Sometimes, uninvited guests show up in your garden, leaving your plants fighting to survive. For some chemical-free ways of fighting off these pests, let’s dig in.

Healthy soil precedes healthy plants, so mix in organic compost to fertilize your plants so they can better withstand pests. 

Choose plants based on the amount of sunlight exposure to your garden, so they don’t weaken and become more vulnerable to pests. Plant strong-scented plants that repel pests such as marigolds, chives, thyme, mint, and lavender. These plants also attract pollinators which help to fertilize your garden. Plant a variety of plants so pests don’t concentrate in one area (e.g., alternate vegetable rows with pest-repelling plants). Another tip is to rotate your vegetable crops annually to confuse pests and keep the soil healthy. 

If you detect pests early enough, remove the leaves of the infected plants. If the whole plant is infested, remove it from the garden to prevent the infestation from spreading. You can also include plants that attract the predators of the pests attacking your garden. 

Another defence against pests is row covers, which let water and sunlight in, but keep pests out. Just be sure to lift them off for a few hours every morning to allow pollinators in.

Good luck, and may the pests avoid your garden!

If you are looking at your walls and are thinking that they need a fresh coat of paint or just want to switch things up with a new color, read on for some tips to make your paint job a smooth one.

• Paint samples onto paper and hang them on the wall. Look at the colors in different lighting to see if it’s really the color you desire.
• Determine which kind of primer you need, if any (e.g., wood, drywall, masonry, or a paint and primer in one). If the walls are in good condition or the colours are not a drastic change, you may not need a primer.
• Choose a sheen suitable for its use (e.g., satin enamel works well for rooms with moisture, like kitchens and bathrooms).
• Cover furniture and flooring with plastic sheeting.
• Fill small holes or cracks with filler or spackle, let it dry, and then sand it. Then wipe down the area you will be painting with a mild soap solution to remove any dust, which would affect the paint’s adherence. 
• Next, tape off the room by applying paint tape to the boundaries you are painting around.
• Paint the ceiling first, then the walls, and end with the trim.
• Let the first coat fully dry to prevent cracks and peeling. After the second coat, decide if you want a third coat.

Happy painting!

Are you looking to pack some “pollinator power” into your garden? If you don’t already have them, try adding plants that attract pollinators, like bees and butterflies. When pollinators feed on the pollen and nectar of the plants they are attracted to, some of that pollen and nectar clings to them, and as they forage around your garden it spreads itself onto other seeds and plants to help them germinate, fertilize, and thrive. So, what are some tips for getting started with a pollinator garden?

• Plant native plants, which produce flowers that are rich in nectar and pollen, such as coneflowers, aster, lavender, salvia, sunflowers, zinnias, and herbs such as oregano and basil. 
• Include plants with different bloom times, so you have beautiful colour and pollinators in your garden throughout the growing season.
• Group the same plants together to make it easier for pollinators to collect and spread pollen and nectar. Not all pollinators will be attracted to the same plants.
• Avoid pesticides, which harm pollinators.
• If you have a container garden on a windy balcony, install a windbreak such as a trellis or a screen. If your balcony is mostly shaded, include pollinator plants that thrive with less sun, such as columbine or honeysuckle.

It's estimated that one out of every three bites of food we eat exists because of pollinators. So, pollinator gardens are a win-win. Food for pollinators means food for us too.

Decorating a blank wall can be a challenge. If you are looking for ideas, a timeless and interesting option to consider is a gallery wall. While there are no hard and fast rules, here are some tips on how to create a gallery wall you will love:

• If you like clean lines, make a grid pattern of the same size and style pictures, or if you desire an eclectic look, use a mix of photos and art of different sizes and styles. 
• For a pleasing aesthetic flair, use a cohesive colour scheme or repeat two to three colours and styles. 
• Float mount your art to elevate its impact.
• Before hanging, create the layout of your gallery wall on the floor, and space each piece about 3 inches apart.

For eclectic-looking gallery walls: 

• Place one large piece of art off-centre so it’s not the entire focal point and place the second largest piece separate from it on a diagonal for balance.
• Include a mini grid with up to four pictures of the same size, style, and frame aligned with each other. 
• Mix horizontal and vertical pieces for visual interest.
• Include dimensional pieces such as mirrors, textiles, kid art, and sconces to give the eye a break from the grid-like pattern.

Think of a big, empty wall as a blank canvas on which you can create a personal masterpiece of what’s meaningful and impactful to you.

Do you want to make your home smell beautiful while creating a nice accent piece to add to your home? How about making a reed diffuser? It’s surprisingly simple and also makes a great gift idea for any occasion.

Materials:

• A glass or ceramic vase-like container, glazed inside to prevent leaking, with a narrow opening at the top so the liquid will evaporate slower
• ½ cup of sweet almond oil or safflower oil 
• 25 to 30 drops of essential oils of your choosing (note that citrus oils evaporate quicker than other oils, but pairing these with another oil will help it last longer)
• 4 to 5 bamboo skewer sticks (trim the pointy ends) or reed diffuser sticks

Mix the oils, add the sticks, and rotate them after several hours. Continue to rotate the sticks about once a week until they are saturated and then replace them and the oils as necessary. 

If you want the scent to travel up the sticks faster, add 1 tablespoon of vodka or rubbing alcohol. 

Note: If you have a cat or dog, some essential oils are toxic to them, so check which essential oils are safe.

Congratulations to my newest VIPs’ Alana & Chandler on your SRS® SOLD!!!

You were looking for a specific type a realtor; One who could provide a more personalized service, with experience, proven results and quality representation. You needed a guide you could trust to get you through the stressful & difficult process of selling your home, being you had no idea where to even start.  Our mutual friend, and fellow VIP Debbie, immediately referred my services as a perfect match.  

Upon first consultation, we bonded immediately.  I truly understood what you personally needed; while providing the best professional advice, hands on help, strategy and preferred timing that would achieve the highest price and quickest sale of your home, thus satisfying your desired requirements. After months of working purposefully & diligently towards the marketing plan, it was FINALLY time to list your property.  Despite the weight of the unknown, I delivered, as promised, your SRS SOLD with expert precision along with an exceptional over asking market price within your preferred schedule.  VICTORY!!!! ✊ #SRS® #RENE

Much appreciation & thanks for your months of on-going strength, hard work, co-operation, determination and commitment to ensure the execution of my selling plan demands. The amazing results of your sale could not have been achieved without your help.  I am truly honored to be your personal Realtor and new friend. I am so happy you are now free to move forward in your next chapter in life. Thank you so very much for the amount of trust you placed in me throughout this process, both professional and personal.  I am beyond happy to be the one to make this #SRSSOLD happen for you.  As your personal Seller Representative Specialist Realtor® for life, I will always be there to help should you or anyone you know need any assistance in the future.  May life bless to you with an abundance of happiness. ❤️

Big Thanks to my loyal, long time VIP Debbie, for speaking so highly of me and your words of recommendation of my style of service. Always Grateful. Thanks for liking how I sell real estate.

Congratulations to my VIPs’ Susan & Murray on your SRS SOLD!!!

When going through the process of buying a new property before selling your current, it can be complicated, difficult, time consuming and bring on un-wanted stress.  So, it is my job, through consultations, to establish the risks, provide expert based calculated market estimated predictions and arm you with insight and the best way to accomplish the process to achieve the most successful outcome. Though we had to overcome a big unexpected bump in part 1, part 2 went absolutely perfectly!!!!  Not only achieving my estimated exceptional over asking predicted sale price, the process of the conditional stage to the SRS SOLD was problem free.  Everything needed to go perfectly and it did.  It was a complete success from start to finish, meeting all desired timelines and expectations. WOO-HOO!!! ✊ #RENE #SRSSOLD. 

Thank you so much for your trust, following my professional guidance & selling preparation instructions. Your hard work & efforts were crucial in achieving this successful sale and I couldn’t have done this without you.  I am so honored to be your personal Realtor® and be the one, after 45 years, to help you sell your cherished home; Now it’s time for a new family to enjoy this home as much as you.  I will always be here for you; your friends & family should ever you need me. Wishing you greatness in health, happiness and fortune as you move forward.   ❤️ 

Once again, Huge Thanks to Cara for your referring words of recommendation of my service. So appreciative. Thanks for liking how I sell real estate.

Imagine a stranger sold your home while you were away. What a nightmare that would be. Unfortunately, some people have experienced this nightmare. Title fraud happens when someone steals the homeowner’s identity using fake identification or forged documents to take away their “title” to the property to do things like sell the property or re-mortgage it.

To avoid being a title fraud victim, read on for some tips.

• Be wary about with whom you share personal information.
• Check bank and credit card statements regularly, as well as your credit report for irregularities, and report any immediately.
• Shred any documents containing personal information before disposing of it.
• Retrieve your mail regularly to avoid mail theft.
• When moving, ensure that you update your address with your contacts and service providers, and have your mail forwarded to your new address.
• Search your property online periodically to see if it is fraudulently listed.
• Get title insurance. It will cover losses from title fraud, the legal costs of restoring your right to the property title, and in the case your home was fraudulently sold, the unwitting buyer will get their money back.

Title fraud is more likely to happen when a property is vacant or paid off, or the owner is vulnerable in some way, such as being elderly or compromised.

By making proactive choices you can protect what is, for many people, their largest financial investment.