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Pests can really detract from your enjoyment of your home. And if you have pets or kids, you might not want to treat them with traditional methods”aka poisons that can be harmful, not only to the critters youre trying to eliminate, but also to your loved ones. Here are a few ways to say goodbye to ants, mice and more in your home in a safe way. The best part? You might have everything you need in your pantry already.

Ants

Use vinegar: Ants hate this pungent smell, so spraying it where they are entering your house, or in the areas where you see them, will get them to avoid the area in the future.

Try citrus: On a similar note, ants arent big fans of citrus, so saving your peels from oranges and grapefruits, and leaving them near entry points, can deter ants. This also works well with citrus essential oils.

Outline your domain in chalk: Draw a line in the proverbial sand with ants! They dont like to cross chalk, so if you outline where you want them to stay (aka outside your home), they just might heed the warning. This also works well with used coffee grounds.

Mix borax or baking soda with sugar: Mix equal parts of these with powdered sugar and make a mini trap out of a lid or plate (keep out of reach of pets and kids). The ants will be attracted to the sugar, eat the borax and baking soda (which is fatal to them) and bring it back to their colony so they can ingest it, too.

Rodents

Seal up food: All your food (from the dry goods in the pantry to the dog food) should be properly sealed”this obvious but important step can make your home a lot less appealing for a hungry mouse.

Restrict access: Tools like caulk or steel wool, poked into cracks or holes in your home, can keep rodents out”another early step that is essential yet often overlooked.

Stink them out: Like ants, mice have sensitive noses and dislike oil scented with peppermint, cayenne, and cloves (which, incidentally, will make your home smell lovely!). Soak cotton balls with the essential oils and stick them where mice (used to) like to hang out.

Try a humane trap: There are several good types of humane traps on the market. Some literally trap the unwelcome visitor. The downside is that you have to check the trap and get up close and personal when you release it. If you forget to check it, the mouse can die because of lack of food. There are also repeller devices that work by sending out sound waves.

Still have a problem? Consult an expert. A good pest control company should be able to help you win your war against bugs or rodents”sans dangerous chemicals.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If you’re shopping for a mortgage, you need to decide whether to choose one with a fixed or adjustable interest rate. An adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, might be a good idea if you’re only planning to stay in your home for a short period of time, but you need to ask questions and read the fine print first. You might be surprised by skyrocketing payments if you don’t understand the terms clearly.

How an ARM Works

With a hybrid ARM, the interest rate will change periodically based on market conditions. That means your monthly payments will also change. The interest rate will be fixed for a period of time, and then it will adjust periodically after that. The interest rate is typically low at the beginning, but it may rise dramatically once the fixed-rate period ends and the adjustment occurs. The lender decides which index to use to set the interest rate and adds a margin to the index to determine the interest rate on the mortgage.

Some lenders offer an initial discounted interest rate that is less than their fully indexed rate. This usually ends when the interest rate adjusts for the first time, which means the interest rate can rise significantly. The amount the interest rate can go up is capped periodically (from one adjustment period to another) and over the lifetime of the mortgage.

With an interest-only ARM, your payments for the first several years will only go toward interest. After that, you will need to pay for both interest and principal, which means your payments could skyrocket overnight.

A payment-option ARM allows you to decide every month whether you want to make a payment toward principal and interest, interest only, or a smaller payment that does not cover the total cost of interest. If you choose the last option, the unpaid interest and principal are added to the total amount of the mortgage.

Potential Problems

Many people have gotten into trouble with ARMs because of negative amortization. That happens when the amount of payments made is not enough to cover interest. The amount of unpaid interest is added to the loan, and then interest is charged on that. This means the total balance on the mortgage can actually increase, even if you make payments on time every month. Avoid an ARM if negative amortization is possible.

Some ARMs have prepayment penalties. You might have to pay thousands of dollars if you decide to sell your house or refinance your mortgage.

Weigh the Pros and Cons

The most attractive feature of an ARM is the low, fixed rate for the first several years. This could help you save a significant amount of money if you plan to sell your house before the rate adjusts. If you decide to stay in your house longer, your payments could become too much for you to handle. Before you choose an ARM, think carefully about your future plans and make sure you understand the terms.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

First impressions are important, especially when it comes to selling a home, which is why you want the outside of your home to look the best it can.

Some might argue that the exterior of the home is more important than the interior in todays real estate market, when people are more inclined to look at photos of what the house looks like before even checking out whats inside.

Below are some things you can do to get your exterior in tip-top shape.

Paint: Not a lot of people concern themselves with painting the outside of a home, especially because of the time it requires, but the cost isnt too bad, and it can do wonders for making your house seem fresh and new. Pick a color that blends in well with your neighborhood and do some research on the hot colors this year for houses that are selling.

Improve Landscaping: A nice manicured lawn can say a lot about the people who live there and how youve cared for your home. Consider adding some bushes or flower, with a colorful palette that are simple to care for. Make sure your lawn is mowed and that all leaves and debris are picked up. Mulch if needed.

Create a Backyard Oasis: A lot of people looking for homes want a big backyard, whether its for entertaining, for their dogs or just for the kids to run around in. So, make your back yard something special. If you have an old swing set or tree house, remove it. You want the yard to look as spacious as possible. For those with pools, make sure they are cleaned and blue. And put in some nice chairs and a patio set to let people imagine hosting a summer party.

Repair the Roof: A big question on the mind of most buyers is how old is the roof? Even if a roof doesnt look bad, an aging roof can be a problem. Not that you need to put on a whole new roof, but you should at least replace any missing shingles or repair anything causing leaks. For anyone with skylights, clean them so they let an optimal amount of light in.

Have an Inviting Entrance: You dont need to get a new front door, but make sure the one you have is clean and painted if needed. Fix any springs that may make the door close quickly and make sure screen doors arent ripped. Check to make sure the numbers of your house arent falling off and that the doorbell works. Add a new welcome mat and your entrance way is set.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

First-time homeowners are faced with many realities of being “an adult, and one of the things that comes with owning a new home is making sure you have proper insurance. But not all insurances are the same.

Just because you have insurance on your home doesn’t mean you’re protected from everything that could happen. In fact, often with homeowner policies, there are some very common occurrences that might not be covered.

Homeowners insurance differs from state to state, so to avoid making costly assumptions, it’s important to understand what’s included with your policy.

Typically, a policy will cover the actual dwelling and some of the other structures on the property, such as a fence, garage, patio or driveway. Personal property is usually covered as well. This includes the contents inside the home, although you may need to pay a bit more in premiums for high-value items like jewelry or paintings. You’ll want to make sure this is covered in your policy.

Homeowners insurance policies typically include coverage for injuries sustained on your property where you are liable. So, if someone slips on your driveway or falls while doing repairs to the roof, you’re covered. However, this coverage is usually limited to a certain dollar value, so you need to know how much coverage you have and exactly what’s included.

Natural disasters are the one area that can cause some problems, as not everything is covered and you often have to buy separate flood, hurricane or earthquake insurance”especially if you are in an area that is highly susceptible to these disasters. You also may be able to lower premiums by better protecting yourself against damage, such as adding storm shutters, reinforcing your roof or buying stronger roofing materials.

If items are stolen from your vehicle while it sits on your property, that may or may not be covered by your insurance. Normally, this is covered by auto insurance but there are some homeowner policies that will include these items, so it’s good to know if yours will.

Many first-time buyers think they need insurance to cover the entire cost of the house, but the land under your house isn’t at risk from theft, windstorm, fire or other perils covered in your homeowners policy, so it’s not necessary to include these when deciding how much insurance you should buy. Talk with your REALTOR and determine the best number so you have enough coverage but not too much, and that you’re not paying premiums for what you don’t need.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Need a loan to buy a house? There are many options out there to help you obtain a mortgage, and finding the best loan and lender for your particular situation can be confusing and difficult. To help you navigate the process, the American Bankers Association (ABA) offers the following tips:

Know your own financial situation. Before you begin the home loan application process, determine what you can realistically afford. Take into consideration your credit score, how much debt you currently carry and what type of down payment youre prepared to make.

Have your documents ready. Although each lender may require different documentation, you may be required to furnish the following information depending on your employment and financial situation:

Pay stubs;
Tax returns;
Financial statements (one that is less than 60 days old);
Copies of additional monthly payments such as car loans, credit cards and student loans; and
Any other information (such as proof of additional income) that you think will help a lender evaluate your credit request positively.

Review the basics. Knowing the fundamentals of the home loan process is an excellent way to prepare to choose the right mortgage. Make sure you are familiar with interest rates, loan terms and additional fees associated with buying a home.

Compare quotes. Beyond the interest rates, there are closing fees and points and commissions. Youll want to compare these for all the lenders on your list. There are several calculators available online that may help you determine which loan provides the best value, including ones offered by ABA.

Choose a trusted lender. Get references from family and friends, and do your research. Check with your local Better Business Bureau, and find out if it has received any complaints about any of the lenders youre considering.

Read between the lines. Slick TV ads, telemarketers or door-to-door salespeople will often offer fast, easy loans for houses, cars and home repair, but not disclose all of the details. Read the fine print. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Ask questions. When in doubt, ask for clarification from your lender. Discuss how long the loan process will take, how you will communicate”by phone or email”and who will service your loan.

Published with permission from RISMedia.