When it's time to switch wall colors, do you grab a can and a brush and get started or do you tape, drape and sand? When a room has not been properly prepared before painting, it's usually quite obvious: paint tearing from the wall; drip marks on the floor; a ceiling with spots of different colors; and light switch plates edged with paint. Paint should not distract from the beauty of your home, it should add to it. Professional painters spend more time preparing to paint a room than they actually do painting it. They also carefully select the right equipment for the job at hand. This ensures a great looking room that will bring joy to the home owner for years to come. It can also add value to the home itself. Peeling paint never looks good to potential buyers! So, we need to think, act and prepare like a professional when it comes to painting our co-op homes. Follow these 7 tips and you'll be painting like a pro in no time! 7 TIPS TO PAINT YOUR CO-OP LIKE A PROFESSIONAL 1. Prepare The Walls A careful examination of the surface of the entire wall will greatly help in the long run. Loose paint must be scraped away. Old drips need to be sanded down. High gloss paint is too smooth for the next coat of paint to adhere to so it also needs a quick sanding. After sanding and scraping, your wall needs a good washing with soapy water, then rinsed with clean water and allowed to air dry for at least a couple of hours. Also, remove all switch plates, vent covers and nails. 2. Cover All Things You Don't Want Painted It does not matter if the couch is in the middle of the room or not. Paint splatters and it never fails that the one piece of furniture you do not cover will be the one that gets splattered. This is the time when being proactive can save you thousands of dollars in future replacements. 3. Lay Drop Cloth to Protect Your Floor For the same reason as above, covering the floor will save you tons of headache as well as clean up. In some cases, you may not be able to get the paint out of your floor no matter what cleaner or solvent you use. Carpet is one of those challenging mediums that tends to hold on to paint like a magnet. If you don't expect to use a drop cloth more than once, plastic sheets work just as well and will save you some cash. 4. Tape Using High Quality Painters Tape High quality painters tape ensures a clean, crisp line where one paint color meets the other. Without it, the edges of a room tend to have a slight wavy appearance and paint can end up on places you didn't intend to paint. Taping the edges of a room can also preserve natural wood frames such as windows, door and baseboards. Yes it's time consuming, especially when we're so excited to see our new color up on the walls, but this step is crucial to your project's success! 5. Purchase Quality Paint Brushes and Rollers Skimp money on the plastic drop cloth, not the brushes. A cheap brush will drop hairs onto your wall, leave an undesired texture from the stiff bristles and will never keep well in storage. For a few dollars more, a quality paint brush can make painting a breeze. **bonus tip** If you don't finish the job in one session, tightly wrap your paint brush with plastic wrap and set in the fridge until you are ready to tackle the job again. This preserves the brush with the paint on it so you don't have to clean up twice! 6. Prime Before Painting Many paints come with the primer already mixed into the paint, but not all walls should use this combination paint/primer blend. If it has been more than 3 years since you last painted or your wall has a large amount of texture, applying a layer of primer before you paint can help conceal imperfections and assist the final paint color in adhering to the wall. 7. Paint With A Purpose Painting sporadically will show once dried. On the other hand, painting using a system, will allow for an even coat, even drying time and a great look. (don't do like this guy below:) ) After you have "cut" in all of your edges with the paintbrush, dip your roller and begin at the top. Paint systematically from left to right and top to bottom to apply an even coat that dries smoothly. Starting at the top also prevents paint drips. If you drip while painting the top of the wall, you will naturally correct your drip when you pass over it mid-wall. This way, by the time your done, all drips have been re-rolled and blended in. No one will ever notice! That's it! Of course there are more tips like which finish to choose for which room you wish to paint or even how to reduce the humidity in the air before painting. But for now, this is a great list to help make the painting process much smoother. Ask your local paint supplier to discuss the different finishes and brands of paint. The more you know, the better your room will look! Cedarwood Members As a member of our Cedarwood Housing Cooperative, you have the freedom to paint your home as you want. We do encourage neutral tones for ease of re-painting and reselling, but the choice is ultimately yours. To ensure great looking walls for years to come, we strongly recommend taking your time to properly prepare before you dig in. If you have any other questions on best painting practices, do not hesitate to call the office. I'm sure our maintenance men would love to discuss this with you! Happy painting!

Park Forest has a rich history of firsts. It was the first planned community after World War II, the first town to feature an outdoor mall modeled after the "Plaza San Marco in Venice" (source) and the first of its kind to encourage diversity among its residents, both religiously and racially. Cedarwood Housing Cooperative is honored to be a part of this fantastic community. We know first hand how working together to build an area is essential to the success of the area. From the developers who pursued their vision to the active residents that still call Park Forest home today, cooperation has always been a common thread. Enjoy this timeline of key events that helped shape Park Forest into what it is today. 1946 - On October 28th, the official plans to develop the farmland/old golf course area approximately 30 miles south of Chicago are released to the public. Philip Klutznick, Carroll Sweet and Nathan Manilow, developers, are eager to create a self-serving community centered around returning WWII veterans and their families. In a press conference, they outlined the plans for housing, parks, shopping and municipalities for the area loving coined the "GI town". "This announcement received national attention in the New York Times and Collier's magazine." (source) 1948 - The Village's first residents, Leona and Ross DeLue moved in. Shortly therefore, more joined them. 1949 - On February 1st, the residents voted to incorporate Park Forest officially as a Village. 1950 - "By 1950, Park Forest had become a haven for young families: Nine out of 10 couples living there were parents, and nine out of 10 children were under 13 years of age. The plans called for a population of 25,000, living in 5,500 rental, cooperative and single-family units." (source) 1952 - Photo captured below by Ed Smith with the Chicago Tribune shows middle income families buzzing over the available, affordable homes in the area. (photo credit Chicago Tribune; Ed Smith) Photo captured below shows how the planned community created rows of pristine homes with plenty of space and yard - something attractive to current city dwellers. (photo credit Owen Kent; Chicago Historical Society (ICHi-23064)) 1953 - Park Forest received its first (of two) All American City Awards by the National Civic League who recognized the Village for working together to develop Rich Township High School. (source) 1977 - Park Forest received its second All American City Award, this time for "racial integration and open housing initiatives." (source) 2000 - The population has reached 23,462 2003 - Meteorites land in Park Forest and cause quite an excitement. "It was definitely unique in that it was the most populous area ever struck by a fall of this size," said Menakshi Wadhwa, the Field Museum's meteorite curator. ... Meteorites hit the Earth all the time. And through history some have hit cars, homes and even cows. But, in large part because 70 percent of the globe is covered in water, never before have so many meteorites hit all at once in such a densely populated area." (source) 2007 - Park Forest "was named one of America's Most Livable Suburbs by Forbes Magazine" (source) 2013 - "Park Forest has been named the winner of the Congress for New Urbanism Illinois Charter Award for Best Town Plan (and) the winner of the Illinois American Planning Association’s Best Sustainability Plan Award" (source) 2014 - Park Forest was "ranked third in the nation in affordable housing by Business Insider." (source) and received the Governor's Sustainability Award. 2018 - Park Forest relocates its farmers market to the vacant lot across from Victory Center near the corner of Main Street and Western Avenue in an attempt to revive one of the oldest, longest running farmers markets south of Chicago. After its first weekend open, thanks to all the support from the community, prospects are looking great for a total recovery. From art festivals, to music in the park on hot summer nights to business networking events, cute downtown shops, a winery, a grocery store, many restaurants and more, Park Forest is a lovely place to visit, shop and dine. (photo credit the Village of Park Forest official website) To the roughly 22,000 people who call Park Forest home today, the essence of greatness of a tight-knit community has not changed since developers Klutznick, Sweet and Manilow first set forth their vision. If you're ready to call Park Forest, IL your home, give us a call or stop by and see what homes we have available.

Disposing of household garbage seems like a practice in common sense, however, many of us have never been taught nor given much thought on how we should do it correctly. In consideration of your neighbors and the Cedarwood Member policies, it's important to use the following guidelines to ensure you are using the best etiquette in discarding your trash. You don't want your back porch being the neighborhood sight for sore eyes or a reason to receive a fine do you? Trash 1. Properly secure your trash bins. At Cedarwood Cooperative, there are plenty of raccoons and squirrels ready to take advantage of a loosely contained garbage bag. Unfortunately, even a one-time feeding can be the critter invitation to dine regularly on your porch. This is very unsafe to the whole community as raccoons carry disease and can attack if startled or provoked. Properly securing your trash also ensures you are in compliance with the grounds policies. Try this: if your trash receptacle has handles, secure the lid by stretching a bungee cord from one handle to the other. If your receptacle does not have handles, make the lid too heavy to lift by placing a large brick or stone on top of it. If you have a metal can and are handy with power tools, drill holes on the lid and base of the can and install a latch hook. But make sure you latch it locked every time you take out the trash. While not exactly ideal, if you have a couple hundred bucks laying around, you could also buy a "bear-proof" garbage can that requires a multiple finger combination to open. Keep in mind however, this method requires that you then unlock the can on trash day so the men can dump it. 2. Do not dispose of food before trash day. There are two great methods for preventing food from making its way into your trash before garbage day. Doing one or both will significantly help keep critters away as they won't have anything yummy to smell. Option one: save a small plastic ice cream bucket, toss kitchen scraps into it and continue to store in the freezer. The day of trash pick-up, empty the contents of the bucket into your main garbage bag and set out for the trash man. This prevents unwanted odors from spoiling food in your trash. The second option is to pull leftovers and expired food from your fridge and discard it into one small bag the morning of trash day only. Then, toss the small bag into your main garbage bag and set it out for pick up. This also prevents odor from developing in your household garbage can as well as your outdoor garbage can. These two methods are sure to keep your garbage can from becoming your neighborhood squirrel's next meal mid week and keep your back porch from becoming a hot mess! 3. Periodically wash out your garbage can. If your trash can has ever been raided by an animal or had food spilled in it, you might have noticed both a horrid smell and the presence of maggots. It happens quickly especially in the hot summer air. Prevent this entire situation by regularly rinsing out your garbage can with a cup of bleach and some hot water. 4. Do not fill cans to the point of overflowing. Overfilled trash cans are not only unsightly to everyone who passes by, but they can also lead to leakage of the items inside the can. Things like grease, oil or old food can spill out of an overfilled trash can and leave stains on the concrete. With recently renovated porches throughout our Cedarwood community, damage to your porch can lead to problems with management. This situation is best avoided by simply not overfilling your trash. Recycle bins All this work on your home's garbage cans; we can't fail to warn you about your recycling bin. Proper disposing etiquette is important for recycling bins as well. With the beautiful forest preserve as our back yard, squirrels and raccoon visitors are to be expected, however, we can prevent them from becoming too comfortable around our community if we work together to prevent feeding them with our leftovers in our recycle bins as well. 1. Clean out Recycle Bins. Just as we highly recommend washing out your trash bin, we also strongly encourage you to wash out your recycle bin. Bees can become a huge issue if even one drop of sugary liquid, like soda pop, leaks into your bin. If you notice a spill, clean it up right away to avoid an influx of wasps and periodically wash the bin out to keep it clean. 2. Bundle recyclables and secure them. Placing loose items in your co-op recycling bin is prohibited because loose papers, bottles and cardboard can and do go flying as soon as you set it out on the curb. Place all recyclables in a bag, properly secured and set the bag inside of the recycling bin. Members Only: The following are community wide guidelines for discarding trash: Absolutely no household garbage is allowed in the court pickup area. A $25 fine will be automatically issued on the first offense for any garbage/refuse/yard-waste/pet-defecation-products improperly discarded. No warnings are issued. Fines double for subsequent violations. Violations are cumulative. Repairs to concrete and railings will be charged to members. Please, actively work on taking care of your trash properly. Avoid getting fines and prevent unhappy neighbors by using the recommendations above. Do you have any great ideas that we didn't discuss here? Leave a comment to let us know!

There are so many benefits to owning a home in a housing cooperative, we had to break this blog up into 2 parts! Check out last month's blog "Part 1" for more! Compared to renting, co-op's afford their members a lower cost of living, the ability to vote on community related matters, and a sense of pride in ownership. The benefits of owning a housing cooperative also include an almost maintenance-free lifestyle. Another is lowered real estate tax assessments and personal income tax deductions. In addition, Cedarwood members are more likely to enjoy disposable income because of the low monthly "carrying fees". This allows more money for the piggy bank! (more on that in part 1) Let's dig in! COMMUNITY AND GOVERNANCE Members of a housing coop, like Cedarwood Cooperative, elect a Board of Directors that help in the decision making process. When a topic of interest needs more attention, the Board may even establish a committee to focus on it. A co-op's Board of Directors is likely to decide on how the co-op's budget will be spent most effectively. They may also create new rules or procedures that can improve the co-op's functioning. They are likely to help decide which capital improvements are the highest priority. The best thing about this Board is that they are made up of co-op members; as such, have a vested interest in how their properties, as well as others', are maintained. During monthly Board meetings, the floor is open for opinion and input. The co-op community is encouraged to voice their concerns and share in voting. This cooperative way of governing a community is just one reason why we feel cooperative living is the greatest form of ownership On the contrary, renters usually do not have a choice in rules and regulations, nor do they have a voice in community affairs. They cannot help establish application criteria. They have no say in how high a rent increase will be. They also cannot choose their neighbors. The landlord is typically the sole decision maker. Single-family home owners can of course, govern their own property (within limits established by the city). They can choose how to spend money on their own home and have the freedom to set rules as they see fit. However, they must also have the foresight to budget ahead for possible problems on their property and learn legal issues independently. They also do not get to establish criteria for acceptance into the community. TAX BENEFITS As a Cedarwood Coop member, your share of the property taxes and mortgage interest (if any) are deductible on your personal income tax return. These costs are already included in carrying charges, therefore, will not lead to a surprise tax bill that can throw your budget off mid-year. Renters of course receive no tax benefit from renting; their landlord does. Single-family home owners are able to deduct their property taxes on their personal income taxes. However, one must consider the heavy cost of paying those property taxes on top of mortgage, interest and insurance payments. MAINTENANCE Cedarwood coop handles services to HVAC systems, hot water heaters, plumbing, sewage, wiring, selected home improvement projects, and much more, at no additional cost. They mow, fertilize and maintain the lawn throughout the summer and handle all snow and ice removal in the winter in all common areas. If you have a maintenance emergency, they have a 24 hour phone line dedicated to taking care of you! Let's be honest, can a renter really say all of that? Yes, renters are free from the headache of fixing their own apartment, but do they get such speedy service? While renting, I've personally experienced long wait times just to fix a leaky toilet! Because our coop staff has a vested interested in making sure these homes are well cared for, they schedule maintenance almost as fast as you can call them! As for home ownership, the owner is 100% responsible for all repairs and replacements. When the water heater goes out, they must spend their savings or take out a loan of credit to get it replaced. Hopefully they choose a reputable company or the costs could skyrocket! Really, who needs all of that stress! After reading through all the incredible benefits of co-op home ownership, you must be able to see the clear choice. Becoming a member is rewarding, inexpensive and a smart move towards your future! When you are ready to apply, give us a call directly and we'd be happy to walk you through the simple process. Call today 708-747-3833.

There are so many benefits we had to break this blog up into 2 parts! Click here to read part 2. Owning a home within a housing cooperative can be very rewarding. There are exclusive benefits unique to this style of home ownership that renters and single-family home owners are not afforded. One of the biggest benefits our members seem to enjoy is the almost maintenance-free lifestyle it allows them to live. Many first-time home buyers and "last-time" home buyers are attracted to the idea of having someone else to call for back-up in the case of a maintenance emergency. This allows more time to enjoy the little things in life that matter more than fixing your own plumbing! Another major benefit to co-op ownership is the extra disposable income it brings by having such low monthly costs of living. (Say hello to savings...) The pride of ownership is another. Without further adieu, let's discuss the benefits below, and remember to read part 2 for even more! OWNERSHIP Owners of housing cooperatives are shareholders of the corporation that owns the property. Ownership entitles members the right to occupy one unit or "home". Members retain the equity of their home throughout the life of their membership. When the member decides to move, they sell the home, putting money in their pocket. The selling process is cooperative as well, in that everyone has a vested interested in getting your home sold. The office arranges yearly open houses to showcase your home, lists your home up for sale on their website and provides tips on how you can market your home to get it sold quickly. In addition, owning a co-op allows you the freedom to paint, modify and upgrade as you see fit (within limits...we must make sure the homes always stay structurally sound). Want a new bathroom sink? How about a new look for your livingroom? If you own a co-op, and get preapproval from the office, consider it done! Renting an apartment or townhome, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. Not only do you not own the property you are living in, you are also paying to build someone else's equity. There is little sense of security as well. When your lease expires, your landlord can request you vacate with as little as a 30 day notice. Owning a single family home, if we're being totally honest here, can actually provide the greatest satisfaction in ownership. But at what cost? Yes, you are able to modify your home and land any way you (or the city permit office) see fit. But owning a home can also lead to tons of unforeseen expenses. And when it comes time to sell, it's 100% on you to find the right buyer. Selling your home can take years, even when the market is in your favor. MOVE-IN COSTS New Members purchasing their co-op home pay a $30 application fee, a one-time membership fee of just $200 plus their first month's carrying fees ($390-$502 depending on unit size). That's it! Getting into a new home has never been so inexpensive! With renting, a prospective tenant has to pay an application fee, a security deposit, sometimes a pet deposit, a pet registration fee, as well as their first month's rent. This can be a huge financial burden that takes months to recoup from. When purchasing a single family home, the buyer is usually required to pay a hefty down payment. In addition, depending on the terms of the purchase contract, they may also be liable for closing costs, realtor fees, taxes and liens. (Say good-bye to your savings) Unfortunately, this major lump sum of cash has prevented many people from ever buying their first home. Fortunately, as stated above, move-in costs for a housing cooperative are minor in comparison. MONTHLY COSTS Members of Cedarwood Cooperative pay what is referred to as "carrying charges". This is a monthly fee which is their proportionate share of the operating costs based on the non-profit operations of the entire entity. The monthly carrying charges range from only $390-502. Real estate taxes are also included which means no surprise rent increases or tax payments that can knock your budget off mid-year. These carrying charges also include capital improvements done yearly and major maintenance repairs. Furnace goes out? No problem, our maintenance men will be there to fix or replace it at no additional cost to you! Want to put up a funky new ceiling light? For a nominal fee, our maintenance guys will be happy to get it done for you. What's not to love! Tenants of rentals are required to pay whatever rent is specified in their lease. When the lease is up, the landlord has the right to increase the rent and fees. The tenant has no say and if the tenant can't afford it, they are required to move. Renting can be very expensive and like we discussed above, renters do not build their own equity while paying every month. It goes without saying that the owner of a single family home is on the hook for every expense that arises. This includes the monthly mortgage payment, housing insurance, property taxes, possibly private mortgage insurance and more. What's worse, when the heater goes out, it's 100% on the owner to pay for the replacement. Who needs that kind of stress! I'm sure you can already see that the benefits of membership in a housing cooperative are many. If you're ready to get started, call the office today at 708-747-3833. Still need convincing? Check out our part 2 of Housing Benefits!

Cooperative living is so much more than a home with a roof and 4 walls. Cooperative living is built on a foundation of working with others. At Cedarwood cooperative, the spirit of working together is at the heart of everything we do from our mission statement to our Board of Directors. Define Cooperative Webster defines cooperative in two distinct ways: "1. (Adjective) Involving mutual assistance in working toward a common goal; and 2. (Noun) A farm, business or other organization that is owned and run jointly by its members, who share the profits or benefits." Cedarwood Cooperative, Inc. Cedarwood Cooperative is an organization that affords any natural person who is approved by the Board of Directors to be eligible for membership. Each membership constitutes the right to own one share in the company which is equivalent to one home. All members share in the profits of this company by receiving ongoing capital improvements at no additional cost to them, provided all monthly maintenance fees are paid (a nominal fee comparatively). To reside in Cedarwood Cooperative is to participate in a very special community consisting of 541 individual households, holding approximately 2,000 men women and children. Essential elements to the happiness and harmony of all members of the Cedarwood community, as well as any community, is that all members cooperate with one another and are thoughtful to one another. Such principles of cooperation and thoughtfulness apply in a residential area like ours to ensure a safe, well-maintained and attractive physical environment. How one member cares for their home inside and out has a direct effect on how another member's home is valued and perceived. Cooperative Living is much more than sharing a space, it's sharing a life. Just as imperative when focusing on these principles is how we interact with each other. To build happiness and harmony within a community is to care for each other's quality of life and peace as much as we care for our own. At times, this calls for action! By definition, the spirit of cooperative living is working together to achieve a common goal. Sometimes, that goal can be as simple as picking up trash along the sidewalks or sitting up a trash can that blew over in the wind. It can mean keeping an eye out for a person living alone or even getting to know your elderly neighbor to understand their needs. Get to know your neighbors, understand their situation, grow compassion and be available when you can. Specifically when the weather conditions are extreme and especially if you know your neighbor is struggling with something, do the cooperative thing and check on them. Make sure they have what they need to stay safe and healthy until conditions return to normal. If you know your neighbor has a difficult time getting around, run errands on their behalf, shovel their walkways and grab their recycle bin on garbage day. Good Deeds Lead To A Good Life Studies show that when people give, as well as receive, there is a positive effect on their health and well-being. Whether we are good to our neighbors, good to the environment or good to our family, good multiplies into more good. The wisdom of the ages comes to mind, "Do good and good will follow you." and "The fastest way to get your blessing is to be a blessing for someone else." In a world overrun with screens, it's easy to become isolated from one another, but it has never been more important to reach out and help each other. Living cooperatively, following the principles of harmony, reciprocity and peace and doing to others as you want done to yourself is one of the most powerful ways we can make a change for the better. Teach your children and grandchildren (by doing, not telling) and the world will be better tomorrow than it was today. As the saying goes, "A woman teaches as she acts." Within the walls of Cedarwood, as well as the world at large, let's act with kindness, compassion and cooperation.

With the cold weather fast approaching, it's time to bring out the coats, sweaters and boots. If you're like me, however, this can lead to a jam-packed closet. While our Cedarwood housing cooperative homes have nice, spacious closets, still, it's easy for them to get unorganized and cluttered quick. Taking a few extra steps now and doing a little maintenance throughout the year can prevent a closet disaster! Enjoy our tips below on how to keep your closet clean and organized! 1. Store Seasonal and Travel Items. In the dead of winter, you'll likely not need tank tops, shorts or open-toed sandals. When you're not traveling, you won't need your bath bag or suitcase, so store them all! There are three great ways to get this done and stay organized. One is to grab a portable wardrobe (like shown below) and set it up in your basement. Hang seasonal clothes on top and store shoes, purses or beach bags on the bottom. *Tip* -toss in a dryer sheet or two to repel spiders and keep your clothes fresh.* Then, zip up the fabric cover and done! Another way is to purchase vacuum-sealed clothing bags and slip a dryer sheet in each one. Again, store in the basement to free up space in your closet. And finally, if you keep the original shoe boxes that your shoes come in, simply place summer shoes back inside them and stack them neatly. Create a nice space in your basement for all these items so your basement doesn't start looking like your closet just did! 2. Use Door Hooks for "Wear-Again" items. Some clothes just never make it back into the closet. Maybe we've worn them once, but they're not dirty enough for the laundry basket. Maybe we've pulled them for wearing tomorrow. Either way, if you don't make a designated space for them, they can easily build themselves up on a chair or bed. Let's not..it looks bad. Instead, these "in transit" clothes can be stored wonderfully on the backside of your closet door with an over-the-door clothes hook like pictured below. 3. Use A Shoe Organizer. As I said before, our co-op closet are very spacious, but if you're like many of us, our shoe collection far exceeds the floor space of our closets. Try using a shoe organizer that can store shoes vertically while using much less floor space. This solution is likely to help increase the life of your shoes by preventing unnecessary "piling-up" damage and will give your closet a crisp, organized appearance. 4. Install Additional Wall Shelving. Our closets come with a top shelf which is very handy for storage. But sometimes, we still need a few extra shelves to put stuff on. Try installing an extra shelf above the one that is already there or get a few wall hooks and install them inside your closet for hanging items such as purses, neck ties, and necklaces. 5. Keep a Donation Bag. Keep a container or small basket marked "donations" in your closet for those items you no longer want. This is a great way to keep your closet up-to-date and fully functional. If you find a top that no longer fits, toss it in. When the bin gets full, take it to the donation center. *tip* - get your whole family involved by putting a bin in every person's closet. 6. Use Matching Storage Containers and Hangers. Nothing makes a closet look more cluttered than a wide array of different colored, shaped and sized storage containers and hangers. Even though things are put away, the hodge-podge look of those mismatched bins can really damper the organized look of your closet. Plus, opaque bins make finding things much harder unless you are the king/queen of labeling what's in them. For a modest price, you can purchase a handful of the exact same, see-through storage bins to spruce up your closet and give the appearance of organized harmony. Also, while matching every hanger may not fit your budget right now, you can achieve the look below by purchasing the same color/variety every time you need more while slowly phasing out the others. Having all the same style hangers really takes your closet's look up a notch. 7. Don't Forget To Vacuum and Wipe Things Down. Dust accumulates in a closet just as easy as it does in your living room. Don't forget to vacuum your closet once a month (or more) to keep it fresh and tidy. Wipe the walls and baseboards down at least twice a year (maybe when you relocate seasonal items..hint-hint). There, after your done with all the above tips, your co-op closet will be as good as new. All it takes is a little upkeep after you have a system in place and your closet will never look like a hot mess again! But remember to do the same thing in spring when the season shifts warmer and you change to a cooler wardrobe! How do you organize your housing co-op closets? Have any great tips you could share? Contact us to let us know!

You have spent all summer caring for the beautiful garden at your housing cooperative home. It has paid off in the end with a bountiful harvest so now you're work is done, right?! Wrong. The fun doesn't stop there. Caring for a garden doesn't end after the last tomato has been picked. Nurturing the soil is a major part of preparing your garden for a successful next year. With cold weather fast approaching, it's time to winterize your garden with these 5 easy steps. 1. HARVEST ALL REMAINING VEGETABLES AND SAVE SEEDS Dig up the rest of your carrots and pull up the beets. Harvest your cold crops like spinach and peas, and grab the last few tomatoes from the vine. But don't eat every last one, you need some for saving seeds! For fruits such as cucumber, tomatoes, husk cherries and strawberries, break open the fruit flesh on a few and remove the seeds for next year. Make sure you dry them thoroughly on a paper plate or paper towel, turning regularly to prevent mold. Once dried, label a paper envelope, drop the seeds in and store in a cool dark place. For flowers, snap off the dead heads of some of your favorites and pinch between your fingers over an opened paper envelope. The seeds will drop right in and should already be dried; ready for storage. Label. Saving seeds is a very rewarding practice. You now have the power to grow your own food year after year without having to rely on seed companies. Just as wonderful is the money it saves from not having to buy new seeds every year. With that said, if there was a variety of fruit or vegetable that you did not enjoy from the last year, don't save the seeds of course. Make sure you pull up the plant by the root and discard any remnants of the plant in the trash or compost bin. You do not want the seeds developing from a fruit that dropped once springtime hits so removing every piece is a must. 2. CUT BACK OLD VEGETATION AND PUT UP GARDEN TOOLS Not only does removing dying plants improve the look of your garden, but it's also healthy for it. Some plants can carry disease, pests or fungus through the freezing weather. These plants need to be removed completely to prevent the spread of disease come springtime. Healthy vegetation can be cut back, loosely chopped up with a shovel and turned into the dirt. The slow decomposing of this green material will provide nutrients to next year's crop. Some also recommend treating your soil with lime and other natural fertilizers at this time. Soil testing should be done before any treatments to determine what to use to provide balance. Next, any annual plants, such as marigolds, that need to be grown by seed the following year should be removed making sure to pull the root up. Finally, clean and lubricate all garden tools that need it. Wait until they dry completely -- to prevent mold or rust -- and store in your home for the winter. This is also a great time to purchase any tools you wished you had this past season as many stores offer sales of garden supplies in the fall. 3. ADD A LAYER OF COMPOST AND MULCH Similar to turning in healthy vegetation, adding a thin layer of compost and mulch is a great way to infuse nutrients into the soil. It also breaks up problem areas that may be dense with sand or clay. This also helps to suffocate weeds and balance the ph of your soil. Adding too thick of a layer, however, can actually insulate your garden, preventing the much needed freeze which kills off many pests and diseases. 4. LEAVE THE LEAVES Leaves are a great natural ground cover that help feed the soil and protect it from erosion. Just as with the compost and mulch, a thin layer can be beneficial, but a thick layer can prevent freezing. Now, because our housing cooperative requires that leaves be cleaned up from yards regularly, don't go crazy with this recommendation. Continue to remove leaves from your yard and grab just a small handful to cover your garden area. This will feed your soil and keep you within the guidelines set forth by the coop. A win/win for all! 5. TAKE DETAILED NOTES TO REVIEW NEXT SPRING A lot of time passes between fall and spring. Enough that you may forget what worked for your garden and what didn't. Our recommendation...keep a garden journal to note how everything went while it's still fresh in your mind. This is a great way to track your learning year after year and it's fun to look back on years down the road. Start by drawing your current garden layout. Label which plants grew where. Reflect on which plants did great and why as well as which ones did not and why. Write down what location you believe certain plants would benefit more than another. Then, sketch a basic layout for next year with all these considerations in mind. Year after year, you are bound to improve greatly! If you need some help about what to write, here's a few questions to get your thoughts rolling: ♦ Was your layout appropriate considering height, expansion, vine structure and pathways? ♦ Did certain plants do great in certain areas? ♦ Did certain plants do awful in certain areas? ♦ Did a certain plant prefer more water than you expected or less water? ♦ Did that new fertilizer you found at your hardware store work well or not? ♦ Did you even like the new variety of tomato you grew or would you prefer trying a different one? ♦ Did a plant get eaten by critters/pests/disease? ♦ Did a vine overtake a walkway? Does it need a trellis next year? The better notes you take this fall, the better prepared you are for next years crop. Now...go get your garden prepped! _________________________________________________________________ At Cedarwood Co-op, we love seeing people express themselves through gardens. We even offer a flower rebate program in the spring to encourage our members to plant and care for their gardens. While winter tends to be a bit blah in the yard department, spring is right around the corner! Before you know it we'll be at it again! Thanks for reading.

One of our co-op members recently attended the Park Forest Fire Department event which brings awareness to fire prevention. When she was there, she met with some of the utility companies who hosted information booths. She shared with us that they were full of useful and simple tips on making your home as energy efficient as possible. We thought this community education was wonderful and decided to keep it going! Along with this co-op member's ideas, we searched and found tons more of helpful tips on saving energy, which in turn, saves you money! Then, we compiled a list of our favorites so you can start saving money on your bill too! Here we go... WASH CLOTHES IN COLD WATER This one is as easy as it sounds and actually helps to preserve the bright colors in your clothes along with saving on your bill. I started doing this one about 6 months ago when I read that the average US home washes about 400 loads of laundry per year. I then read on www.Energystar.gov that, "Water heating consumes about 90% of the energy it takes to operate a clothes washer." Those facts really stuck with me. Why was I washing on high heat? Was it only because I remember my mother preaching that hot water cleans better? Well, maybe hot water makes a difference in dishwater, but not in your clothes washer. It was time to consider the switch. I could only imagine the savings to the environment by reducing our home's carbon footprint as well as saving us money. Now, I delight in using the cold water cycle, saving roughly 15% off our gas bill every month! HANG DRY YOUR CLOTHES This doesn't always work, depending on your space, but thankfully our cooperatives have huge basements with plenty of space to install a hanging bar for drying clothes. You can also purchase a portable clothes rack at your local department store for pretty cheap if you are not comfortable with installing a clothes rack. Hanging your clothes saves on the gas and electricity required to dry them in the dryer. It also keeps fabrics looking their best for longer. So this trick actually saves you money up front on your utility bills and in the end by not having to purchase new clothes as often. Double bonus! OPEN ALL YOUR VENTS It's a misnomer that closing vents in one room (unless completely closed off from the rest of the house) will help save on the cost of heat/AC. By opening all vents in the home, you help circulate the air throughout your home which places less strain on your blower. Another tip to circulate the air is to utilize ceiling fans correctly. In the summer, make sure your fan is set to spin counter-clockwise; in the cooler months, set it to spin clockwise. This pushes the heat down or draws the heat up, depending on the setting. Both of which help regulate the room's temperature, thus saving you heating/cooling costs. CHANGE FURNACE FILTERS FREQUENTLY Depending on the filter you purchase, the average furnace filter lasts only 1-3 months. A clean filter is essential for proper airflow. Free-flowing air means your furnace doesn't have to work as hard to push the air throughout the house. This can save you money. While this sounds so simple (and cheap...filters run only $1-5) it is really easy to forget about it. As the saying goes...out of sight, out of mind. So a great way to stay on schedule, and save on utility costs is to set a monthly reminder on your phone or calendar. Another tip is to purchase 6 months worth of filters up front. Then, when your reminder comes due, you only have to walk to the basement and get it done, instead of driving to the hardware store. SWITCH TO ENERGY EFFICIENT FIXTURES I'll admit it, I did not make the switch to energy efficient fixtures for fear of poor water pressure or under-performing lights. Boy was I wrong! Nicor (our housing cooperatives gas provider) currently has a program that allows to you get free shower heads, faucet spigots, thermostats and more. I finally took them up on their offer and was so impressed by their performance. The shower sprays wonderfully and the faucets actually have better water pressure than they did before. I feel better conserving water AND money! If you haven't yet taken advantage, and are looking to save money on your utilities, visit their website to order your free kit today. WEATHER-STRIP YOUR DOORS Weather-stripping helps keep the cold air outside in the winter and the cold air inside in the summer. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to install, even for the non-handyman/woman types. These little strips of plastic can virtually eliminate those cold drafts that can skyrocket your gas bill. Another option is to purchase a cloth door strips that you simply rest near the bottom of your door. Some are filled with sand and some with cotton fill. They do a better job than not having anything at all, but they are also not as effective as an official weather-strip. LIGHTING Energy.gov has a great article on the energy efficiency and differences between all kinds of light bulbs. I would try to explain...but they really did it best. STRATEGICALLY COOK When talking about energy efficiency, I rarely hear people discussing their use of appliances in the kitchen. And yet, I can't help but think that I'm wasting gas every time I cook garlic bread. I turn the heat up to 450 degrees, pop the bread in for 5 minutes and bam, the bread is done. Now I have an extremely hot oven and nothing else to cook. Waste. Here's an idea...cook strategically! Some can make once a month cooking work (I say they're crazy!). Some cook once per week and make it work for their family. What they do is cook everything they need for that week's menu all in one day. This makes perfect sense as the oven's already hot, you've already got the cutting board out and after a glass of wine, I'm sure you're in the cooking mood. This method helps save money on your utility bill by reducing the times you heat up your oven, use your stove and run your dishwasher. It also saves time throughout your busy work week AND saves a ton on your food budget! Now you can buy in bulk, cook at once and have a week's worth of meals already planned out. Genius! I hope you've enjoyed our tips. When you give them a try, let us know. Visit us on facebook and post your results!

Living along at our housing cooperative can be very exciting. You get to style your home the way you want, dictate your own schedule and even walk around in undies with no judgement...lol. But living alone also comes with its challenges -- primarily safety. Staying safe does not need to be an all-consuming thought however, as preparation is always the key to success. Follow the below tips on staying safe while living alone and you can enjoy your carefree lifestyle as a single homeowner here at our co-op without worry! 1. Be Smart on Social Media! Most of us do not realize how much personal information we unknowingly put on our social media accounts until we consciously look for it. One of the biggest problems is attaching addresses to locations we've been to and unintentionally pinning where we live to posts. We also tend to post pictures that can indicate our routine -- say our morning workout photo -- with date and time attached. This is dangerous for you personally and also puts your home at risk. If someone wanted to break in, and happened to be following you on social media, they now have a time frame to do so. Finally...vacations. Most of us have heard this tip, but how many times do we still see friends posting pics of their amazing beach-front views while on vacation?! Take the pictures while on vacation, then post them when you get back. This prevents others from knowing when your home is vacant and helps keep your personal belongings safe. 2. Meet Your Neighbors When Cedarwood has their annual events, attend them! The pool parties and holiday parties are great ways to meet your neighbors and get acquainted with the whole community -- plus they are really fun! Another way to meet your neighbors is to introduce yourself in passing. If the greeting is warm and inviting, maybe you can go out for coffee sometime and enjoy a few more chats while coming and going from your vehicle. After you've established a bit of a relationship, and you feel comfortable sharing this information, let them know you are living alone and ask them to keep an eye out for you. There are many retired couples living on the property that would be more than happy to watch out for you. 3. Keep Your Co-op Secure. One of the most obvious ways to stay safe whether you are alone or with family is to keep your doors and windows locked. But don't overlook the importance of curtains as well. If you are like me, you love natural light pouring in throughout the day. Instead of keeping your light-blocking curtains for privacy, install sheers AND curtains. Keep your sheers closed during the day, allowing natural light to fill the room. Then, close your solid curtains BEFORE it gets dark outside to prevent those passing by, or intentionally watching, to see your home's interior. Also, if your home has sliding glass doors or slide-open windows, purchase a wooden dowel from your nearest hobby store and put it in the window tracks. In the event that someone tries opening the door or window, even if you forget to lock them, you have a backup security feature. Of course, the best protection, however, is to keep all windows and doors locked at all times. 4. Carry Personal Protection. Carrying protection at all times can help you feel more confident should a situation arise. Check your local laws to see what is legal for your to carry and what it not. Most states allow a simple can of pepper spray which is affordable, compact and easy to use. Another option may be a stun gun or a small baton. Always be careful to keep any safety latches in tact as you wouldn't want a niece or nephew to dig in your purse or car and get hurt while playing with the device. Train yourself on how to use any form of protection you choose to carry. Another great idea is to take self-defense classes. Many local law enforcement agencies offer these classes free of charge or for a small fee. In fact, Park Forest is just about to host their annual self-defense class very soon. Call the police department for details. 5. Have a safety buddy It does not matter who this person is. It could be your little brother, your co-worker, your parent or a friend. Pre-arrange this buddy. If you work late or plan to have a late night out, let them know around what time you expect to get it. This way, if they don't hear from you, they can call the local authorities for assistance. Another great time to keep them in the loop, is when you go out with someone new. Text your buddy in front of this person and casually let them know you did. Example, "Oh I was just texting my father to let him know where I'm going tonight". If this person had alternative motives, they will definitely think twice now. 6. Switch Up Your Routine While this may not always be possible, switching up parts of your routine can throw off anyone who may be watching and help keep you safe. If you are a regular morning walker, vary the time you leave even by as little as 15 minutes. If you ride a bike every afternoon, vary the route you take so no one can guess where you'll be and when. If you tend to go out on Friday nights, come home at slightly different times and call your buddy when you get in the house safely! 7. Report Suspicious Activity If you see strange behavior anywhere on the co-op grounds, call the non-emergency police department to let them know. Never assume your neighbor is doing it as it may never then be reported. New people hanging out late at night? A group of people being loud, rude or wild? A strange vehicle parked outside your home for days or with someone sitting in it for a long time? It's always better to be safe than sorry. Not comfortable calling the police? Call the office and let us know. Then, we can keep an eye out and address issues before they arise. Do you have a safety tip not mentioned above? Email us and give us your thoughts. The more tips we can share with others living alone the more safe we all are.