Everyone loves a well-manicured lawn and lush landscaping. It commands pride in ownership, boost the esthetics of a home, and even adds a certain amount of value to a property. But did you know that lurking within your prized yard may be plants that could be potentially hazardous to you, your family, and your pets?

Here are some hazards that could be present in your hard to be wary of.

1. Wild Mushrooms

Before you go out and search your yard for something to add to your dinner’s side dish, think twice. The wild mushrooms that may be growing on your lawn might not necessarily be poisonous, but it can be tough to tell if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

‘Amanita ocreata’ and amanita phalloides’ grows in many California grass patches, and can be deadly if ingested. At the very least, they can cause horrible side effects, including stomachaches, vomiting, and respiratory conditions. Stick to the mushrooms you can get at the grocery store for your escargot.

2. Sago Palms

Pretty but painful to the touch, sago palms can be poisonous to both humans and pets of they are ingested. While you might not necessarily reach for the sago palm as a snack, animals such as cats, dogs, and horses just might sniff it out because they find these plants appetizing. A toxin known as ‘cycasin’ is found in all parts of the plant, especially in the seeds. If ingested, symptoms can range from vomiting and diarrhea, to death.

3. Atropa Belladonna

Don’t let this esthetically pleasing, bell-shaped, dark purple flower fool you. Even the name “belladonna” has a lovely ring to it, and literally translates to “beautiful woman” from Italian. Unfortunately, the atropa belladonna – also dubbed the ‘deadly nightshade’ – can be fatal when consumed. At the very least, it can cause hallucinations. Just touching it can leave blisters on whatever part of your body makes contact with it.

4. Angel’s Trumpet

Another devil in disguise is the ‘datura stramonium’, which is also dubbed ’angel’s trumpet’. Even the smallest amount ingested can lead to hallucination. Larger quantities can be even more serious, and can cause hyperthermia, erratic heart rhythms, and even death. This weed is all over California, so it’s best to be wary of it and make sure pets don’t accidentally get into it.

5. Poison Oak

Keep an eye out for these three-leaf plants in the vicinity of your property. They can be pretty tough to distinguish, considering their three-leaf clusters resemble other types of harmless ivy that grows as shrubs or climbing vines.

If you rub up against it, you’ll likely experience major itching and severe dermatitis thanks to its poisonous oil, which contains a compound called urushiol. If you believe poison oak is lingering in your yard, put on some protective clothing and gloves and get rid of it before the kids and pets get into it.

6. Stinging Nettle

The name itself should tell you what can happen if you make contact with this plant. Freshly harvested stinging nettle can actually sting you if you handle it without protective gloves. The minuscule hairs that cover the leaves can introduce toxins into your skin if you touch it, leaving behind itchy bumps on your skin. 

7. Castor Bean

The vibrant red color of the castor bean may be very attractive, but its seeds can be extremely dangerous if ingested. The seeds of this plant are rich in the toxin ‘ricin’, which has actually been used in chemical and biological warfare! This fact alone should prompt you to avoid including castor bean in your landscaping.

The Bottom Line

You just never know what may be lurking in your yard. Before you go out and choose plants for your landscaping, make sure you do your homework on each species. If your yard is already abundant in different plants, shrubs, vines and weeds, make sure you get up-to-date with what exactly is lingering on your property so that you, your children and your pets are safe.

There are plenty of reasons why stucco is so popular among homeowners: it’s durable, it’s easy to maintain, and it looks good. If it’s applied properly, stucco can last as much as 50 years, as long as it’s well taken care of.

The latter part is what is key: proper maintenance. Even though stucco is relatively easy and affordable to upkeep, it still needs to be tended to on a regular basis. If not, it’ll end of looking worn in no time, which can cost you money to repair, and even lower the value of your home.

Here are some tips to maintaining your home’s stucco.

Keep it Clean

Just like any exterior, stucco can get dirty pretty easily. It can collect dirt as a result of the outdoor elements, which can inevitably make your home look filthy. Stucco is also a porous material, which means that it can absorb stains. For that reason, frequent cleaning is necessary. A simple spray of your garden hose or power washer (at a low setting) should usually do the trick.

The best application to clean your stucco is to mist it with water first to allow the caked-on dirt to soak and loosen up. Afterward, spray it with more pressure from top to bottom to allow the dirt to make its way to the ground.

Seal it Regularly

When stucco is first applied to your home, it should be sealed. Since it’s a porous material, stucco needs to be protected from any moisture intrusion. Typically, a clear concrete masonry sealer is applied, which penetrates through the stucco and prevents any moisture from getting in. One application at the onset is a start, but that’s not the end of it. While these sealers are highly effective, they need to be reapplied every five years or so.

Consider Applying an Elastomeric Coating

If your home’s stucco is older, consider applying an elastomeric coating, especially if you’ve already noticed some cracking. These types of waterproof finishes keep moisture out, and seal up hairline cracks. Thanks to their flexible properties, elastomeric coatings will stretch if a crack develops and widens below the seal. That way, the seal is still able to keep water out of the cracks. These sealants typically last at least 10 years.

Make Repairs Right Away

Stucco is extremely durable and rigid, but it is still susceptible to cracks, chips, and even holes as it ages. Not only are these defects unattractive, they can also compromise the strength of the stucco material itself. Not only that, crevices like these offer the perfect opportunity for mold to grow and pests to make their way into your home. If you notice a crack in the stucco, don’t allow it time to widen. Instead, get on top of it right away and repair it before it gets worse.

If the crack or chip is minor in nature, you can probably repair it on your own. Just make sure that any moisture issues have been addressed and dealt with first. Following that, a stucco patch can be applied to repair the area. If the issues are much more elaborate, a contractor may have to be called in. Either way, dealing with a crack or chip before it’s given the chance to worsen is important to prevent major damage down the road.

The Bottom Line

For the most part, stucco is a fantastic exterior material that generally doesn’t need a great deal of maintenance. By cleaning it once in a while and getting on top of any small cracks or chips right away, you can enjoy an attractive exterior to your home for decades to come.

When it comes to homes, styles change and features come more innovative. So it’s pretty unlikely that whatever state your home is in now will be up to snuff in a decade or so. At that point (or probably sooner), you’ll be looking to update the finishes or improve the functionality of your space. The thing is, these kinds of tasks costs money, and budget always rears its ugly head when the need for a big revamp in a home is called for.

The question is, how much are these projects going to run you, anyway?

Ripping Down a Wall

These days, an open concept is highly coveted among homeowners, especially the younger ones. People like the idea of being able to communicate with family or guests, regardless of what room each person happens to be in. Being able to prepare dinner while watching the game in the living room at the same time is a big plus. Removing a wall also allows more light to fill the whole floor and creates better traffic flow. 

Price Tag: Removing a non-load bearing wall can cost about $3,000. Load-bearing wall removal is more expensive, and runs about $10,000 for a single-story wall, and up to $30,000 if the load-bearing wall extends two stories.

Adding a New Bathroom

These days, it would be nice if every household member had his or her own bathroom. That way mornings would go a lot smoother without anyone having to fight for space in this underestimated little room. Older homes in particular weren’t exactly known for their plethora of bathrooms, so adding one or two has been a popular endeavor among these homeowners.

Price Tag: The cost of adding a new bathroom can vary greatly, since it depends on how large it will be, what ‘rough-ins’ are already present or need to be installed, and the features and finishes you want to add. Basically, a new bathroom installation could run you anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000+ just for the bathroom alone. Any concrete that needs to be broken to run plumbing lines will jack up the final cost.

For example, if sewer lines are less than 6 feet below grade, an ‘evacuator’ would have to be installed to remove the waste, which can really hike up the installation cost. If rough-ins are already there, the simple job of putting up framing, drywall, doors, hardware and floor coverings isn’t terribly expensive. Keep in mind that a new bathroom adds value to a home, so whatever you end up spending could come back to you come sale time.

Remodeling a Kitchen

The kitchen its the core of a home. It’s where things happen. Not only are your meals prepared here, but there is a coming-together that takes place in this central space. With so much time being spent in the kitchen, it’s no wonder that homeowners tend to focus on keeping it updated and visually appealing. And let’s not forget about how much of a role the kitchen plays in the overall value of the property.

Price Tag: The national average cost to for a minor kitchen remodeling job is around $18,500, while a major revamping cost an average of $54,000. Of course, this number could easily go way beyond, depending on the extent of your wish list.

This is one of those home remodeling jobs that you need to be careful with as far as ROI is concerned. Done right, you could really add some serious value to your home. But spend way too much and add a bunch of finishes that the neighborhood doesn’t call for could have you losing out at the end of the day.

Replacing Carpeting With Hardwood Flooring

Wall-to-wall carpeting isn’t exactly what homebuyers like to see when they first walk into a home. What sophisticated buyers want these days is hardwood. That’s not to say that you’ll be planting a For Sale sign on your lawn anytime soon, but it’s still worth noting what kind of features demand more attention and higher prices. Having said that, it’s still a lot easier to maintain hardwood than carpeting. And you’ve got to admit – hardwood just looks better.

Price Tag: Hardwood flooring is definitely much more expensive than carpeting. For those on a tighter budget, hardwood can be reserved for certain rooms that get a lot of traffic, such as the foyer, hallways, and living area. Installing hardwood flooring can cost anywhere between $9 and $12 per square foot, depending on the size of the planks and the type of wood you’re using.

Replace Windows With Energy-Efficient Models

Whether or not you want energy-efficient windows, if your current ones are over 15 to 20 years old, it’s probably time to replace them anyway. Old windows that allow air to escape not only compromise the comfort level of your indoor air, they’ll also send your utility bills through the roof. Installing energy-efficient windows might cost a good chunk of change up front, but it’ll come back to you in spades from the savings on your bills, not to mention the increase in overall value of your home.

Price Tag: All-new, mid-range vinyl windows for an average home cost between $11,000 and $15,000. But you can easily recoup about 80% of the project cost in added value to your home. And don’t forget about any local or state rebates or tax incentives that you might be able to take advantage of as well.

No one said maintaining a home is cheap. But done right, these home remodeling jobs can boost your home’s value, and add a little extra equity to help pad your pockets. Talk to a real estate agent about what types of remodeling projects really pay off, and how to stick to what your specific neighborhood calls for.

When it’s time to move, you may be faced with the decision to either buy or rent. This conundrum isn’t just reserved for young adults moving out of their parents’ homes, but also to empty nesters or professionals who are relocating for a new job opportunity.

Before you take the plunge, be sure to ask yourself these important questions first.

Am I prepared to maintain the home?

As a renter, you’ll likely not have to do much in the way of home maintenance and repairs, unless it’s specified in your lease. With homeownership, on the other hand, everything is your responsibility: cutting the grass, watering the flowers, clearing the gutters, washing the windows, and making any repairs will ultimately fall on your lap, unless you pay someone to do it for you. Make sure you’re prepared to dedicate some of your free time to tasks like these if you choose to go the homeownership route.

How long am I planning to live in the home?

While it’s impossible to know exactly what will happen in the near future, you may have specific intentions with where you want to be within the next few years. If you’re planning on changing jobs or moving to a different city some time soon, you might want to rent instead of buy until things settle down.

On the other hand, if you’re quite happy where you are and have no intentions moving anytime soon, planting some roots through homeownership may be right for you. Selling can be expensive, so you don’t want to have to fork over more money than necessary if you don’t plan on staying put for at least a couple of years.

How much can I put towards a down payment?

While you may be asked to put forth both first and last month’s rent as a tenant, you’ll need to come up with a much larger sum of money as a buyer. Conventional mortgages generally require at least 5% down against the purchase price of the home. Some government-backed mortgage programs will let you put a down payment of 3.5% or sometimes even less if you qualify. If you don’t have enough money to cover the down payment, you’ll either need to rent, or save up until you’ve got enough.

What is my credit like?

Lenders prefer to deal with borrowers who have a decent credit score, which is usually anything above 680. If your credit score falls short, you may not be approved for a mortgage. Even if you do get approved, you stand a bigger chance of getting slapped with a higher interest rate, which will make your home loan more expensive. In that case, you may want to start out renting and work to getting your credit score improved before you consider buying in the future.

How much can I afford to spend on the home?

There are plenty of costs associated with owning a home: utilities, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, maintenance and repairs all cost money on an ongoing basis. That’s money above and beyond your mortgage payments. You’ll need to come up with a budget to see how much you can comfortably afford after factoring in your net income.

Am I emotionally prepared to buy?

Some people have a problem with commitment. If that’s you, renting may be the better option; for now, anyway. Usually, tenants are only obligated to commit to a one-year lease, after which the tenancy can be renegotiated. When you buy a home, you’ll have to select an area and a house that you’ll want to live for at least the next few years so you can recoup the cost of buying and eventually selling.

How stable is my job?

You don’t really want to lock into a mortgage if your job isn’t stable. Your lender may ultimately make that decision for you, but it’s something you should think about before you even consider applying for a mortgage. If your job is on shaky grounds, or you’re only on a short-term contract, renting may be the better option.

How do prices of homes versus debts compare in the area?

In many centers, the cost of rent can actually be pretty close to the cost of homeownership after everything has been factored in. Mortgage interest rates have been so low for the last few years, so buying may actually be the cheaper option in many cases. In order to accurately compare the cost of renting versus buying, remember to include utilities, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, maintenance, repairs, and HOA fees if applicable, along with the mortgage principal and interest payments. 

It’s also wise to consider long-term benefits of building equity and wealth through homeownership that results from an increase in values and equity as you pay off your mortgage.

Your real estate agent and mortgage specialist will be able to help you effectively compare the two, and ultimately help you make the right decision.

How you answer these questions will help guide you towards making the right choice and determining whether or not you’re ready to buy, or if you’re better off renting, at least for a little while.