1. Reel Mower --> not recommended, miss a couple weeks and you are hosed as they don't work well on tall grass or long stems. I like the electric - corded models - same $ as a fancy reel mower 2. Wheel Barrow --> yes, agree with renee :) If you plan to mix concrete often get a metal one... 3. Pruners --> Felco, cheapest price is at Frostproof. 4. Rake -- bamboo if you will rake around plants, but it's better to leave the leaves there anyway. For the lawn the big plastic one is best 6. Shovel - get a digging fork and spade which have the U or T handles. Stainless steel looks nice :) 5. Tiller --> biggest waste of money I ever made... Don't get one - layer mulch/amendments on surface and 'fork' in. 6. Composter --> also a waste of money, just make a pile 3x3 or use some old fence boards to make open bin(s) 7. Hoe --> get a scuffle or hula hoe, small and narrow for weeding around plants 8. Garden clogs/ gloves that will fit a small hand. I buy gloves regularly, the Nitril coated ones are great for touch, but wear quickly, aren't padded and make your hands stink :) Expensive leather ones are cool, but turn your hands yellow...clogs are whatever slip on shoes I have which are no longer clean enuf for work. 9. Anything else you use often.. Gopher traps...Sluggo...Garden Knife... Automated Watering System !!! Chad

Where you live plays significantly into your choices. If you live in California or Hawaii, where power is expensive, the variable is the better option. In much of California, it often makes more sense to get a gas fired heater over a heat pump, especially when a spa is attached. There are for types of cleaners. There is the suction side cleaner, the pressure side cleaner, the robot, and the in-floor system. I think you are starting to see the value of having a PB. To build a pool on a DIY basis, you really need to know something about it. Scott

We're doing this right now; using our neighbors driveway and side fence to get materials through to our addition. Firstly, we have made sure that the contractor, subs, suppliers, etc. KNOW that this is not our property and is being offered as a courtesy, so they are likewise to be courteous to our neighbor. We've had hiccups about giving notice about trucks and one of them ran over his sewer clean-out. These kinds of things should be immediately resolved, and our contractor usually gives him beer or something to smooth things over. Beer works for my neighbor, but yours sounds like she has her favorite things. If you know them, be sure to take care of them, like her vegetable patch (and add in something decorative too!). COMMUNICATE and be gracious. I've not heard of offering payment, but like you, I'm planning on returning things to their previous condition, and I also put some new gravel down on his worn driveway early on. So far, so good!

Sounds like the lack of comparable properties is also an issue, the lender can't establish a reasonable value if there aren't comparable properties. So combine that with excessive land value .... I hear people say that 20% down is "normal" these days, and I beg to differ. USDA & VA loans are 0% downpayment loans. FHA requires 3.5%, Fannie & Freddie both have 3% downpayment programs. I work for a community bank and we do tons of loans that have downpayments of less than 20%. There really are MANY different financing options, people just need to either do their research or find a really good loan officer.