Latest Articles by Christian Jacobsen

Rain Gardens as an Eco-Friendly Landscaping Alternative

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:37:21 -0600

Most homes look that much better with a number of cultivated plants in and around them. Homes with attractive landscaping have a higher resale value than those without. So, if by adding a garden, you can add to your home's attractiveness, increase the resale value and get an "eco-friendly" boost, wouldn't you do it? Rain gardens are one of the latest strategies to combat flooding and pollution, and they can be exceptionally attractive.

A rain garden is basically a sunken garden designed to capture rainwater runoff. By allowing rainwater to gather in the garden's depression, pollutants are kept away from storm drains and, thusly, from the watershed system. This also aids in preventing the flooding that can occur when excessive rainfall or other factors cause runoff to accumulate too quickly for the community's drainage system to take care of it effectively.

It may be prudent for you to consult with a landscaping professional as to the best place for this feature. The placement is important, so that the maximum amount of runoff flows into the garden. The lowest point on your property is usually the best. You should be on the lookout for man made structures, such as foundation and utilities.

Check into your soil. Sand, loam and clay are the three main types. The type of soil you have will determine how big your garden needs to be. First you need to measure the hard surface that your runoff is going to come from. This includes your roof, driveway, porch and anything else where rainwater "runs off" instead of being absorbed. Then you multiply the area you measured (in square feet) by the following percentage. According to Jason Pelletier of Low Impact Living (lowimpactliving.com: "How To Tuesday: Build A Rain Garden), multiply your hard surface area by 20% for sandy soils, 30% for loam and 50% for clay soils. Sandy and loam soils drain faster than clay, which is why a clay soil garden will require a greater area. You can also consult with your local nursery for advice on adding soil and drainage to your garden.

Local varieties of plant are usually the best for this feature, as they are already adapted to the rainfall patterns of the area. Choose plants that can take a serious soaking on a regular or seasonal basis. Consult your local nursery or see if there is an organization in the area that promotes the preservation of wild/indigenous plants.

The design need not be one giant rain garden. You can place gardens in different areas, in patterns and around areas that you want emphasized. You can take advantage of things like rain chains to decoratively direct rainwater flow to your gardens. You can even incorporate features that become water features during rainstorms; for instance, decorative water paths down a hill or slope that channels your rainwater right where you want it. There are many rain garden designs on the Internet if you need help figuring out what would look best.

Dig the garden so it's between 8 and 12 inches deep. Add a layer of compost and mix it with your soil. Heavy clay soils may need as much as another 12 inches dug out and replaced with a sand/topsoil/compost mix. It may help to use string or tape to divide up areas so that you know how much to plant in each part of the garden. Once you've planted, ensure that the plants have enough water to start taking hold on the soil. If it doesn't rain, the plants should be watered deeply at least 2 times a week for a month.

Your rain garden should not require any special maintenance past the initial beginnings. Using local plants cuts down significantly on the need for human interference. Some pruning may encourage some of your plants to bloom more extravagantly or for longer; consult with an expert to find out what can make your garden look its best. Otherwise, sit back and watch your garden beautify your home and protect your environment.

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Visit UtahPropertyFinder.com for an extensive list of available Utah real estate listings. Acquaint yourself with great investment opportunities in the surrounding Utah areas, including Tooele County Utah homes for sale.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Go With the Flow When Adding on to Your Home

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600

So you need more space, but you really like your neighborhood and would rather not move. Adding on to your existing home may be the way to go. A home addition is a complex undertaking, but with the right amount of planning and assistance, you'll breeze through it in no time. Here are some guidelines to help you start out on the right path.

Determine what both you and your partner want from this renovation. Maybe you're looking for extra space for the kids, but your spouse wants a quiet area for office space. Sometimes both your needs are very different. List on paper your goals and wants in order of priority.

Visit your local building department, to explore the rules and restrictions for additions to your particular property and neighborhood. There will be rules as to the size and height of a structure, distance it must be from the property lines, height restrictions or possibly restraints due to historical designation. Find out what type of permit is required and get a cost break down for the permit.

Plan your new space with an open mind. You may have to shuffle things around to get the most effective use out of your new addition, and this use of your space may not be what you had originally envisioned.

An addition does not necessarily mean BIG. Sometimes smart use of existing space goes a long way to satisfying your needs. Look for closets or hallways you may be able to borrow extra space from. Maybe breaking down the wall between the master bedroom and the tiny spare room is all you'll need to do to get that dream closet.

Sometimes an addition is a good opportunity to enhance the look of your home's exterior. An added gazebo, breakfast nook, or front porch can add interest to an otherwise tired looking home.

Wherever possible, an addition should appear as though it was always part of the original structure. Sometimes, it's impossible to match outdated siding or brick. When selecting exterior finishes, use similar styles and coloring with a slightly different texture to compliment, not compete with the existing design. This includes using similar roof lines if you're adding an entryway or additional floor.

Consider existing landscaping patterns and floral borders to ensure they too are repeated. If you have a walkway circling the house, but it abruptly stops where the new addition starts, it may detract from the overall finished look of the house.

If all the rooms are fairly small, but you add a master bedroom the size of a city block, it just doesn't sit right. Keep the add-on in proportion to the rest of the house.

Stick to the same architectural and building styles as your original home. If you are only replacing two windows and your existing windows are sliders, don't suddenly introduce casements as a window style – learn to go with the flow.

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Visit UtahPropertyFinder.com for an extensive list of available Utah real estate listings. Acquaint yourself with great investment opportunities in the surrounding Utah areas, including the Draper Utah real estate market.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Haunted Ogden

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

By day, Ogden appears as a typical small town in Utah, but by night, this quiet little community awakens more than its share of spooky happenings.

Ogden was not always such a friendly community. In the late 19th century it was full of opium dens and brothels along 25th Street. Many were connected by underground tunnels that were the scenes of violent acts. In fact, for a short time, Ogden was known as the "murder capital" of the West! Today, walk along 25th Street at night and you may hear the sound of popping noises on the pavement. This was where the prostitutes would drop dried beans from second story windows to attract customers. Some believe many are still there still looking for business.

The Bellshire Hospital, once an old mental facility, has a violent past and has been the scene of many paranormal sightings. Legend has it, the doctor managing the hospital had a reputation for implementing experimental treatment methods on patients. Today people have heard blood curdling screams that seem to come out of thin air, or see figures staring out of the windows. An encounter with a young girl occurred during a recent ghost hunt. Today, the hospital has been converted to an interactive fright theater during the Halloween season.

The Ben Lomond Hotel is a popular destination by ghost seekers. Apparently in the 1940's a woman staying at the hotel got word that her son died in World War II. She returned home, but she must have enjoyed her stay because many say her spirit has returned and haunts the hallways. There are accounts of the elevator stopping at floors where no button has been pushed. The front desk has received calls from room 1106 when no one is occupying the room. If you visit, be sure to request one of the haunted rooms.

The Union Railroad Station was once a temporary morgue where spirit sightings and unexplained events are common. The most popular tale (with many versions), is of a lady in a blue dress who was arguing with her lover. She quickly turns to run away, steps in front of an oncoming train and is killed instantly. The figure of a woman dressed in blue and crying while running across the rail yard has been spotted over and over.

Dead Haven was a popular Halloween haunted house that has its own eerie past. Although it's entertained many uses over the years, the building in the 1920's was a farm implement store located in the wrong part of town. Two apartments across the street burned down, killing 2 occupants, and the area was the site of many accidental deaths and murders. Paranormal experts theorize that there are still wandering souls in the area. Ghostly figures have been spotted and the sound of children's laughter has been heard at night when the building was empty.

Members of Utah Paranormal Exploration and Research spent an evening staking out the corridors of this creepy place in search of hard evidence of a haunting. In one of their recordings, a voice could plainly be heard saying, "Who's there?" Other than some flashlights that suddenly refused to work, and shots of a bobbing light appearing through the camcorder of another investigator, the night was fairly uneventful.

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Use Paint to Add Punch!

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

After speaking to a decorator recently, he described a common behavior in many of his clients. Clients bring him photos of designer rooms expressing a desire to replicate the look in their own homes. They say they're ready for a change and want to add some punch to their tired decor. Inevitably, they begin to lose their nerve, and when it comes down to choosing the paint colors, they tone it down two or three shades lower than originally planned. There goes the punch, and the bland decorating scheme returns once again.

This year the trends in paint colors can't help but pack some punch. If you've been dreaming about updating your walls, now is the time. Not only are the colors bright and exciting, they're being used in interesting ways, only limited by your imagination. It's ok to mix decorating styles, decor periods, or blend classical with contemporary looks.

The trend toward green construction and building products has spilled over to decorating schemes. Natural products from bamboo, cotton, and wood are popular. As are non-toxic paints, and wall papers with rustic floral or nature inspired patterns. Glass with a clean, transparent look is being used more for dividers and kitchen back splashes.

Earthy colors such as beiges, browns, tans are commonly used, but with stone or mineral accents. A popular avocado green blends well with red, fern, pine or sage, only to be combined with clear blue or aqua for added punch.

On the total opposite end of the spectrum comes a cosmopolitan influence that dares to combine the rustic country feel with the exotic. Take earthy colored metals, such as copper, bronze and gold, and intermingle with Bamboo, Brazilian Cherry or other exotic woods, then add a splash of silk or embroidered velvet.

The Asian influenced, bright-hued colors are also hot this year, like vivid reds, greens, purples, fuchsia, turquoise and bright yellow. The most popular of all is the rich eggplant shade of aubergine. Take these strong shades and temper them with a contrast of metallic silver or a glossy or antique finish.

The other predominant look encourages open spaces, clean lines and functionality. Add to that a whimsical feel, but chic – designer whimsy, if you will. Begin with a beige or other neutral background and using some of those bright or metallic colors, add an accent wall of bold stripes or psychedelic patterns. Add accessories made from light or dark wood, shiny metal or glass. Other colors drawn from for this look come right out of the 60's and 70's, such as bright orange, avocado green, iris blue, acid yellow, or hot pink.

This year, when it comes to paint colors, you have a large palette to work with. Have fun and be creative. When you're selecting paint samples, dare to choose your original color and you'll get just the look you were after.

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Visit UtahPropertyFinder.com for an extensive list of available Utah property listings. Acquaint yourself with great investment opportunities in the surrounding Utah areas, including the Summit County real estate market.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Eco-Scents for Your Home

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

More and more people are doing away with aerosols and harsh chemicals and adopting more eco-friendly ways to clean and deodorize their homes. These natural scent solutions are not only good for the environment, but also for the budget. Costs can add up when you are adding plug-in air fresheners to every room, not to mention the toxic chemicals that are seeping into the air. Try some of these natural solutions to deodorize and sanitize your home.

Essential oils have a myriad of uses around the house, and have the added benefit of the soothing aromatherapy effects they emit. Some of the more popular scents include lavender (calming); lemon or grapefruit (cleaning and refreshing); eucalyptus (revitalizing); and peppermint (energizing). Pick out three or four and begin building your own collection. Some people also like to use pine or fir oils in the colder winter months.

Add 10-20 drops of one or a combination of oils to water in a spray bottle and use as a spray air freshener.

Get some attractive boxes or containers and place a few cotton balls dipped in essential oil in closets and cupboards.

Add a few drops of lemon oil to a spray bottle with olive oil as an effective non-toxic furniture polish. Not only will your furniture look great, but the room will have a fresh citrus smell.

When you're washing bedding, add a few drops of lavender oil to the rinse cycle for a calming effect a night.

Smear a line of peppermint oil across an ant infested area as an effective repellent. Spraying flies with a mixture of peppermint oil and water will kill those pests.

Dehumidify and scent a room by adding essential oil or spices such as cloves and cinnamon sticks to a pot of simmering water.

To get rid of smoke or other nasty odors, place about 1/2 cup of vinegar in each dish and place around the room. Another neat trick is to fill your ash trays with cat litter; not only does it put out the cigarette, it helps to absorb the smell.

Stubborn food odors in your garbage disposal can be eliminated by mixing 1 cup of vinegar with 1 cup water and freezing in an ice cube tray. Simply grind the cubes in the disposal and flush with cold water.

Microwaves tend to hang onto the residue from the last few uses. Simply heat up two cups of water on high, with two tablespoons of lemon juice and let it sit in the microwave for about ten minutes. Use the same solution to wipe down the walls.

Deodorize a bathroom in record time by lighting a match.

Musty smells can sometimes be difficult to get rid of, but the solution is simple. Spray the area with a mist of straight vodka. The alcohol kills bacteria, but leaves no lingering odor. Borax is also good for mold. Make a paste with water and let it sit for a short time.

Refresh your carpets by adding your favorite essential oil to some baking soda and sprinkle over the rugs. Allow it to sit for an hour or two and vacuum.

Sometimes you'll notice that after treating an odor, it returns in a few days. This is because you've only masked the smell, not dealt with the actual cause. Adding one tablespoon of baking soda to one cup of warm water and spraying will neutralize most odors. For the stubborn smells (like urine), use a natural enzyme-based odor remover that actually destroys the uric acid crystals creating the problem.

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Visit UtahPropertyFinder.com for an extensive list of available Utah real estate listings. Acquaint yourself with great investment opportunities in the surrounding Utah areas, including the Davis County real estate market.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

First Time Buyer's Huge (Temporary) Tax Credit

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

You lucky bunch! First time buyers can get a tax credit for as much as ten per cent of a first home purchase (but it must be less than a $7500 refund) . Yep, this is all part of the recently-passed and much publicized Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 .

However, the fact that it is much publicized should mean that every young renting family should know about it - but according to a recent survey, at least 77% of renters do not.

This lack of knowledge could be costly because the tax credit is only designed to be a temporary boost and will not be there for long. This concession by the Government offers quite a substantial saving.

Think about it - ten per cent on a home that costs $75,000 means that you will be allowed the maximum tax credit of $7,500! Free tax credits! Substantial free tax credits!

However, just a reminder: if you buy a home of $100,000 on which the ten per cent is calculated to be $10,000, you will still only be able to claim a tax credit of $7,500 as this is the maximum allowable.

Alternatively, if you purchase a home of $50,000 on which the ten per cent is calculated at $5,000, you will only qualify to claim the tax credit on the maximum 10% of the purchase price i.e. the $5,000.

New (brand new) housing sales are predicted to bottom out in the spring of 2009 and then they may start rising according to a comment made by Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors (NAR) Chief economist.

Now is an excellent time to get 'your house in order'. Ensure that your credit rating is up to par, approach your bank or broker to arrange pre-approval to finance a mortgage for you, and check that you have enough savings to deposit a down payment as well as moving and closing costs.

Part of your pre-approval will point you to which price properties you will be able to consider. Of course, we always want the homes in the next price bracket up - but you can lose a home this way.

Be wise and be content with 'starting' on the bottom rung of the realty ladder; its not often that there is the chance to have a safety net put in place by the government!

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Visit UtahPropertyFinder.com for an extensive list of available Utah property listings. Acquaint yourself with great investment opportunities in the surrounding Utah areas, including the Summit County real estate market.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

How to be a Prime Mover

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Usually the last things out of the old house are the first things you need in the new house; this means moving house should be easy, right?
Wrong!
Chaos reigns on moving day because most of us are more worried about the 'moving-out' side of it and devote our energy to leaving the old home sparkling for the new owners.

We do this, even though most of us have to return to work almost as soon as we are moved in, and we know that the more efficient the move is, the better it is for us.

However, wanting the old home to be clean and sparkling for the new owners usually takes precedence over planning our own easy move-in. There is also a time limit on the moving-out time so we tend to leave our own end of it - in the new home - until last.

This means that often the last things out of the house are cleaning cloths and bottles of spray cleaners! While these are also needed in the new home, they are only a small part of our needs.

To this end get three large boxes in your kitchen or your living room and mark them :First Night, First Morning and Last Box Out. These boxes do not have to be organized into categories like the other moving boxes, they will be organized into 'time zones'!

For instance, 'Last Box Out' is self-explanatory and it will be organized only in that it holds the last bits that you could not do without in your old home and will not be able to do without in your new home.

It will hold your last minute clean-up items, but it may also have your land phone, electric kettle, a couple of mugs, coffee/cream/sugar, your handbag, baby's juice, rubber gloves, keys, diapers, telephone book, baby's favorite toy - in fact anything that is still left in your old home because you are using it right up to the last minute and can't do without it.

What about the First Morning box? This takes a little more thought than just tossing all your items into a box as you back out of the front door! As soon as you get out of bed on moving day, you must look at everything that passes through your hands and think, 'do I need this again before tomorrow morning?'.

We know that breakfast is not a big deal - it can be bought as a takeaway, but even organizing that will take up precious time. So breakfast cereal in the box as well as other morning items - this may include hair dryers, or hair tongs, make up and cosmetics. You must also put in a change of clothes for everyone to dress ready for work or school. Some morning items will be packed in the First Night Box.

This will include things like slippers, cat food and cat plate, Junior's favorite blanket, toothpaste, toothbrushes, the bedtime reading book, the lunch boxes for the next day and snacks. In the morning of moving day, it is advisable to strip the beds and toss all the bedding into a black plastic sack along with the First Night Box. If you are really organized enough to launder them - okay; but if not keep all the linen for sleeping in the new house on the first night.

So long as the three boxes are always handy, open and labeled, you will have no trouble tossing things into the correct box. The secret is in what you do with the boxes.

When you finally arrive - exhausted - into your new home, do not unpack the boxes! Leave them labeled, open and handy in the kitchen so that you know where everything is when you need it in a hurry.

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Hold That Paintbrush Right There....

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Best time to paint is in the summer. Heck! - It is even pleasant out there wielding the old paintbrush; blue skies above and listening to the birdsong (get those earplugs out of your ears!). This time of the year there are no worries about damp levels of the atmosphere or frost or rain. However, it is not advisable to paint in direct sunlight, so chose your area according to the time of the day that the sun shines on it.

How is it that some neighbors do not seem to have to paint their exterior as often as you? Could it be the type of paint they use? Or perhaps it is their preparation work? Most likely it is both.

Preparation work is very important and especially on an older house, it can make the difference between a professional job and an amateur's job. We all know never to paint over mildew or dirt, but do we all do a thorough job of removing it. Just a wipe with a cloth before the paintbrush swooshes over it is not the way!

Mildew should be left to soak in a mix of three parts water and one part bleach. Leave this on the mildew for twenty minutes, then rinse off. Clean off any remaining mildew with a bleach and detergent mix. Once the mildew is removed, leave the wood for a week to allow for it to be thoroughly dry. Dampness always rises up to the surface as it dries; this means that if you paint too early your new coat of paint will bubble and blister.

Of course, you must wash all the paintwork and if you are going to lightly sand it then you must wash over the sanding job, after you have completed it.

Imperfections, or spot repairs, must be done before the first coat, or primer coat. Once you have made the repair then apply one coat of primer just to the spot; if it looks like it will still show a surface difference, add one more coat to the spot.

Another job that must be taken care of before the first coat of paint goes on is to replace cracked or split siding boards. The temptation is to repair them, but unless a first class job is done, water will find its way in! If water intrusion does occur, this is usually followed by the expansion of the board which will cause blistering and/or crack the paint.

All this and you haven't even started to paint yet! When you are sure everything is dry, apply the first coat of the correct primer to the whole area. To choose the 'correct' primer, you must first decide on the type of paint that you will use.

Oil based paint has to go over oil based paint, but if you can choose most people go for acrylic latex. Gloss paint is easier to clean, but it also shows every imperfection; semi gloss is a good compromise. With brushes you can either spend an arm and a leg and keep them forever, or buy cheap throwaways and save cleaning.

House painting can feel like a mammoth task or it can be a peaceful chore and give you a Zen-like satisfaction; may the Force be with you.

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Visit UtahPropertyFinder.com for an extensive list of available Utah real estate listings. Acquaint yourself with great investment opportunities and search Utah property listings.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Don't Risk Your Children.

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

It is quite horrifying to think that in the USA there is one needless death every three hours.
Do you have a smoke alarm installed in your home?
Many people died in apartments as well as homes, so do not think of a smoke alarm as simply protecting the equity that you have in your property; a smoke alarm can be and is a life-saver.

According to numbers from the National Fire Prevention Association, some groups are at higher risk than others. These are children under five years old and also the elderly. Figures show these two age groups have double the national risk of dying in a fire.

Of course, smoking is the overall highest risk factor for home fires, but in the winter months, faulty heating equipment causes almost the same number of deaths. This means that home safety such as old wiring systems, drying clothes over an unprotected heater, unsafe gas fires, un-serviced clothes dryers, chimneys and wood fires could all represent danger.

Many of us do have smoke alarms already in our homes; but as soon as they go off when the bacon is over-heating we disconnect them! Yes, it is a nuisance that some of them seem to be over sensitive, but instead of disconnecting them, it is wiser to keep a ventilation fan running while you are frying on a high heat.

A once a month check on battery strength is also advised as well as keeping a smoke alarm on the same floor as the one where the family is sleeping. In the year of 2006, over 2,600 people died in American fires. The USA has the highest annual death rate from fires than any civilized country.

Some countries have actually legislated fire protection; Australia has a mandatory smoke alarm law for all new homes, and several areas require a smoke alarm in all homes; as does the Canadian province of Ontario.

There are two types of smoke alarms - photoelectric and ionization. For those who do not yet have a smoke alarm installed, you should be aware that a photoelectric smoke alarm is the best type for detecting the type of smoldering smoke fire. This type of alarm will respond to smoldering smoke within three to five minutes. Since the majority of fires happen when people are sleeping at night, this would imply that they start slowly, i.e. smoldering, and unnoticed at first.

Toxic smoke causes the majority of deaths in house fires, as opposed to flames which does the most damage to the home. That is why, in the bedroom area of the house, this is the advisable type of smoke alarm.

The ionization alarms detect the type of fire that may break out in a kitchen and where flames ignite quickly. When it comes to smoldering smoke they can take as long as twenty minutes to sound.

Here is a list of pointers to look for when buying a new smoke alarm:

A button to turn the alarm off if temporary alarms sound when you burn the toast!
An escape light that goes on automatically is available in some alarms; in a power cut it will light your way out.
Many come with a test button that works by shining a flashlight on it to test its readiness.
The safest type of alarm is one that is mains connected with a battery backup.

Some are operated by a ten year lithium battery.

Buy wisely and sleep well!

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Visit UtahPropertyFinder.com for an extensive list of available Utah real estate listings. Acquaint yourself with great investment opportunities in the surrounding Utah areas, including the Wasatch County real estate market.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Good Neighbors, Make Good Neighbors.

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Robert Frost claimed that, "good fences make good neighbors"- but if you have intentions to create a happy and safe neighborhood, then forget the fences, walls and barriers and instead, think about what you can do to contribute and lead by example. After all, being part of a community is directly related to a sense of well-being - so, why not start close to home, in your very own neighborhood.

There are some simple steps you can follow, that may seem self-evident. But every little bit will count as you forge toward creating a great sense of community in your neighborhood. Begin by the simplest of greetings and when you have the chance to say, "Hi" to a neighbor passing by, then by all means do so. You need to encourage the openness to get to know the people in your neighborhood. Once you start the trend, hopefully others will follow and more spontaneous meetings will occur.

Organize a block, or street party. Creating social opportunities that are just for your neighborhood, offer a fabulous way to get people together and chatting. The wonderful thing about these gathering is that you can learn more about the people who surround you, and begin to tune into what sorts of issues and concerns, hopes and dreams others might have for the area. These sorts of events may seem scary to dive into. But someone needs to be the first to extend an open invitation, so why not make it yourself? Likewise, if you're relatively new to the area, these sorts of gatherings can be a great way to learn the inside scoop on the community. You might also become aquatinted with other neighborhood newbies - this can be a great way to start a lasting friendship.

If you have a concern about a particular issue that's affecting your neighborhood, chances are others are also concerned. Organize an informal gathering to discuss issues that concern you - anything from crime, new development to city maintenance, or whatever you feel will improve your area. Having a collective vision as a neighborhood will only strengthen the neighborhood's sense of community and work to make for a better quality of living.

If you can, offering your services to someone in need will promote some of the best in old fashioned community ethics. Maybe you notice a family gearing up to head out for a holiday - can you offer to do some watering for them, or to just keep an eye on the house? In many cases folks have already arranged for such things, but by being the neighbor who offers a helping hand you're truly promoting "neighborly" behavior.

Promoting the creation of a neighborhood watch programs is yet another healthy way to create a safer neighborhood, but also to get people together on a regular basis. The most important aspect in creating a better neighborhood, is to promote such social interaction.

Another idea is to create a neighborhood fundraiser for a charity or for other neighborhoods in need. This is a wonderful way to get people thinking about all the positive aspects of their neighborhood, that might otherwise be taken for granted - to reflect on what you have and not to complain about what you haven't. When people can get together with a focus on other people, the best of the human spirit shines through.

On this note, an idea might be to create a fruit tree gleaning group in which homeowners volunteer excess fruit on their trees and neighborhood volunteers get together to pick the fruit. The fruit can then be donated to local food charities. Such an event brings neighbors together in the spirit of giving, and makes everyone feel like their neighborhood has contributed to the well-being of the entire community. And, so they have!

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Visit UtahPropertyFinder.com for an extensive list of available Utah real estate listings. Acquaint yourself with great investment opportunities and search Utah property listings.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com