(Family Features) When it's time to sell your home, you want to do everything you can to make it enticing to potential buyers. One of the most important things you can do is boost your home's curb appeal.In fact, the National Association of Realtors says that curb appeal sells 49 percent of all homes. To help you build curb appeal from the ground up, TruGreen and Jason Cameron, licensed contractor and TV host, have teamed up to give you some simple, doable tips to improve your lawn and landscape. Water Right Improper watering can be a big drain on curb appeal. Check the working condition of sprinkler heads and water lines to make sure they're working properly. To ensure your manual or automated watering system covers the landscape efficiently, set a one-inch deep empty food can in the middle of your lawn so you can measure the depth of water collected each watering cycle. In addition: Don't over water. Watering too much can result in shallow plant roots, weed growth, storm water runoff, and the possibility of disease and fungus development. Give your lawn a slow, steady watering about once a week. Adjust your watering schedule depending on rainfall, ... read more

(Family Features) Mobile phones, laptops, tablets, game consoles, cameras - electronic devices are a big part of American life. In fact, Americans own an average of 24 electronic products per household, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. With technology changing so rapidly and new "it" devices hitting the market every few months, a lot of those devices get discarded quickly. That adds up to a lot of potential e-waste. In fact, a recent survey sponsored by RadioShack found: More than 90 million American adults 18 and over have unused technology products lying around the house. As part of that pile of retired tech, a third of mobile phone users report owning unused phones - and more than half of those with unused phones own two or more. Some unused electronics just collect dust, but many get thrown away. The Environmental Protection Agency's most recent report showed that nearly 1.8 million tons of e-waste was simply trashed. Fortunately, it's easier than ever to keep old electronics out of the waste stream. Donate. Donations give schools, nonprofits and lower-income families access to equipment they might not otherwise afford. Before donating, check with the organization to see what they need. Trade Up. If ... read more

(Family Features) Are you ready for a decorating change? A recent survey by the retailer HomeGoods found that while almost half of Americans haven't updated their home décor in the last five years, only 20 percent are happy with it. If that sounds like you, then it's time for some fresh ideas.These budget-friendly decorating ideas from Glade, the worldwide leader in home fragrance, and Giuliana Rancic, entertainment journalist and style guru, make it easy to discover your personal style. All it takes to refresh a room are a few simple updates and your home will be ready for entertaining in no time. Small Changes Add Up "You don't have to redo a whole room," says Rancic. "Small changes like adding a new color or introducing a scent to a room really make a big difference. I love how the Glade Expressions fragrances not only match my design taste perfectly, but also help make my home feel welcoming and guest-ready by giving it that finishing touch of a signature scent." Start at the beginning.The entryway of a home is the first thing guests see, so make sure it's impactful. Tidy up the outside area around the front door, and ... read more

(Family Features) A beautiful landscape doesn't happen on its own. You can help your lawn, trees and shrubs get off to a healthy growing season. "Trees and shrubs add tremendous appeal to our urban home environments, but to thrive, particularly out of their natural world, they require regular care with added nutrients and protection against invasive pests," said Ben Hamza, Ph.D., director of technical operations at TruGreen. Here are some lawn and landscape tips to help you take care of your yard this spring. Clean Up: New spring growth can be hampered if it's covered with debris. Clean out dead leaves, branches, trash or anything else that could impair your lawn's growth. Prune Properly: Corrective pruning of your trees and shrubs can make them not only look better, but help them grow better, too. Don't top-shear overgrown shrubs or trees - thin them out to preserve their shape. Spring-blooming plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia and lilacs should only be pruned after they flower. Put the Right Plants in the Right Place: When you're ready to plant new plants, make sure you put them where they'll thrive. Be sure you know the light requirements for a new plant. Fences or other ... read more