(BPT) - In the summer your backyard can quickly become the most important "room" of your home. However, you aren't alone if your backyard looks outdated and lackluster. Weather conditions can be tough on outdoor areas, but with a few simple updates, you can create the perfect outdoor living space.

(StatePoint) The number of U.S. renters has expanded significantly since the burst of the housing bubble, and renters now represent 34 percent of all households, according to government statistics. Meanwhile, rents climbed 3.2 percent last year.

Now that the rental market has gotten more crowded, the better prepared you are, the more likely you are to secure the property you desire. The real estate experts at Homes.com, along with partner ForRent.com, have created a comprehensive checklist for stress-free renting:

Warm days are calling, as summer traditionally kicks off the outdoor entertaining season. But this year, tradition takes a new direction. More hosts are breaking the boundaries of indoor versus outdoor entertaining. Gone are the paper plates and plastic cups. Instead, people are daring to take their dinnerware outside.

(NAPS)—Be warned: Dirt, allergens and pollutants may be lurking in the cleanest home, hidden away where you can't see them—but you can get help getting rid of them.