publicly.

With luck, a home sale can proceed smoothly without the need to involve neighbors. But if you hope to sell in the future, understand that your neighbors' cooperation may be necessary.

If you plan in advance, open the doors of communication and offer to make things easy, you're more likely to get what you want.

Ready to put your home on the market? Check out our Home Sellers Guide for tips and resources.

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Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Originally published March 20, 2017.



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3 Things to Do When Your Neighbors List Their Home for Sale

Most people think their real estate concerns end once they've closed on and moved into their new homes. But when a neighbor's house goes on the market, there can be some important implications for you.

Here are some tips for staying real estate aware.

1. Document important disclosure items

For the most part, good fences make good neighbors. But sometimes the folks on the other side of the fence don't cooperate, and unresolved neighbor conflicts tend to arise when one of the homes goes on the market.

Have a property line dispute? Or an issue with a broken fence and you want the new buyer to know about it? While sellers in most states have a duty to disclose issues to potential buyers, not all areas require this.

Do your new neighbor-to-be a favor and alert the seller’s agent to anything the buyer needs to know about your neighbor’s property.

2. See things differently

Open houses allow buyers to spend some time exploring a home, but these events also present you with a chance to see your home from your neighbor's perspective.

Once at a busy open house in San Francisco's Noe Valley neighborhood, an open house visitor made a somewhat obvious beeline for the back of the house. He immediately got on the phone and started talking with someone about where he was standing, giving orders to move left and right.

It turned out this visitor lived in the home behind, and he was checking to see the neighbor's view into his home.

The open house is your chance to check your home's paint job from the neighbor’s yard or simply to see your home from a different perspective.

3. Know and learn the market in real time

Typical sellers claim and save their home online, but they also keep searches going after the fact. Why? To keep tabs on the market, see the comps and have a real-time sense of what's happening nearby.

Just like when you were a buyer, knowing about the area and types of homes in the market is a good move for any homeowner. Take a neighboring home for sale as an opportunity to see what the market bears. You can also learn about the latest trends in home design.

Speaking to a real estate agent can keep you informed of changes to property taxes or how assessments are changing in your town. A smart real estate agent, working their listing, will be an incredible resource to would-be clients down the road. Leverage their experience when your neighbor sells.

Take note when your neighbor goes to sell their home. It's not just a time to nose around, but to document, inspect or learn from the home sale. Some homes get listed once in a lifetime - take advantage of the opportunity.

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Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Originally published October 31, 2016.



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How to Choose the Right School: 6 Tips for Parents

If you're a parent, buying or renting a new home isn't just about where you'll tuck the kids into bed at night - it's also about where you'll send them off to school in the morning.

So, how can you be sure your dream house feeds into your child's dream school? You're going to have to do some homework.

1. Go beyond the numbers

Every state's education department publishes an online "report card" for each district and school. But just as you wouldn't buy a house based solely on square footage or listing photos, you shouldn't select a school just for its test scores and teacher-to-student ratios.

Dr. Steve McCammon, chief operating officer at Schlechty Center, a nonprofit that helps school districts improve student engagement and learning, cautions that most reported test scores are for English and math. They don't provide insight into arts or music programs or how well a school teaches critical thinking skills.

The right school isn't something you can determine based on any statistics, numbers or even reputation, says Andrew Rotherham, co-founder of Bellwether Education Partners and writer for the Eduwonk blog.

"Don't go where the highest test scores are or where everybody else says you should go," he says. "Different kids want different things. Go to the school that fits your kid."

Adds Rotherham: "The most important things are what does your kid need and what does the school do to meet those needs. Whether you're talking public, private or charter, you can find excellence and mediocrity in all of those sectors."

2. Take a school tour

Just as you'd look around potential homes before signing a contract, you'll want to do the same with potential schools. Call and arrange to tour the school and observe.

"Be suspicious of any school that isn't into letting you visit," says Rotherham. Some schools may say visitors are too disruptive, but he calls that a cop-out. "With some fairly basic norms, you can have parents and other visitors around without disrupting learning."

Sit in on a class or two and take notes. You want to see students who are genuinely engaged, not wasting time or bored. It's OK for a classroom to have lots of talk and movement if it's all directed toward a learning goal.

Schools should be relatively noisy places. McCammon says, "If you go into a middle school, and you hear no noises, I would be concerned that the principal is more interested in keeping order than in making sure kids are learning."

Observe how teachers and administrators interact with the students and vice versa. Do they display mutual respect? "You don't need to be an education expert," says Rotherham.

See if student work is on display. "A good school is a school where, regardless of grade level, student work is everywhere," McCammon says. "It means that place is about kids and their work."

Talk to kids, too - they're the subject matter experts on their school. And if you have friends with kids in schools you're considering, ask them what they like and don't like about their schools. Kids won't try to feed you a line. "They're pretty unfiltered," Rotherham says.

Check out the physical space, suggests National PTA President Jim Accomando. However, don't get caught up on the building's age and overlook the quality of the programs going on inside.

Look for signs that the school community takes pride in the facility. It might not be pristine, but trash on the floors or signs of rampant vandalism are red flags. If you see something that seems off or odd, ask if there's a plan to address it.

3. Check out the community

Go to a school board meeting for clues about the district. Are parents there because their children are being honored or their work is being showcased? Or are they there because of a problem? Likewise, attend a PTA or PTO meeting, and chat with the parents there. They are likely the most involved "outsiders" and can share school challenges and successes.

Another consideration: the makeup of the students. Chances are, if you opt for a neighborhood school, you'll find a certain similarity between your kids and their classmates, because there are probably a lot of similarities between you and your neighbors. But a school that has a diverse student body offers a big benefit.

"We live in a diverse society," Rotherham says. "If you want to prepare your kids for what their lives are going to be like in this country going forward, it's important for them to have experience with diverse groups."

Even if your child's school isn't particularly diverse, avenues like sports and music give them a chance to interact with students from different backgrounds.

4. Think long term

Today's first-grader will be heading to middle school before you know it. Unless you plan on moving relatively soon, be aware of the middle and high schools in your district.

"If you pick a house because you love the elementary school, you'd better be psyched by the middle school and high school," Rotherham says. "Or have some kind of a plan" for post-elementary years.

Of course, there is such a thing as planning too far ahead. The music prodigy wowing your friends at her third-grade recorder performance may decide she hates band and wants to focus on soccer by the time she hits middle school. Rest assured: If upper-level schools in your prospective district are about kids doing great work, they'll likely be a good fit.

5. Watch for boundary issues

Pay attention to the boundaries of prospective school districts. The houses across the cul-de-sac could be in a different school service area or even a different school district. And boundaries often change. To be sure, call the school district and give them the specific address you're interested in.

Don't assume you can fudge an address or get a waiver to enroll your children in a school or a district that doesn't match your address. Things that were allowed last year may not be this year. If an individual school or district is at capacity, they will get very picky about enrollment outside of the school assigned to your home, which can lead to heartbreak if you find yourself on the wrong side of that boundary line.

6. Look for a place where you feel welcome

Whatever involvement you put into your child's school will pay off, says Accomando. "If you can be engaged at school, you will understand the pulse of what's happening there."

He also says that doesn't mean getting sucked into a huge commitment. "You can read in your child's first-grade class. You can hand out water at a fun run or contribute something for a teacher appreciation party at the high school. And when you do, walk the halls and see what's happening."

McCammon says good schools should welcome parents as volunteers and visitors. "Look for evidence of parents feeling comfortable and engaging with the school," he says. The principal should be someone you feel comfortable talking with if there's a problem.

No matter how welcoming the school, it's natural to have some butterflies on the first day in a new school. Just as it takes time for a new house to feel like home, it takes time for kids to settle into a new school.

Once they've found their way to the restroom without asking directions, made some friends and gotten to know their teacher, they'll be comfortable with their new learning home. And your research will have been well worth the effort.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock.

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Originally published January 17, 2018.



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5 Ways to Get to Know Your Neighbors

Leaving friends and neighbors behind can be the toughest part of moving to a new home.

These five tips will help you make connections and settle into your new community in no time.

1. Knock, knock

For an extrovert, walking over to a neighbor's home to say hello may feel like a no-brainer. But for more reserved personalities, this tried-and-true method usually requires a bit of a warmup.

Start with a friendly wave as you drive by, then work your way up to a face-to-face introduction. Remember, timing is everything. You don't want to disturb your neighbors in the middle of dinner or while they're struggling to get a fussy toddler down for the night.

Try to catch them when they're already outside, or aim for a weekend afternoon when everyone is much more likely to be relaxed and open to a brief, friendly chat.

2. Snail mail

Can't work up the nerve to knock on doors? In this age of electronic communication, a nice handwritten note can be a welcome surprise.

Write a few lines for your closest neighbors, introducing yourself and inviting them over for a cup of coffee or cocktail at their convenience.

Be sure to personalize each note by including a small conversation starter (e.g., the roses in front of your home are absolutely stunning! We're poodle lovers too!), then drop your letters at your neighbors' front door or in their mailbox.

3. Magic school bus

If you've got school-age children, accompany them to the bus stop for the first few days of class.

You're likely to run into at least one other parent who can fill you in on both neighborhood and school happenings - and people love to talk about their kids, so you won't have to worry about awkward silences and finding common ground.

Exchange contact info and invite the family over for some weekend fun.

4. Man's best friend

Our pets often are the friendliest members of the family, so let your four-legged companion break the ice for you.

Dog parks are a natural spot for meeting new friends, both canine and human. You can also meet fellow pet lovers while walking your dog through your neighborhood - cleaning up any messes, of course.

You can get recommendations for trails, vets and parks, as well as ask about any pet-themed meetups in the area.

5. Turn the page

Don't let the name fool you: Book clubs are as much about socializing as they are about reading.

Check out your library or local bookstore for groups near you, or you can find one online. If possible, contact the host ahead of time to ask whether you should bring any refreshments (wine!), and come armed with a few key insights about the book and recommendations for the next session.

Who knows? You could pick the next talk of the town.

Bonus: life of the party

Once you've made a few connections, team up to host a neighborhood block party. Volunteer to handle snacks and other logistics, and ask your more established neighbors to spread the word.

Pick a seasonal theme - hot dogs and lemonade for summer, cookies and warm cider for fall - and spend an afternoon meeting new friends and getting the inside scoop on the best places to eat and play near your new home.

Before you call it a day, pass the torch to another neighbor and make the block party a new tradition.

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Originally published September 3, 2015.



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7 Qualities of a Good Neighbor

If you want good neighbors, you'll first have to become one yourself. Master these seven techniques, and even you (yes, you!) can win the approval of your entire neighborhood.

1. Good neighbors bring cookies

Whether you're new in town or haven't kept in touch, a delivery of freshly baked goods is a perfect way to break the ice and let neighbors know that you're thinking of them.

If cookies can keep Santa returning year after year with a bag full of loot, then surely they can train your neighbors to do your bidding. Consider the following scenario.

"Honey, somebody's robbing the neighbor's house again."
"Wait, Janet. The ones who brought cookies yesterday?"
"Exactly. This time I'll call the cops."

2. Good neighbors rarely gossip

If your neighbor seems to know the dirt on everyone within a two-block radius, you can count on them to keep tabs on your personal life as well.

The next time Nosy Nellie gleefully describes the contents of the Rickenbacker's trash again, move the conversation along by refocusing the conversation on her. "So, what are you growing in your garden this year?"

You aren't in high school anymore, so preserve relationships with your neighbors and avoid the gratuitous gab fests.

3. Good neighbors share phone numbers

For such a connected age, you should really question why you don't have your neighbors' phone numbers. After all, what if they receive your package by mistake? What if the house floods while you're on vacation? Worse yet, what if you need a babysitter?

If you feel uncomfortable bringing it up, ask during one of your cookie deliveries (you are following rule number one, right?) or right before a trip. Jot down your name, number and email address on a piece of paper and ask if your neighbor is comfortable sharing theirs.

4. Good neighbors help before they're asked

The neighbor who says, "Let me know if you need anything," probably isn't going to help whenever you actually need something. You, on the other hand, are a good neighbor and genuinely want to help out.

To get ahead of the meaningless small talk, anticipate their needs. If they have kids and you're comfortable babysitting, tell them up front. If they're clearly struggling to mow the lawn during a heat wave, ask for the best time to stop by with your lawnmower.

5. Good neighbors are tidy

Even if you lack self-respect, respect the sensitive tastes of others and clean up your act.

Keep the ironic lawn ornaments to a minimum. Keep trash receptacles hidden in the side yard, or better yet, the garage.

Whenever you've finished gardening or landscaping for the day, put away your tools and bags of unused mulch. Rake the leaves and clean up grass clippings and all the other stuff your dad used to bug you about.

And if it's not too much trouble, pressure wash and paint your house periodically.

6. Good neighbors mow the lawn

An unkempt and weedy lawn is embarrassing for your neighbors, so it should be embarrassing for you as well. Keeping it mowed every week or two is a good start, but it will take more than that to win the approval of the locals.

Trim the edge of your lawn regularly, fertilize on schedule and keep weeds to a minimum. Keep your foundation plantings simple, neatly trimmed and topped off with mulch.

If your neighborhood allows it, go the no-lawn method by planting swaths of low-maintenance, drought-tolerant ground covers. Crucially, don't overdo it on the sprinklers - especially when it's raining.

7. Good neighbors communicate

That old “good fences make good neighbors” quote had to come up at some point, right? A good neighbor must respect boundaries. That said, they should also be crossed when the fences themselves start losing pickets and falling over in a storm.

Even if it's technically their fence, you might not be happy with the shoddy workmanship and resentment that you'll have to live with when they get around to fixing it themselves.

Address shared interests like fences, drainage ditches and troublesome trees ahead of time so that you can work out a plan that both parties can agree to.

Oh, and don't forget to bring cookies.

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Tuesday, July 17, 2018

This Rockin' Tiny Home Actually Doubles as an Amp – House of the Week

The road home was a long one for Asha Mevlana, lead violinist for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s West Coast tour.

After a breast cancer diagnosis 18 years ago, Mevlana quit her job in public relations and moved to Los Angeles to become a professional violinist.

Mevlana not only successfully went into remission but also prospered in her music career, touring with acts like Dee Snider and Gnarls Barkley.

After years on the road and storage units on each coast, Mevlana decided she was ready to downsize and plant roots somewhere unexpected: Fayetteville, AR.

She made plans to build a tiny house in Arkansas on her brother's land. The build took only six weeks but produced spectacular results.

Mevlana's tiny home is separated into two pieces: a 400-square-foot main house and a 160-square-foot amplified trailer/studio/guesthouse on wheels that she can take on the road.

A large deck, which often serves as a stage, joins the two structures, and the amplified trailer is fully operable, ready for use with any electric instrument.

Other unique features of this musician's haven are a cranking bike wheel that raises and lowers a pot rack, recycled denim soundproofing in the music trailer, and a garage door that serves as a window feature in the main house.

Mevlana said it's easy to embrace her minimalist lifestyle after all that she's been through over the years.

"The experience with breast cancer really changed my life in so many ways, and one of those was life is not just about money and having things and collecting things," Mevlana said.

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