Tiny homes come in many forms. Sometimes it’s a trailer transformed into a truly beautiful pocket-sized house. Other times, it could be a teeny cottage built on a farm plot or a space in a community building. In general, they’re roughly defined as being under 400 square feet, maintaining coziness on a smaller scale.

Building costs can range from just $4,000 right up to $180,000, depending on how you choose to customize it. It is most important to remember that alongside the costs for materials, labor, and other services you’d expect, there can sometimes be extra costs you wouldn’t associate with a more traditional house, such as permits and zoning charges. It’s also pertinent to keep in mind that if you’re “off-grid,” hooking up utilities can incur extra costs, while financing tiny homes can require thinking outside the box due to the traditional nature of mortgages.

The tiny home movement can offer financial freedom and simplicity, but it’s always worth bearing in mind the other factors you’ll have to be prepared for.

Call or email me if you are interested in buying a tiny home. I’m always here to help.

While many of these imagine the suits aiding soldiers’ movement in settings of battle or strife, real-world examples are being developed to help with issues closer to home, with various development projects in motion to help those incapacitated by injury or illness.

One such example is an inspiring story of a father’s dream to see his wheelchair-bound son walk. Jean-Louis Constanza, a robotics engineer from France, has been developing a robotic suit to help his 16-year-old son Oscar stand up and walk without assistance for the very first time. Oscar is strapped into the suit from the shoulders down and activates the suit through voice commands. Saying the phrase “Robot, stand up” causes the suit to move from the sitting position to standing, while “Robot, walk” causes the suit to begin walking, letting Oscar stride as if he’d never been paralyzed in the first place.

The suit is an incredible piece of engineering and paves the way for countless possibilities for the future, though with current technology, there are still certain drawbacks such as cost and it not being fit for everyday use. However, the suit is being used by a number of hospitals in the country for patient rehabilitation, and it is hoped that technological advances could make this type of equipment lighter and cheaper, allowing wider and more accessible usage for those in need.

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

In a large bowl, combine pumpkin pie spice and flour. In a blender, add soaked dates, date soak water, vanilla, and milk, and purée 1–2 minutes until smooth. Add to bowl with flour and spices along with pumpkin. Mix with wooden spoon until dry ingredients are incorporated.

Pour batter into 8×8 baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 25–30 minutes until lightly browned and slightly cracked. Cool for 10–15 minutes. Cut into squares and frost, if desired, before serving.

Seal any drafts. Making sure that any gaps in doorways and windows are properly weather-stripped helps to keep the cold air out and the warm air in, reducing the amount of time you need your heating on.

Inspect the roof. Check for any damage or gaps, making sure that anything you find is seen to by a professional. This will help to eliminate potential leaks before they happen.

Clear your gutters. Ensuring there are no blockages will improve water flow and prevent the risk of water damage or frozen pipes when the weather turns sour.

Check your safety gadgets. As you’re more likely to be lighting the fireplace and using hot appliances, it’s a good time to check your safety gadgets, such as smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Turn off any outside faucets. Make sure that outdoor faucets and pipes you won’t be using are turned off to prevent unnecessary damage from pipes freezing.

Check your filters. Appliances such as humidifiers, air purifiers, clothes dryers, and furnace filters will be used more across the winter, so make sure the filters are in good working order.

Get your water heater drained. As with your filter appliances, you’ll be using your water heater a lot more. Draining it at least once a year helps to remove any excess sediment that clogs it up and prevents water from heating properly.

For more information on what fall maintenance to do to help with selling your home, call or email me.

Vinegar is a friend. If you prefer using nontoxic ingredients, vinegar is a go-to solution. One of its best tricks is descaling kettles. Fill the kettle up with half vinegar, half water and let it sit for at least an hour. Then boil and pour the mixture out.

Essential oils are for more than a massage. If your drain won’t stop smelling, pour a few drops of peppermint essential oil down it. It will remain odor free and will also help deter mice and other rodents.

Red wine? White wine. The oldest trick in the book and one that really works: if you spill a glass of red, pour white over it immediately. It might seem counterintuitive, but it works! Layer the stain with salt afterward to draw out the rest of the red.

Use lint rollers for hard-to-reach spots. Hard as we try, the vacuum doesn’t always reach everywhere. Use a lint roller to pick up dust and fluff in those pesky corners and hard-to-reach spots.

Iron off candle wax. Picture this: you decided to get the fancy dinner candles out, but now your favorite table runner is covered in wax droplets. Wax may feel like the hardest thing to expel from fabric, but the truth is a quick run under an iron will make it disappear. Remember to put a paper towel between them!

Use citrus peels for freshness. Save your orange and lemon peels and put them in a jar with white vinegar (that helpful friend) for an effective yet fresh surface cleaning solution.