they said $65 per treatment (including back yard). I figured I can probably do it myself for cheaper. ==>> i did not read all the posts... but let me suggest ... you DO pay for one year of treatments.. and let them get you going ... while you learn ... the suggestions that you can learn and do it all properly in the next few weeks is overwhelming .... to my thinking ... a good fall fert .. to strengthen the lawn.. and two spring weed treatments ... and you would be 90% of the way toward success ... then next fall.. you take over with a fall feeding ... and weeds the next spring ... i see a lot of lawn in that first pic.... i am going to guess.. maybe you already stated such.. but if you have an acre of lawn ... you probably arent going to be buying fert for such.;. for 65$ .... when i moved from livonia suburbia... where i was a lawn warrior.. to 5 acres down by adrian... i realized that i would not be watering 5 acres... and soon learned that meadow weeds were the only things that stay green in july/august on sand soil ... now i am curious.. i have had two four week droughts down here.. where are you in MI.. that your lawn stayed so green ... just offering you an opportunity to think outside your box of ... I CAN DO IT CHEAPER MYSELF..... good luck ken

There are some great books out there that help you think about space well. Alexa Hampton has one on how to decorate, called Decorating in Detail, for example. Her style is not mine, but I like the way she lays out her thinking. For me, I look at a room and think about what the essential elements it requires are. A living room needs a wonderful rug and a great sofa and curtains first. I would spend a lot of time playing with those elements. Choosing the rug and the curtains first and then the fabric for the sofa last. I like very traditional Persian rugs paired with white Damask sofas with raw silk curtains. After that I would move on to the next room, trailing along the color scheme with me (not repeating it- but rhyming it perhaps.) The most important elements that impart personality and style to a room are art and accessories. You can't rush those purchases. You will find or make things that are meaningful to you over time.

the roofer will take care of the roof. as for the stucco, if all you want is to paint it, call in a good house painter. is it spanish style? hard to tell because the photo you posted is rather small. what is going on to the left of the front door, those small windows w/a frame around it?? any way to enlarge the windows on the garage? they look so small for that large expanse. ditto the other windows above the porch. any other homes like yours in the neighborhood? maybe you want to modernize the front w/new garage doors, some stone work, iron railing,, i like a soft white stucco w/black trim and bold accent colors and landscape

If you want to go someplace unfamiliar, you'll need a road map to get there efficiently. Otherwise, you'll just be driving around wasting time and fuel. If you want to remodel your home, a set of plans and specifications serves as the road map for getting to the desired end state. It should show the existing floor plans and elevations, a demolition plan, construction plans and elevations for any portions remodeled or added, sections, details, and specifications. Trying to "bid" the project without plans and specifications is a short cut that's sure to create headaches, heartaches, take more time and cost a lot more than whatever "bid" you accept.