By Priscilla R. Toomey, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker, Julia B. Fee/Sotheby's International Realty

Mar. 1, 2017:  For most people, their home is their single-most valuable asset. While they may realize the importance of successfully managing this investment, they're not quite sure how to go about it. Whether you are planning to sell or buy, renovate or stage it for sale, or are wondering how to plant your outside space for the greatest positive impact, four upcoming Bronxville Adult School classes would be excellent resources.

The first, on Monday, March 13, is titled How to Sell or Buy Your Home in the Internet Age. Although many home sellers believe that the first showing is when the first prospect visits the home, the first showing is actually what people see on the Internet. This class will outline how sellers can best position their houses for the greatest impact in the Internet space, along with the nuts and bolts of preparing to effectively sell or buy a home, whether it will be in a few months or in a few years.

The second class, Current Trends in Home Design, will be held on Thursday, March 23. For those who are considering any kind of renovation, this class will cover the latest design trends--what renovations are your best investments and how to tackle them. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about your own planned projects and how to best address them.

How to put your home's best foot forward will be the focus of Staging Your Home to Sell: 2017, on Monday, March 27. To most effectively sell your home at the highest price, condition is a crucial element. Very few homeowners see their home through a buyer's eyes--but that is precisely what staging does, in order to present your property to best appeal to buyers. Unlike renovating, staging has a specific and immediate goal, and this class will provide the expert advice you need to achieve it.

In real estate, spring is already here, but even on the calendar, it's just around the corner. To be taught by a master gardener on Wednesday, March 29, Spring Gardening: Planting, Pruning and More will explain how to time and sequence your gardening tasks and the best time to plant--as well as how to pick the right plants for your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone.* Since pruning is also an important feature for spring gardening, you will learn what you need to do to become a confident pruner.

All classes meet at The Bronxville School at 7:00 pm.

You can register online at www.bronxvilleadultschool.org or by phone at 914-793-4435.

*Editor's note: "The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones." http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/Default.aspx

Pictured here:  Priscilla Toomey, licensed associate real estate broker, JD, ABR, Top5, certified EcoBroker, SRES with Julia B. Fee/Sotheby's International Realty, 2 Park Place, Bronxville, NY 10708; cell, 914-559-8084; email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Photo courtesy Julia B. Fee/Sotheby's International Realty