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“Typically, when a property has made note that it is being sold ‘as-is,’ there are issues the seller knows about, and they want the buyers to work those issues into their offer prices rather than expect the seller to make any repairs,” says Mark McDonough, president of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Winans in Dallas, Texas. Selling a home as-is isn’t as simple as telling buyers that they’ll need to handle any repairs themselves, though....

1. Beige as a Backdrop Allow the beige to be a discreet backdrop for furnishings, art, and color. Beige fades into the background as the gorgeous accessories pop into the foreground, thanks to the unobtrusive walls and color-rich furnishings. 2. A Rainbow of Beiges When is beige not beige? When it’s mocha, warm ivory, or dolce de leche. Instead of fighting the beige, go with it. Make it your entire color palette, and then beige will become merely one of the gradients in a scale of gorgeous ivories, creams, and mochas....

What Is a Modular Home, Exactly? A modular home is a prefabricated (also known as prefab) structure that is built off site and assembled on site. They don’t move: They remain on the slab or foundation they’re pieced together on. Modular homes are very similar to manufactured homes, except (among other differences) they are built to different codes. “Modular homes are built in sections in a climate-controlled factory and transported to your land, where a builder assembles the home like building blocks on top of a permanent foundation,” says Bailey Carson, a home care expert at home services finder Angi....

It’s a day dedicated to celebrating female friendships—basically, a version of Valentine’s Day that you celebrate with your gals rather than with a partner. Galentine’s Day is a relatively new holiday, but it’s quickly become one of my favorites—because on a day dedicated to love, who says the celebration is limited to romantic partners? So as February approaches, consider adding Galentine’s Day to your calendar—because there’s no better time to let your friends know how much they mean to you....

“A final walkthrough isn’t required, it’s just a really, really good idea,” says Polly Watts of real estate brokerage service Sundae. Making the most of that final walkthrough is critical, and these real estate experts have some tips on what to look for and what to ask as you do a final sweep of your new digs. What Is a Final Walkthrough? If you’ve purchased a home, you’re likely familiar with the process of attending a showing (or viewing photos online), putting in an offer, then having an inspection done....

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Site Requirements Carefully consider your planting site before adding wintergreen to the landscape. Wintergreen has specific site requirements, but if your site fits the bill, it is a great plant. Choose a part- to full-shade site that has loose, sandy soil. In its native environment wintergreen thrives in cool, damp woodland settings, especially under evergreen trees. Wintergreen Care Must-Knows Plant wintergreen in spring or early summer. Water plants thoroughly and frequently through the first growing season after planting....

How to Make a Homemade Peanut Butter Cup I used a small ceramic ramekin (Target) for easier access to the good stuff, but you can use a mug or another small microwave-safe dish. I listed specific measurements here, but this is a forgiving recipe. Go for more of one ingredient to better suit your peanut butter-to-chocolate ratio preference. Made just like the instructions, I found the peanut butter cup super creamy, sweet, and oh-so-delicious....

¾ cup oil-packed tomatoes Olive oil ¼ cup pine nuts or slivered almonds ¼ cup snipped fresh basil ½ teaspoon salt 4 teaspoon bottled minced garlic

American Classics: Pound Cake The perfect pound cake takes focus and a watchful eye, which garner a tender, fine-crumbed dessert with a velvety texture. See the following slides for chef Scott Peacock’s classic recipe and step-by-step instructions making the ultimate pound cake. See our Classic Pound Cake recipe Go for Cold Starting with cold butter and cream cheese prevents these important ingredients from becoming too warm during the mixing. “Beat just until the butter begins to soften, appears shiny, and is malleable,” says Scott....

Study Your Habits Do you often feel stumped by whether a certain style will work in your home? You may know your decorating style better than you think. Study your shopping (and pinning) patterns. Do you tend to gravitate toward the same pieces, colors, and patterns when you shop? Look at what you’re saving from magazines and on Pinterest to see if there’s a common denominator. It’s OK to like a lot of styles, but it’s also good to just appreciate some from afar....

How to Make DIY Roman Shades with Blinds Starting with a mini blind ($10, The Home Depot) helps structure your DIY Roman shade. When selecting fabric, choose one that will hold the folds nicely and filter sunlight while providing privacy. Look for a fabric in the home decor section of a fabric store, which tends to stock these heavier fabrics. Gather the fabric about a yard from the end and let it fall to see how it drapes....

Two Types of Mulch There are two basic kinds of mulch: Organic and inorganic. Organic materials—wood, bark, compost, grass clippings, and leaves—will decompose and improve the soil. They last a few years, after which you’ll need to add more. In addition, organic mulches are easy to spread and do no harm if mixed into soil, as will happen when planting annuals or shrubs, for example. Stone, by contrast, is meant to be a more or less permanent mulch, to be put in place atop a layer of landscape fabric and left alone....

Spray painting wicker furniture is the best way to get a consistent finish, but this project can get messy, so do it outdoors when the weather forecast calls for a day or two of warm temperatures, calm winds, and no rain. When you’re ready to get started, follow these simple steps.

1. Choose the Right Container Much like plants, containers have their own characteristics to take into account, including weight, sensitivity to weather changes, and appearance. You’ll also want to consider your budget, space, and style when choosing a container. Keep in mind that the larger the size, the less you’ll need to water, but whatever you choose, always make sure the container has holes in the bottom for drainage. Some common types of pots include the following....

What is powdery mildew? Lots of plants, both edible and ornamental, can get powdery mildew. Unlike many other fungal plant diseases, the fungi that cause powdery mildew thrive in hot, dry weather that’s often the norm in mid- to late summer. As these fungi grow on the surface of leaves, they clog leaf pores and block sunlight that the plant needs to grow. The disease can be introduced to the garden on plants purchased from the nursery, or from spores in the soil....

How to Store Muffins and Quick Bread When storing yeast bread, make sure the storage environment is dry enough to maintain the crusty exterior. Storage for quick bread is different. For these, the goal is to retain moisture. To store muffins and quick bread for the best flavor and texture, use these tips. Freezing Muffins and Quick Bread If you don’t plan on devouring your homemade blueberry muffins or cornbread within 3 days of baking (and there are no signs of mold), freezing them is your best bet....

What You’ll Need PaintPaint panRoller brush and coverWaterDrop clothLint roller Step 1: Pour Paint Pour an inch of paint into a paint pan. Make sure the paint pan is on a flat surface. Place the roller cover onto the roller handle and remove any wrapping. With any paint job, invest in a higher-end cover for a better paint job. The cheapest cover options don’t hold as much paint, which can make a paint job take much longer....