Northern Poconos Real Estate News

Depending on the status of your deck, you might not be ready for all the grilling, chilling and relaxing this summer. If your deck is beyond what a simple staining can do, it might be time to consider a new one.

But before you hire someone to start digging and building up a new deck, make sure they are qualified. Vet contractors and consider the following points to make sure you have the right professional for the job. 

Figures from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) show that about 70 million people—more than a quarter of adults in the United States—either have a debt in collection or have been contacted about one.

Some of those people are wrongly contacted by debt collectors. Reasons include contacting the wrong person for the wrong amount, or for debt that can’t legally be enforced, according to the CFPB.

When couples move in together, conflicts and disagreements frequently arise around the issue of sharing a bathroom. Spouses and partners need to search for space to store their toiletries, makeup, razors and other hygiene items. If each person has a similar schedule, couples may find themselves competing for time in the bathroom each morning and rushing to get to work on time. If kids are also fighting for space and time in the bathroom, things can get even more complicated.

Owning a home is infinitely rewarding but issues do pop up, and there’s no need to call a handyman every time something goes haywire. The home repair experts at HGTV suggest four things every homeowner should know how to do:

Change smoke detector batteries. Do this twice a year or anytime you hear a loud chirping. Get up on a ladder and twist the body of the unit off the bracket. If it isn’t hardwired, it will completely remove. Change the battery and twist it back in place.

Shopping for a mortgage isn’t as fun as looking at homes to buy, but it’s an important step that will affect you for years.

There are many ways to shop for a lender. You can start by looking at online mortgage lenders. Or you can walk in to a bank and ask to talk to a loan officer. A mortgage broker or your real estate agent may be able to recommend lenders, as may friends and family. Online reviews may also be helpful.