As we head into summertime in Central New York, we are all thinking of ways to maximize our space at home. Think about enjoying a nice summer night outside with friends, right at home! Here 10 tips on how to elevate your outdoor space to create your own oasis: you will not want to leave home!
Gathering the right gear ahead of time so your family and (a few) guests are comfy means you’ll enjoy the great outdoors for longer.
1. Fire pit
“Outdoor fireplaces or fire pits are a big win once the sun goes down and the weather cools off,” says Marty Basher, a home design and organizational expert at Modular Closets. Choose the best option for your space based on your budget and the square footage in your yard. And don’t forget to pick up a set of extra-long skewers for s’mores. (They’re not just a summertime treat!)
2. Heat lamps
Make like a European sidewalk café and set up standing propane or electric heat lamps, says Basher. ) ...

Happy Earth Day! This year marks the 51st Earth Day. In honor of this year’s theme, Restore our Earth, we wanted to highlight some local resources for you to safely dispose of your household items. The Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) has been working to keep Central New York clean and healthy since 1990. And with locations throughout the county, OCRRA makes it easy to do your part towards a greener future.
One lesser-known service that OCRRA provides is a household toxic’s drop off. For those items that shouldn’t go in the trash or down the drain, OCRRA has set up a drop-off program for these items. While you’re doing your spring cleaning this year or prepping to list your house, make sure to take advantage of this free program. Here is a list of accepted items:

WHAT WE ACCEPT:
General Items:
Toxic products
Flammable products
Poisonous products
Corrosive products
Auto products:
Antifreeze
Body filler
Brake fluid
Diesel fuel
Eng! ...

Ever get the itch to do a DIY project? Whenever we do, our favorites involve getting outdoors and mixing up our landscaping features.
Whether it's as simple as installing some lighting or a little more time-consuming like re-plotting plants, a fresh look for the lawn always gives your home a fresh look as well. Here are our top five easy landscaping projects!
 
Create a pathway.
To guide you and visitors throughout your yard and link different areas together, install a pathway. You can use materials from a variety of materials, including reclaimed pallet wood, flagstones, gravel, and more to add texture and color.
 
Add a wall or border.
Installing a flagstone, rock, or brick wall around flower beds or trees adds a sleek, clean look to your landscaping and helps separate different sections of your yard.
 
Install a water feature.
Nothing says zen quite like the sound of trickling water as you relax in your backyard. You can start simple with by purchasing and i ...

Join the Bell Home Team on Friday, April 23rd for an Earth Day Clean Up!
We are partnering with OCRRA and the Dewitt Advisory Conservation Commission to clean up
Widewaters Parkway area in Dewitt.
Meet us at 10 am Friday, 4/23, to give back to our community and to take home some free gifts including
Bell Home Team reusable shopping bags and snacks.
In order for us to have enough supplies for everyone, please sign up for the event through this link:Register Here!Please contact us with any questions. We will have the exact location of our meeting tent shortly.
Social distancing guidelines apply, please wear a face mask. See you then! ...

First impressions are everything – at least when it comes to selling your home. According to the National Association of Realtors, 63 percent of homebuyers will drop by after viewing a home they like online. What will they see? The home's exterior – including the front entry, yard, driveway, and sidewalk -- should serve as a snapshot of what is to come when potential buyers enter your home, says Caroline Wilkes, owner of Caroline Wilkes Interiors on Long Island. Read on to learn 10 ways you can wow homebuyers from the curb.

Curb Appeal Starts Online

Since 88 percent of homebuyers begin the process on the Web, fabulous photos are critical to getting homebuyers to the front door, says Jennifer Ames, a top Chicago real estate agent. "Find the best time of day to shoot each room, avoiding too much sunlight, which will give the photo a glow effect," Jennifer advises. "Overcast days are often the best time for a photo shoot." Take a digital shot and examineV ...