This week we’re joined with two special guests to talk all about backyard farming. Marc & Arlene Green,  owners of BUFCO, are here with us today to share their wisdom on turning your backyard into a sustainable source of healthy, organic food.

In today’s episode, we’re here again with Mark Lilley, the owner of Lilley Pad Ponds. He is a YouTuber and pool maintenance expert and has been working in this industry for over 13 years.

Welcome back to the Home & Outdoor Living podcast. One of the questions we’ve been frequently asked recently is how to finance a home improvement project. So we dedicated today’s episode to answering this question.

Swimming pools are one of the oldest landscape features in the outdoor living space. We hear from lots of folks who have inherited a pool and have no idea what to do with it. So we dedicated today's episode to talk to an expert about swimming pool maintenance.

Mark Lily, the owner of Lily Pad Ponds, is here with us today to talk about how to maintain your swimming pool properly. Mark has been in the landscape business for more than 13 years.

Welcome back to Home & Outdoor Living. Today we have an interview with a special guest. Demi Fortuna, Director of Education at Atlantic Water Gardens, is here to talk about everything water features. He has been in the industry for 33 years.

When you are thinking of home improvement, just like everyone else, you have your own motivations. If you are in your forever home, then you want to create a great family experience. There are three categories for making those improvements on your forever home, and that’s what Michael is talking about today. It’s important to remember that everyone is unique, so each of these categories will mean something different to everyone!

 

In this episode, we talk about…

• Making improvements for day-to-day functions
• Setting your home up for optimizing leisure time
• Deciding what leisure time means to you
• Creating a family experience through an outdoor space
• The three categories to focus on when adding an outdoor element
• What is the connection that you are looking for?

Getting your first rental property is an exciting time, but the purchase is just the beginning of the process. Nelson Garcia is in the house today to talk about how to fix up your first rental property. It is important to differentiate between things that need to be fixed and things that you want to fix. There’s no point in spending a massive amount of money on changes that just aren’t necessary! Stay tuned to hear what you need to pay attention to when fixing up your rental property.

 

In this episode, we talk about…

• Making a list of things that need to be fixed in regards to safety and return
• Why fixing the kitchen and the bathroom will sell renters on your house
• Changing your strategy according to how long you will keep the house
• Sticking to professionals when researching big house projects
• Deciding whether to do it yourself or hire a professional
• Gathering multiple estimates during the due diligence phase
• Making your unit presentable without going overboard

 

Links to resources:

Facebook

Getting into the real estate game can be scary, especially in a fluctuating market, but if you do your homework and pay attention to detail, you can set yourself up for success. Serial DIYer, real estate investor, and Michael’s cousin, Nelson Garcia, is in the house today to talk about getting into real estate and what the numbers look like in today’s market. There is no secret in this business. Be careful, know your numbers, and do your best to learn from the resources that are available to you!

 

In this episode, we talk about…

• Nelson’s journey to buying his first bit of real estate
• Numbers that are important when shopping around for property
• Where Nelson learned to figure out his numbers
• Throwing in an offer on his first property
• Finding a real estate agent that will work with your numbers
• Fixing a retaining wall and other issues to avoid liability problems
• Navigating the time between the offer and closing date
• Knowing what’s going to come back to you through appreciation
• Differentiating between the emotions of being a tenant and a renter

 

Links to resources:

Zolo

Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat

Check out Bigger Pockets 

 

The first step when working with a landscape contractor is deciding whether to design to a budget or budget to a design. No one knows more about that than Michael’s guest today, Matt Hiner. Matt is a landscape designer out in Colorado and the owner of Hiner Outdoor Living, a company that specializes in creating incredible outdoor living spaces. It might be a challenge to figure out how you want to approach a landscaping project, but understanding your finances beforehand will help along the way. The journey will never go exactly as you planned so stay patient and be willing to compromise!

 

In this episode, we talk about…

• What it means to design to a budget
• Budgeting to a design with a wish list
• Figuring out which category you fall into between design and budget
• Staying willing to make compromises from the beginning
• Breaking down the different levels of designs when working with a designer
• The massive differences when it comes to building different water features
• Utilizing pictures to get the best out of your designer
• Different factors that go into deciding your budget
• Step-by-step list when hiring a landscaping contractor

 

Links to resources:

Instagram

Pinterest

Get more information about Matt on Instagram!

When you hear the term, “water feature,” you might think of a pond, a fountain, or maybe you have no idea what that means. There are so many unique designs that fit into the term because those who are passionate about water features are truly artists. At the end of the day, a water feature is the only part of a landscape that will suck everyone outside of the house. Michael’s guest today is Greg Wittstock, is a water feature pioneer who is going to dive into the vast world of water features. A water feature helps turn a house into a home so get off of your electronics and go enjoy nature in your own yard!

 

In this episode, we talk about…

• Defining what the term “water feature” includes
• Why some people would like to have a water feature
• Greg’s journey to becoming The Pond Guy
• Bringing the joy of water features to other people
• Common feedback from people who have a water feature in their yard
• Different avenues to get a water feature of your own
• Determining exactly what kind of water feature you want
• Where to find the supplies to build your own water feature
• Tips for seeking out a certified contractor and what questions to ask
• Having an outdoor pond while living in a colder climate

 

Links to resources:

Learn more about water features on YouTube or on Greg’s website: http://www.aquascapeinc.com/