Sometimes when people hear the term “Custom Home” they get a little bit nervous—even fearful. That’s understandable because to some, the term “custom” conjures up images of gold faucets, mother-of-pearl inlaid toilet seats, swimming pools in the family room, and other luxury accoutrements.

Do you feel like clutter is about to drive you out of your Poconos home? You’re not alone. And that feeling of being overwhelmed by your “stuff” can take a toll. Robin Zasio, PsyD, LCSW, and author of The Hoarder In You: How To Live A Happier, Healthier, Uncluttered Life comments, “"I'm a firm believer that physical clutter creates emotional clutter."

Springtime is when a lot of people are looking to build a new home. If you glance out your window, you may think it’s a little early to start talking about spring, but when it comes to building a custom home in the Poconos, now is a great time to get your hand in and start the process.

There’s something you need before you begin building a custom home in the Poconos: Inspiration! If you’re like most people, staring at a blank sheet of paper and trying to come up with ideas of what your dream home might look like is tough. Maybe you can identify with the homeowners who say, “I don’t know yet what my dream home looks like—but when I see it, I’ll know it!”

Valentine’s Day conjures up images of boxes of chocolates, bouquets of red roses, and a romantic dinner for two. As nice as those things are (and don’t overlook them!) what really makes someone feel loved and appreciated is doing something for them that they really want—and maybe can’t do for themselves.

There’s ancient wisdom that says, “There’s nothing new under the sun.” The originator of that phrase was doubtless very wise, but he probably wasn’t talking about new products for the home. There are new products out there that nobody could have conceived of 10 years ago—much less thousands of years ago. Maybe nobody is reinventing the wheel, but there are some pretty interesting ideas out there!

When people talk about heading to the Poconos they’re talking about a pretty good-sized area. This section of northeast Pennsylvania covers more than 2,400 miles and crosses four separate counties (Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties). Just because you’ve seen one part of the Poconos doesn’t mean you’ve seen it all.

One of the reasons people relocate to the Poconos is to enjoy the greenery that surrounds them so much of the year. But there’s another kind of “green” that can help homeowners use less energy, save on utilities, and be a little easier on the green that grows outside their homes. Whether you’re building a new custom home in the Poconos or remodeling and existing home, here are four simple ways to use less energy and save money—while lessening your impact on the environment.

If you’re looking for a truly special event—something you won’t find on every suburban corner—now is the time to start thinking ahead to an event that you’ll find only in the Poconos.

What do you do when the home you’re currently living in no longer fits your lifestyle? Do you move or remodel? And if you decide to move, how do you balance the benefits of a new home with the challenges of selling your existing home? Is it worth it?