Real Estate Information Archive

Blog

Displaying blog entries 1-2 of 2

Sprucing Up for Spring

Wednesday, May 17, 2017
by The Hat Team

It is that time of the year again, spring has sprung. As you begin thinking about spring cleaning, don’t forget to include the homes exterior in your plans. Whether you are selling your property or plan on calling it home for awhile, every house could use a boost in curb appeal. Curb appeal creates the first impression of your home. If selling your home, curb appeal reflects how well the property is cared for and intrigues buyers to take a look inside. Curb appeal is also a way to showcase your personality and create welcoming scenery for your guests. Spring is the perfect time to spruce up your home’s exterior. The following tips will help you attain enchanting curb appeal.

Start With A Checklist

The first step to enhancing curb appeal is to determine what needs improvement. Take a walk around the outside of your home pretending that you are a potential buyer and take note of things that could possibly impair your first impression. Be sure to consider all factors from possible missing shingles on the roof to rotten wood around windows or doors.

Landscaping

If your home does not receive routine yard maintenance, a through clean up can make all the difference. Start by removing debris, giving the grass a fresh cut, eliminating weeds, and trimming over grown bushes or trees. Keep in mind that bushes should never exceed the height of window sills or extrude growth beyond the threshold of sidewalks. Use a pressure washer to clean the exterior of the house, making sure to leave all windows sparkling. Replace any rotten wood and touch up chipped paint.

The Front Door

Establishing a welcoming entry can really improve the first impression of a visitor or potential buyer. Make sure the pathway and porch leading to the front door is well lit. Use decorative porch fixtures that compliment the color of the house and other hardware. Lining walkways with solar powered garden lights gives the yard a vivid glow after dark. Make the front door a focal point by repainting it a warm, inviting shade that contrasts from the siding and shutters. Use a classic shade of red or go bold and try yellow. 

 

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.   

Add Comment

Tips to Make Your Spring Housecleaning a Breeze

Friday, April 17, 2015
by The Hat Team

It’s that time of year! Spring-cleaning time! Check out these spring housecleaning tips from Angie Hicks, founder of Angieslist.com. These are tips from the pros to get your home in shape for spring.

housecleaningVacuuming your rugs and carpets weekly is the key to not letting dirt accumulate. If you have pets, more often is better. Here’s a three-step approach for use with wall-to-wall carpet to consider:  

  1. Clean the perimeter with the edging tool.
  2. Begin at the far corner and move backward so you don’t leave footprints.
  3. Vacuum slowly and steadily, rather than using numerous quick passes.

The pros prefer lightweight machines, which use HEPA filters, and come equipped with long hoses to reach under furniture and high ceiling corners. Also, check out this resource for Martha Stewart’s suggestions on carpet maintenance.

Additional miscellaneous expert tips are…

  • To remove rust stains in shower areas make a paste of hot water and powdered oxygen cleaner. Apply the mixture to shower walls and glass and let sit for 30 minutes. Scrub with nylon scrubber, rinse and buff dry.
  • To clean smudges from dark granite counters, wipe down with soapy water and buff dry.
  • To freshen drains and clear clogs pour baking soda over the drain, then pour on vinegar. Use boiling water to rinse the bubbling mixture down the drain.
  • Remove debris from tiny crevices with toothpicks.

Some kitchen supplies that the pros like are…

  • Baking soda can be sprinkled showers and sinks to deodorize them.
  • Mix one part vinegar, one part water, and 5 to 10 drops of eucalyptus or lavender oils to be shaken or sprayed on carpets, sofas, or mattresses.
  • Mix some antibacterial dish soap with white vinegar and hot water to sanitize doorknobs, doors, walls and other surfaces.

If you prefer to outsource the cleaning, line up possible candidates by checking Angies' List or another trusted online source for references. Also, get references from friends. Most cleaning companies will provide free estimates. An initial “deep” cleaning can average $300 to $400 with biweekly cleaning averaging $100 to $150. Of course, specific prices will depend on the size of your home, types of flooring, whether or not you have pets or kids, etc.

You can find more information from Angie Hicks’ article and from Martha Stewart’s guide to cleaning here.

Happy spring cleaning!

Information courtesy of Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

Add Comment

Displaying blog entries 1-2 of 2

Syndication

Categories

Archives

   cdpe    crsHat Lady on Zillow