Home & Garden

The first thing to do before putting your house on the market is preparing your house for the sale. Research figures show that when it comes to forming an impression, prospective buyers form an opinion within 30 seconds of viewing the property’s exterior. Referred to as ‘Kerb Appeal’, how the buyers initially react to the exterior can have a major impact on eventual interest. Since the exterior is the first thing a buyer will see, first impressions are very important. This relative short but critically important 30 seconds which determines the first impression could be the crucial difference for both the seller and the prospective buyer.

As outdoor living becomes a more important priority for many, it is not surprising therefore that many consider the garden a critically important aspect of the exterior. Ideally effective use of colour and style should provide a seamless transition from the house interior to the ‘outdoor room’ or garden areas. In such situations how the front and rear gardens are presented to prospective buyers is very important if an overall positive image is to be achieved.

In today’s competitive property marketplace, sellers should ensure that when it comes to selling time that the gardens look their very best. At a basic level, areas should be clean and clear of clutter. However much more needs to be done to create attractive gardens that could make all the difference to the prospective buyer.

‘Kerb Appeal’

What first impression a prospective buyer may have, begins with perhaps a view from a passing car or literally at the kerbside. But how do you determine ‘Kerb Appeal’? For starters take a good look around the immediate neighbourhood. Look at nearby houses, how does your house compare?  Are your gardens above/below average standard for area? Is the fencing, paintwork and paved areas in good condition? Are trees and shrubs neat and tidy? Are there signs of wear and tear, fallen leaf, overlooked debris and toys cluttering areas? Are there obvious signs of colour and vibrancy? Are lawn areas groomed, green and refreshing or simply jaded weedy patches?  

Use colour, scent and features in areas that are practical and comfortable, pleasing and refined, and create calm and spacious surroundings that one would love to enjoy. The buyer experience begins in the garden with a sense of excitement and inspiration, mixed with an anticipation of comfort and wellbeing that only the beauty and harmony of a cared for natural garden can provide.  

Where to Start

Before you start showing the house, invest some time, money and effort to create looks that sell and pass the ‘kerb appeal’ test that will attract interest and not repel prospective buyers. Speculate to accumulate is probably another way to look at it. Focus on optimising the buyer experience, attention to detail defines the whole experience, and this should be apparent from the entrance gate. Now should be a good time to start work.

Lawns

Lawns should be in good condition, evenly cut with crisp well defined neat edges and cleared of all grass cuttings, fallen leaf and weeded etc. If colour is not vivid consider feeding with lawn fertiliser. If the problems are more serious and lawn is infested with weeds, it might be better to replace old lawn with new turf. A well maintained groomed lawn whatever the size makes a striking impression.

Shrubs, Trees and Flowers.

Dead head old flowers, trim and prune trees and shrubs where necessary, especially low hanging or overgrown branches especially around windows, over footpaths. Remove all dead shoots and branches. If there are obvious yawning gaps in planted areas, better to fill voids with new plant stock. Do bear in mind, the importance of colour and flower and ensure all plants are watered and look healthy. For a striking and fresh looking finish mulch planted areas with bark mulch. If the garden appears neglected, it might well require more professional assistance to complete the remedial works including installation of new lawn areas, and revisions to planting scheme. For more modest undertakings, best to keep it simple by planting groups (block planting) the same type and to bring out the best in colour and achieve impact use seasonal flowers. Do not overlook scent which can be an exciting experience in the garden. There are plenty of plant types to choose from including Shrubs, herbaceous and Herbs, e.g., Lavenders, Santolinas, Helichrysums, Lillies, Roses, Dill, Thyme, Rosemary etc. Try planting scented shrubs near windows or better still near seating areas and along footpath edges.

Patios and Paving

Patios and paved areas should be weed free, tidy and if necessary power washed to remove accumulated surface grime, lichen, moss etc.  Check Driveway areas for any signs of engine oil, and remove any oil stains with proprietary cleaners. A few strategically positioned colourful planters can have a dramatic effect at or near Patio areas or in overlooked recessed areas.

Garden Features

Ideally water features and especially pond areas should be cleaned and pumps in good working order. Also check garden lights and replace any faulty light bulbs. A particularly intrusive interference are Halogen security lights with poor settings, adjust angles and settings correctly so as not to blind house viewers.

Miscellaneous Areas

Toys should be stored away neatly, all garden rubbish should be removed and all doors, windows, drains and down pipes cleared of webs, washed and cleared of any debris. Worth checking are any Garden Outbuildings and Sheds which might benefit from a coat of paint.

So before selling your house pay some careful but critical attention to the garden areas. Some simple adjustments to particular aspects of the landscaping, not only enhances the overall effect, but could make it easier and faster to sell the house. More importantly the seller will be wise to remember the importance of the exterior and its role in shaping the prospective buyer’s first impression and making it count.

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Hunters, campers and outdoor enthusiasts appreciate equipment and tools that help them enjoy the outdoors more fully. Whether its fishing, hunting, or hiking, the following equipment can make great gift ideas that your outdoor enthusiast will look forward to using on the next outing.

A cast iron roaster and griddle is ideal for preparing wild game and one-pan meals. For instance, the Cabela Oval Cast Iron Roaster & Griddle provides quick and even cooking and the lid doubles as a convenient griddle. Although it can be used indoors, it’s best results are rendered for outdoor cooking.

No hunter or fisherman should be without a fillet knife. Like a very flexible boning knife, the fillet knife is used to fillet and prepare fish. They have a blade about 6 to 11 inches long that allows them to move easily along the backbone and under the skin of fish. The MAC Sole Fillet knife has an exceptionally thin and flexible blade designed for filleting sole or other delicate flat fish.

And while you’re considering a fillet knife, why not consider a knife block set for the serious hunter or fisherman. Professional quality-made knives feature paring, serrated utility, carving, and a cook’s knife – all contained in a knife block for easy and safe storage. Shop for high carbon stainless steel blades and poly handles with a no-slip grip for years of use.

A truly practical gift for the hunter, electric grinders come in a variety of sizes to meet various grinding needs. Choose one, like Cabela’s Commercial Grade Electric Grinders, that offer stainless steel necks, bases, plates, screws and blades, and also are certified for home or commercial use.

Nothing is more delicious than chicken prepared on a roaster, otherwise known as “beer butt chicken roasters.” These roasters come in either double or single size in stainless steel. Although these kinds of roasters were developed to roast the poultry using a beer can, other liquids such as juice or soda drinks can be used. The liquid provides steaming inside the chicken, which produces juicy, tender chicken that falls off the bone. These types of roasters require an outdoor grill with a high lid design to accommodate the chicken roasters.

Functional and convenient for the hunting camp, a slow cooker is ideal for the hunter who can prepare meat or stew ingredients with seasonings, and then heat out to hunt and return later to a warm, filling meal that’s ready to enjoy. Eastman makes a 3.5-quart slow cooker with a RealTree Hardwood Camo design.

Jerky is a food staple for many hunters and can be made from beef, venison, elk, turkey, and more. To prepare jerky, the chosen meat is thinly sliced, or pressed thinly, and drying commences at low temperatures, to avoid cooking or overdrying the meat. Multi-tiered jerky trays allow hunters to process a large batch of jerky. Look for trays with an easy-to-clean tray that catches drippings.

For the outdoor enthusiasts who need their morning java, a drip coffee maker designed to fit on a two- or three-burner gas stove, like the Coleman Drip Camp Coffee Maker, can be easily used on a camp or RV gas stove. The Coleman coffee maker also offers pause, serve, and easy pour features.

Once the hunter heads out, he or she can keep their coffee hot with vacuum bottles. The Cabela Camo Bullet Vacuum Bottle are made of stainless steel and are double-walled to keep beverages hot or cold and are extra tough for rugged conditions. The insulated lid doubles as a cup. The bottles come in various sizes.

Any outdoorsman knows that animal-proofing a campsite is important for both humans and animals. A chuck box is a convenient accessory to keep staples and cooking tools contained in a locked container. Cabela’s Chuck Box comes with utility hooks, shelf space, paper towel holder, carrying handles, and even a silverware tray. The formica top doubles as a work surface.

The world over, people are influenced by different cultures and their cuisines too differ. The use of right kitchen appliances helps a part-time cook or professional chefs to cook the food of our choice. One simply cannot imagine preparing a meal without the help of home appliances like the stove, refrigerator and dishwasher, because their use makes or chores much easier. Appliances those are durable in nature and, at the same time, energy-efficient as well are, in the long run, always a good buy.

It is definitely better to purchase reliable kitchen appliances. Otherwise, you may face problems like – your refrigerator not chilling the bottle of wine right when the guests are about to arrive, or your stove not producing enough heat to make the dish of your choice. At Toronto appliance, there are a variety of options available in kitchen appliances – from stoves to refrigerators. For any cook, homeowner or chef, these appliances help in reducing the workload, thereby saving time to be spent in the delightful company of family and friends.

In case you plan to change your cooking area or move into a new home, a graduation to advanced technology by snowblowersfact.com, in terms of kitchen appliances, can be considered a wise decision. In fact, technology has made life all the more easy. It is now possible for you to have a fridge that can even indicate the expiry of your stores, which helps you to efficiently update you stock well in time. It sounds great to learn that manufacturers are trying their hands at manufacturing a refrigerator that will not just keep tabs on the food inside, but will also make lists of what is required, and place an order with online grocers automatically.

Some models of kitchen appliances are ‘energy-efficient’ – they are efficient in reducing the electricity bills, thereby enabling you to keep stay within your budget. A gas stove is ideal buy, if faster cooking time is what you are looking for. Though not as energy efficient as an electric stove, the gas stove has hotter burners that actually cook the food faster. In case cooking time is not a major concern by gardentractorbuy.com, you can consider buying an electric range. The advantage of electric stoves is that they are digital, their LCD temperature displays, clocks and timers being an added plus. From a multitude of ranges available in the market, you can take your pick to suit your needs.

Other than the above-mentioned home appliances or fixtures, there also exist countless other appliances that not only make cooking a delightful experience through electriclawnmowersbuy, but also help us save time while doing cumbersome chores. A few of the other ‘must have’ appliances are the speed blenders, the quiet dishwashers, and the under the counter can openers.

Obviously, cooking can become so much more fun, with all these high-tech appliances to aid you. Ultimately, your choice of appliances depends on budget. However, with a concern in regard to environment, you should try to ensure that the appliances you use are environment-friendly, so that you can do your bit to save the earth for a better future for the coming generations.

Home Furniture styles- Modern Furniture, Contemporary Furniture, Transitional and Traditional Style Furniture.

Today, home furniture styles can be roughly divided by four big categories: modern furniture, contemporary furniture, transitional and traditional style furniture. The traditional style is very well recognized. So, let’s focus on the rest three.

The style called “modern furniture” emerged at the end of the 19th century, in opposition to traditional style furniture designs. It rebelled against the old style; however, if you take a look at some of the modern furniture designs from the late 19th to early 20th century, you will be surprised how traditional they look to you. Furniture designs are changing rapidly, just like clothing designs, there are fashion trends, there are furniture shows going on throughout the world a few times a year, where world top furniture designers represent their collections.

Modern furniture is often confused with contemporary furniture and vise versa. Even though the words “modern” and “contemporary” are synonyms by definition, in the furniture world, they are treated differently. Modern furniture is often associated with something bright-colored, unusually shaped but sometimes a bit uncomfortable. On the other end, contemporary style really focuses on combining fashion and comfort. Another advantage of contemporary furniture is that it is usually priced very moderately, therefore affordable to an average American.

Transitional furniture is a sort of a comeback to a traditional furniture style without losing all the advantages of the modern/contemporary one. It is a kind of symbiosis of two styles, traditional furniture and modern furniture. We can all agree that there are situations, where one just cannot just meet his or her expectations with one style. Let’s say there is a need for a traditional furniture but the size of the room does not allow it, or there is a budget problem (transitional style furniture is often cheaper), therefore one resorts to a transitional one.

Please visit us online at: www.modern1furniture.com

Everywhere you look and everything you read it is about layoffs, higher unemployment levels, store and business closings and more. But I believe that this is all bunk. Granted things are tough. Banks are going under, the stock market is crashing, real estate is at its lowest point since 1985 and there is enough doom and gloom out there for a century of headlines…but I believe this is the perfect opportunity for anyone who ever had a yearning to start a new venture to just do it. There is a saying that a “ship is never tested in calm waters”, well the waters could not getting any more stormy. And to rely on someone else to help you through them right now is probably unrealistic. Everyone and every company is holding on tight and hoping that the storm passes and that they are still on their feet.

Where does that leave you? You may have recently lost your job or your retirement savings has been dwindled away by the market yet life goes on. The kids need clothes, the house payment needs to be paid and above all else you cannot at this point in your live start over. You need to make money NOW!!! And in some cases you need to make a lot of money NOW!!!

Well I have a plan that can help you survive the rough times and create for yourself a way to be self employed making a lot of money without very little invested and best of all you will be working for yourself. Do you have any idea how liberating it is to work for yourself. You work your own hours, you carve out the time to do what you want and you make as much money as you want depending on how hard you work and how committed you are.

Over the past 14 years I bought and sold on eBay. I worked three days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week) and about 6-8 hours each of those three days.  At first I sold what I had around the house and as my sales increased I bought more stuff and it worked. I used a formula on eBay. If I wanted to make $2000 a week I would need to list about 250 auctions a week and on average 60-65% of the auctions sold at an average of about $16.50 per item. Well as time went on I evolved my business to selling only antique and vintage costume and fine jewelry. I did this for three reasons: First, it was easy and cheap (bubble wrap and padded envelopes) to pack and ship. Second, costume jewelry is an expensive luxury. And three, costume jewelry was easy to come by. I would buy huge lots of jewelry on eBay for under $3.00 per piece and usually average between $9.00-12.00 when it sold. So there you have it… I was spending on average about $600 on merchandise and eBay fees a week and putting $2,000. In the bank and all I had to do was work about 20 hours a week and work the hours of the day that I wanted.

Well unfortunately eBay became greedy and their fees skyrocketed and their new business philosophy was unkind to the small specialty boutique seller, like myself. So I started VBMShops.com.

VBMShops is the first of its kind and the beginning of a new and exciting concept and era in online marketing. Unlike all of the “cookie cutter- eBay want to be’s” VBMShops is a “Street of Shops” of auction and fixed price boutiques for antique, vintage and new merchandise of all kinds. Unlike any other site on the internet, VBMShops is comprised of specialty store boutiques and each boutique has a distinct attitude reminiscent of the fine boutiques found throughout the world.  These boutiques will provide the seller and collector of rare and hard to find one of kind merchandise a place to shop and sell. VBMShops, as it grows will provide an amazing assortment of estate collectible and newer merchandise from every era and for every connoisseur. As a gift to the many wonderful sellers and buyers out there and knowing that times are tough, VBMShops is offering on any of the boutiques, FREE 60 DAYS OF UNLIMITED AUCTION OR FIXED PRICE LISTINGS so that you can try us out and see what a difference this Street of Shops concept can offer.

I am a 14 year veteran and Powerseller and buyer at eBay and I know what sellers and buyers are looking for and this is why VBMShops took flight. VBMShops is geared to meet the needs of the small boutique buyers and sellers of Vintage, Antique and Newer merchandise. These sellers and buyers have been forgotten in the new philosophical direction that eBay has adopted. Quite literally eBay has turned into a wholesaler like Kmart or Walmart, pushing tons of new cheaply foreign made things into the marketplace and “wanting to be all things to all people”. The small boutique buyer and seller are looking for more…they want a one of a kind selling and shopping experience from the convenience and comfort of their own home.

VBMShops has the “bones and body” of eBay but the “heart and soul” of a fine specialty store boutique, each having a qualified “shopkeeper” to share their expertise and trends that are occurring on the horizon.

The first three boutiques are opened and ready for sellers and buyers and include

Vintage Gems Emporium for antique, vintage and new fine and costume jewelry at www.vintagegemsemporium.com Just4Collectibles for all types of new and used collectibles at www.just4collectibles.com Art Antiques Galleria for fine art and estate furniture and accessories at www.artsantiquesgalleria.com

Currently VBMShops needs sellers and buyers of antique, vintage and new costume and fine jewelry, collectibles of all kinds and fine art and antique items. And remember, that for the next 60 days there are no fees for anything on the site. Visit www.VBMShops.com today and click on one of three auction and fixed price venues open for business and register and begin selling and buying.

VBMShops was started with four distinct philosophical strategies:

To be the only online auction boutique venue for antique, vintage and newer merchandise in environments that reflect the character and quality of the merchandise. To be the least costly online marketplace for sellers, having low listing, no final valuation fees on anything selling for less than $100.00 and the lowest FVF on the web for sales over $100.00, plus lots of free extras. To provide fair and equal treatment of both sellers and buyers. To provide all non-profit organizations a place to list an unlimited number of auctions at absolutely no cost, FOREVER.

By the end of April 2009, five more boutiques will open and include:

Vintage Clothes Closet for antique and vintage clothing and accessoriesRTW Closet for newer and used clothing and accessories Athletes Pavilion for sporting goods Vintage Sports Fanatics for sports memorabilia Feathers 4 My Nest for home and garden

In May 2009 five more boutiques will open and include:

Blissful Baby for mom, newborn and toddler Ab-Fab-Body health and beauty aids Artsi-Craftsi for handmade arts and crafts 4 Legs 1 Tail for pet accessories and products Toys2Hobbies for children and adult toys and hobbies

More than 30 other boutiques will open over the next couple months and will include Books & Ephemera, Coins & Stamps, Bridal Boutique, Bed & Bath, Kitchen & Gourmet, Antique & Vintage Motor Vehicles, Ethnic & Tribal Peoples, China, Silver & Glass, Electronics, Music & Movie, Camera & Photography, Capitals of the World, Real Estate, and Luxury and much more as we see what the worldwide market thrust indicates. VBMShops will evaluate potential leasors who want their very own stand alone store front in our “street of shops”.

Registration to sell or buy at VBMShops is FREE and easy so sign up today by visiting www.VBMShops.com.

With an ever-expanding network of home improvement television shows and DIY magazines, the do-it-yourself home improvement sector has taken off. Homeowners everywhere are rushing to their local hardware stores, ready to rip out their bathroom tile or tear down old kitchen cupboards.

As excited as you may be to get started on your first DIY home improvement project, there are a few considerations you should first take into account. You need to plan, understand your project, budget, and be aware of your space. To learn more about these basic, but crucial, DIY home improvement tips, keep reading.

1. Plan, Plan, Plan

Before you even begin a DIY home improvement project, you should have a full plan in place. And prior to making that drive to the home hardware store, put together a folder with all your measurements and a complete list of everything you intend to buy, right down to the last nail.

People get excited about projects and don’t want to get right to it instead of “wasting” time planning. However, By planning out the phases and details your project, you’re less likely to overspend on unnecessary materials or find that you need to backtrack over already-completed work.

Planning prevents mishaps such as needing to stop work and call a plumber because you forgot to verify whether there were pipes running where you wanted to put in that door. Planning also decreases overspending, such as buying three cans of paint when you only needed two.

Meanwhile, researching your project will help to avert the more costly mistakes. By reading books, watching relevant DVD’s or researching online information about the project you want to tackle, you’re less likely to botch a job and more likely to complete it with a professional finish.

2. Budget

Along with planning, comes budgeting. As you plan the details of your project, keep a running tally of the expense for each material. If you don’t know how much something costs, check the Internet or call your local retailer to obtain a price ahead of time.

Once you have your budget, add 10-20% extra. Almost every home renovation project, DIY or not, runs up against unexpected expenses – it’s just a reality of life’s uncertainties. Whether it is materials that cost more than you expect or a surprise problem that needs to get fixed, you’ll need to have the money ready to take care of it. Every good DIY’er knows to have a little extra on hand.

3. Understand Your Project

Before you attempt to tackle a major home improvement project, make sure you know what you’re doing. Use resources like books, your local hardware clerk, the Internet and how-to videos to get a good grasp on the project you will be undertaking.

If you feel like the project is out of your league, don’t hesitate to call in a professional.

4. Know Your Space

This tip is related to planning, but make sure you have enough space to take on your project. Don’t try to fit a new island in your kitchen if there isn’t sufficient room for it. Try to live by the old carpenter’s adage of “measure twice, cut once.”

There is a growing trend in interior decorating. Fossils are showing up in homes and offices in the U.S. and around the world. Large display fossil pieces, tile inlays, and table ware are just a few ways that fossils are being used in home decorating.

At the recent Denver Fossil, Gem, and Mineral Show I couldn’t help but listen with wonder as dealer after dealer reported the furious buying of large fossil specimens for Japanese homes and businesses. It seems that the Japanese are not only fascinated with these ancient relics, they want them for art pieces.

One dealer reported that he had received an amazing figure for a reconstructed fish from the Green River Formation near Kemmerer, Wyoming. The specimen had been found in a quarry, prepared by a second party, purveyed by a third and will eventually be delivered to its new Japanese home. A great deal for all parties!

Artists, too, are benefiting from the Japanese excitement over fossils. An artist who regularly uses ammonites and orthoceras in her objects d’arte creations recently told us she had been approached by a Japanese dealer who was negotiating to buy 50 of her art pieces.

Fossil Table Ware
Americans are putting another spin on fossil art. Besides the many wonderful display items that come from Morocco, there are plates and serving bowls that will be decorating many dinner tables throughout the United States. These unique pieces add a warm earthiness to the meal; and their colors are as yummy as the culinary dishes they serve up!

Large Display Pieces
Continue this earthy motif to the living room. There you’ll find coffee and end tables carved and polished from the black and white, orthoceras-filled matrix that comes from Moroccan deserts. Plaques of specimens come in all sizes and include specimens ranging from ancient trilobites and brittlestars to polished ammonites and orthoceras. Prices have a wide range, too, so watch out! If you take the time to shop around, you can find some great deals!

Fossil Counter Tops, And Fossil Tiles
Recently a new craze in “permanent decorating” is also making the scene in the U.S. Concrete kitchen counters are known for their easy durability and beauty. But inlay them with fossil ammonites and you have a counter that is out of this world beautiful AND one-of-a-kind! Bathroom tiles set with orthoceras create a memory of the watery environment these ancient creatures called home.

If you are a fossil-lover and just can’t find one more empty space to add to your collection, think about these new alternatives for home d

I just received the real estate broker license in California, and plan to do brokerage business. I’m not planning to setup a company or hire any agent. I’m thinking about joining Orange County Association of Realtors. Do I really need E&O insurance? What steps am I missing? Any advice will be appreciated.

So.  You’ve done your homework and chose the moving company that will move your belongings.  Unfortunately, after this homework there’s more work-as in the paper kind.
The first bit of business is to start a “move file” which should contain all financial aspects of the move.  This includes the mover’s fee, their receipts and every item you’ve donated to charity.  These donations not only lessens your moving load, but also can be claimed as a tax deduction.  In fact, the IRS will allow the move to be tax deductible if it falls under these conditions:

1.     You are moving because of a job change.
2.    Your new home is at least 50 miles or more farther from your former home and job.  For example, if your old job’s location was just two miles from your former home, your new job location must be at least 52 miles from your former home.
3.     If you’re self-employed, you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first year and a total of 78 weeks during the first two years at your new home.  If you’re a company’s employee, you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first year upon arriving at your new job and home.

If the drive to your new home is a great deal of distance from your old home, you can also deduct the cost of your lodging; as well as gas charges.  However, a long term temporary living expense (i.e., subletting a house before you move into your new home) is not deductible.

If you’re not going to drive your car to your new home, then research auto shipping companies.  See what type of vehicles they specialize in moving – especially if you’ve got an expensive car.  If you need to have your car dropped off at your home, you’ll want to see if they offer door to door transport.  

Of course, there are hundreds of auto shipping companies.  A good website that reviews and weeds out the bad apples from the good ones is:  http://www.transportreviews.com/

After all financial arrangements have been sufficiently arranged and recorded, start researching your new community by using the internet.  There, you can find and study online community guides, blogs and newspapers.  These sites will make you feel less of a stranger in your new town.  You should also contact the Chamber of Commerce to request their new resident packet.  

Once you’ve gathered this necessary information, you can then extensively work on your floor plan.  Before you move into your new home, you should already know how your home will look.  Which room(s) will be utilized as a study?  A home gym?  A “playroom” for your child (children)?  A bedroom?  The washing machine/dryer room?

If you have a backyard, before the move is the time to plan what will fill it.  Do you want the backyard to hold a picnic table?  A patio?  A garden?  A swimming pool?  A barbecue pit or birdbath or any lawn ornament?  Or, if any of the aforementioned is in the backyard already, do you wish to have any or all of it removed?  A clutter free backyard can not only clear your mind, but clear up space-especially if you have a young child or children and they have (or will have) a swing set or jungle gym.  

In short, make plans for your new home while you’re living in your old home.