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A new Lennar home is where families will make years worth of memories, and it all starts on their very first day when they open their front door for the first time. Through Lennar’s Unbox Your Home contest, new Lennar homeowners had the chance to win $10,000 by uploading a fun, short video capturing and sharing the first exciting moments in their new home. Our fans then voted for their favorite video to decide the $10,000 prize winner.
We are happy to announce our contest winner, Craig Mischenko. Congratulations on your Lennar home and winning video! The seven Mischenko children received a huge surprise when their parents announced they would close early on their new home. Watch their excitement as they open the door to their brand new Lennar home for the first time.
Thank you to the Mischenko family and to all Lennar homeowners who submitted their Unbox Your Home videos. We wish you many years of happiness in your new home!
To see all of the amazing entries, check out the Unbox Your Home playlist.
From the moment you get engaged, you probably hear one question more than any other – When is the big day?! And that is just the start of what can feel like hundreds of questions leading up to the wedding.
This new post from The Cheat Sheet lists six different kinds of questions to ask before getting married. Money, budgets, and credit scores may not be the most romantic of topics, but if you’re tying the knot, it’s important to discuss finances with your partner before walking down that rose petal lined aisle.
You’ve likely talked with your partner about your future plans and goals. Buy a home? Have a baby? Travel? All of the above? But what about past credit issues or large debts? Even if you plan to maintain separate banking accounts (ask that too!), it’s a good idea to know your partner’s salary, credit score and strengths and weakness when it comes to money management.
If you’re dreaming of buying a new home after the honeymoon, it’s never too early to start planning. Paying off debts, clearing up credit issues and saving for a down payment can begin even before the wedding. Starting the conversation now will prepare you to make smart financial decisions for your future.
While maybe not as fun as planning the bachelorette party, the money talk shouldn’t be a dreaded one. Think of it as an investment in not only your future, but your relationship.
{Read more: 6 money questions everyone should ask before getting married}
At Lennar, we believe in simplifying your home buying experience by including everything you need in a new home and community. And once you find your perfect home? Our family of companies are there to assist you every step of the way with your mortgage, title and insurance needs for an enjoyable and hassle-free closing.
In this new video, learn more about the entities that make up our Lennar family. From building your dream home to mortgage and financial services, community development, solar energy and much more, see why Lennar is not just a home builder.
From Independence Day to Labor Day and all the family reunions, neighborhood parties and last minute gatherings in between, you don’t have to look beyond your own backyard for the perfect entertainment venue.
Whether you’re hosting a casual pool party or an elegant dinner under the stars, we gathered the best tips, trick and recipes for your next outdoor gathering.
Turn your patio into a comfortable and beautiful extension of your home without spending a fortune. Save money with reclaimed and refinished furniture from garage sales or thrift stores.
Small accessories like lighting, candles, and potted plants will create a cozy yet polished vibe to your outdoor space. Look for durable outdoor rugs for additional color and texture. A few simple touches can make a big impact.
DIY your own outdoor curtains with inexpensive drop cloth, add a few string of lights, and you’ve created your own backyard bistro!
What’s an outdoor celebration without fantastic food? An outdoor grill can be a great alternative to your oven in the summer. Impress you guests with these simple and quick recipes:
On the side: For a twist on the classic corn-on-the-cob, try these grilled corn disks.
Main attraction: Grilled shrimp & pineapple skewers are perfect for a healthy and quick-cooking meal.
Sweet ending: For a sweet and simple summertime dessert, serve grilled nectarines, or any stone fruit you have on hand. Add ice cream, frozen yogurt or a drizzle of honey.
Did you know there are over 8,000 grill related fires every year? Keep your home and family safe with grill and BBQ safety tips from Porch.com.
When entertaining outdoors, cleaning up may be the last thing you’re thinking about. Keeping your grill clean doesn’t have to become a painful task. All you need is about 15 minutes, a bucket with warm soapy water, a grill brush, foil, and rags or paper towels. This checklist from Real Simple will take you step by step to get your grill looking like new.
Looking for fun activities to keep kids entertained when the weather heats up? Check out this video from What’s Up Moms for fun outdoor ice activities.
What are your best tips for outdoor entertaining? Let us know in the comment below!
With holidays and vacations, summer can be a busy time for many homeowners. However, it’s also an ideal time to perform routine maintenance and tackle weekend projects around the home. Longer summer days provide a great opportunity to complete bigger projects, especially on your home’s exterior. Regular home maintenance helps to prevent costly repairs and maintain your home’s value.
If you live in an area hit by the recent heavy rains and flooding, it’s important to check your home for any damage and make the necessary repairs. You can also take this time to make sure you are well-stocked for emergencies, such as hurricanes, power loss, or severe weather.
By this time of year, parents may start hearing the dreaded “I’m bored!” complaint from children home for summer vacation. Why not get the whole family involved in home maintenance? Small tasks like watering the garden, cleaning windows or sweeping the patio get the kids off the couch and outside. Plus, it’s never too early to learn the value of taking care of your home. A small allowance or promise of a day at the water park can offer extra motivation if needed.
If you’ve shunned a hot oven in favor of the backyard BBQ for nightly dinners and summer entertaining, practice grill safety to avoid fires and injuries. Always place your grill at a safe distance from your home and never leave it unattended. Keeping your grill clean will also help to prevent fires and ensure delicious summer meals!
Are you busy with summer home maintenance, or just getting ready to start? This article from Porch.com offers valuable tips and advice for keeping your home in top shape, plus suggestions for the best July weekend projects.
Just in time for July 4th, the What’s Up Moms team shares three patriotic party DIYs. Whether you’re hosting the neighborhood cookout, or need fun crafts to keep the kids entertained, add a personal touch to your next celebration. Not only are these DIYs useful for any summertime party, but are inexpensive and easy to make. You may already have many of the supplies on hand at home!
The patriotic mason jars and adorable paper fans are a beautiful – and functional – addition to any party, but our favorite has to be the hand-made confetti poppers. Guests of all ages will love this unique party favor. Plus, they are the perfect substitution for little ones begging to pop firecrackers on July 4th!
We wish you a joyful and safe July 4th!
A new Lennar home is where families will make years worth of memories, and it all starts on their very first day when they open their new front door for the first time. Through Lennar’s Unbox Your Home contest, new Lennar homeowners have captured the excitement of their first moments in their new home for a chance to win $10,000.
We invite you to share the joy of our new homeowners by watching them unbox their new Lennar homes at Unbox.Lennar.com and vote for your favorite video between June 16th and 29th. The family with the most votes will win $10,000, so be sure to share the videos to help your favorites make it to the top.
Check out Unbox.Lennar.com to learn more and start voting!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open to legal residents of 50 U.S. states and D.C., who are 18 or older, have Internet access and a valid email address prior to 3/18/15, and have closed purchase of a new Lennar home between 3/18/15 and 6/15/15 (excluding real estate professionals). To enter, take a video clip of the moment of unboxing new home and upload the video clip to a designated social media site. Access the Lennar Facebook page promotions tab at https://facebook.com/Lennar, follow the instructions and fully complete and submit an entry form with a link to the video clip between 12 am ET on 3/18/15 and 11:59 pm ET on 6/15/15. Voting to take place between 12 am ET on 6/16/15 and 11:59 pm ET on 6/29/15. Winner announcement on or about 6/30/15. One (1) Prize: $10,000, in the form of cash or check selected by Sponsor (ARV: $10,000). LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER HOUSEHOLD. Subject to official rules. Void where prohibited. THIS PROMOTION IS IN NO WAY SPONSORED, ENDORSED OR ADMINISTERED BY, OR ASSOCIATED WITH FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, VIMEO, OR INSTAGRAM. For additional details, official rules and winner’s list (after 6/30/15), visit https://facebook.com/Lennar or send request by mail to Lennar, Attn: Unbox Your Home Promotion, 550 Greens Parkway #111, Houston, TX 77067. Sponsor: Lennar Corporation.
Enjoying your very own back yard is one of the best parts of homeownership. For some of us though, lush green landscaping can be difficult, time-consuming or costly to maintain. So what’s the alternative? Low-maintenance landscaping is an ideal and beautiful way to add curb appeal, whether you’re looking to conserve water, save time, or both! Landscaping is a matter of personal preference and greatly depends on your lifestyle. If you’re looking to incorporate more low-maintenance options, we’ve gather ideas and inspirations from Lennar homes across the country.
The addition of gravel, rocks and boulders gives you low-maintenance with high impact! Use pea gravel or small pebbles to create walkways or fill in spaces between plants. Pea gravel comes in a variety of colors so that you can find the best shade to compliment your home and tastes. Strategically add landscaping boulders to create an interesting focal point, add texture or establish boundaries.
A grassy lawn isn’t your only option! Plants native to your area are another great option as they are more likely to thrive with less upkeep. Drought-resistant plants and perennials provide year-round enjoyment with minimal effort. Lavender, sage and catmint are just a few great alternatives to traditional grass. Want to learn more? Perennial Resource offers more information on drought tolerant plants and perennials.
Looking to spend less time mowing the back yard and more time enjoying it? Consider extending the patio out to create walking paths, additional seating areas or even extra space for an outdoor kitchen.
Plants and flowers can get expensive and difficult to maintain – especially for those of us not blessed with a green thumb. Mulch is a great way to extend and fill in flower beds to achieve your desired look without going over budget. Mulch is also helpful for reducing weeds and maintaining moisture in your yard.
Performing routine home maintenance throughout the year will keep your home in top condition, and summer is no exception. Follow these simple tips to keep your home cool and comfortable. Regular home maintenance is also an important step to prevent costly repairs and maintain your home’s value.
Exterior maintenance
1. Inspect and adjust your sprinkler systems. Set your timers for the summer season to ensure enough, but not too much water per station.
2. Clean and repair gutters. Make sure gutters are free of material that could prevent the free flow of water.
3. Add mulch to flower beds to reduce weeds and help your lawn retain moisture.
4. Fill in low areas around your yard with additional soil to prevent pooling water.
5. Check the exterior drainage conditions to ensure that nothing is causing water to stand in puddles for more than 24 hours, and that water from any source is not draining toward your foundation.
Interior maintenance
6. Clean or replace air condition filters. Replace filters every time you pay the utility bill for an easy way to remember to change your filters monthly.
7. If you haven’t done so lately, test smoke and CO2 alarms and replace batteries if needed.
8. Check your GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) for proper operations by tripping the circuit interrupter buttons and then resetting them. If they will not trip and reset, contact Customer Care for service or information on what to do.
9. Inspect and clean all weep holes for water drainage (window).
10. Inspect and repair the following caulked areas as necessary:
