Spring Home Tips

For most of the country Spring has sprung and the season is well on it’s way! Mother Nature is busy at work sprucing up and you should be too; as overwhelming as it can seem there’s no need to panic over the clutter. We’ve put together some great tips to help you get on top of the seasonal home honey-do list!

Change Your Air Filter
This one is bigger than you think! Regularly changing your home air filter not only keeps the air you breathe cleaner but it can help your air systems work more efficiently – saving you money!

Open Your Vents
If you live in a home with foundation vents this is the time to open them up! Opening your foundation vents allows cooler air to pass beneath your home helping your AC systems not have to work as hard.

Tackle the Yard
The yard can seem like a huge task, so pick just one task a day, or even one task per week, to take on. Rake the leaves today, next time trim the bushes, the next time do the edging.

Open the Windows
As the temperatures are still cool in the morning and evenings it’s an opportune time to get some fresh air in the home. Opening windows clears out dust and stale air and sunlight can even have anti-bacterial properties.

Hopefully these simple tips will help inspire you!
Don’t let the things around the house take over – you can tackle any of these tasks if you just take them one at a time.

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Tips for a Cozy Winter Home

Make Your Home Cozy This Winter!

Winter is quickly on its way and for a big part of the country it looks like it might be a cold one! There is always plenty to do around the house, and getting ready for Winter kicks that into high gear. While there are any number of things most home owners know to do at this point – like closing foundation vents, and servicing the furnace – we’ve put together a different list! Our list here is more about adding to the COZY factor of your home – so let’s get to it!

Add Area Rugs
They really tie the room together for one thing, but otherwise they can also add a layering effect to your home decor. You have Winter coats that you put on just for the season; area rugs can be much the same for your home – just a little different pattern to enjoy and add to your visual pleasure.

Bring In Scents
It’s easy to over-do, so be careful! But adding a few scented cedar candles or having some cinnamon spices simmering fill your home with the most amazing fragrance and believe it or not that alone can lift your whole mood!

Upgrade Your Fuzziness
Winter is a harsh time so it’s a good idea to up the fuzzy factor in your home! Get those plush throw pillows, drape a super soft blanket over the recliner. Adding soft, warm fabrics to your living spaces helps keep things cozy.

Change The Lighting
No, not just the direction the ceiling fan spins, although that is a good tip too, but rather the lights itself. Whether it be just having more candles lit in the room you’re in, adding a lamp shade, or changing to a softer wattage bulb,  changing the illumination in a space can really change the mood. Think warm!

There are any number of things you can do to your home once you’re in it to make it all you want it to be! As your real estate professional I want to be here for you long after the paperwork is done – if you have questions or ideas about your home don’t hesitate to get in touch. And if your home is one of the things you’re looking to change let’s talk!

Making Your Home Office Work

In recent months, with the rise of the corona virus here in America working from home has become an immediate reality for a lot of people; many more are considering it as an option the longer things go on. It can be hard to find the headspace to work at home without an actual physical space to do so, but it can be done! We’ve put together some ideas for carving out a workspace in your home office to help.

Backyard Boutique
Most people forget about outside of their home when they’re thinking about available space. With bluetooth and wifi readily available these days there’s no reason you can’t set up outside on your patio for the perfect outside office. Some say working outdoors in the sunshine can even improve creativity. There are even ready-built modular room systems so you can plug and play your own She Shed with ease!

Double Duty
The ole reliable guest bedroom! If you have a spare bedroom it is the ideal, go-to option for a home office solution. Plenty of available room with good privacy, the trick is to make sure it stays able to be used when company does drop in.

Closet Hideaway
An extra hallway closet or linen cubby can often easily be converted into a great space to get work done. Depending on your tasks you may not need a ton of room, so a simple fold down table or corner may be perfect.

The important thing is to look at the space you have and re-imagine its potential. The corner of a room can become a platform for your corporate success, it just takes a little work. Maybe it’s time to look for a bigger home? We can help with that too!

Hot Home Trend: Kitchen Backsplash

Staying up on all the latest hot home decorating trends? Plugged into the HGTV, TLC? Love the Flip or Flop shows?

Then you have got to know about Kitchen Backsplashes!

That’s right say it with me: Back Splash! And just like it’s name they’re making a big impact on the home styling scene.

It’s easy to see why too! Your kitchen is one of the prime focal points of your home, some call it the heart of the home even, so it’s no wonder that it is also one of the best places to add a little personality beyond functionality.

Sure, a backsplash protects the wall behind the stove, keeps things tidy, and generally makes what accidents that do pop all over much easier to clean up, but beyond that they can really add a much needed burst of inspiration to what can sometimes be an otherwise utilitarian space.

There are any number of amazing tile options from plain to wild that you can use to dress up your space. Geometric patterns are popular, and bright pops of color are all the rage; patterns like Azulejo are timeless.

We love being able to offer these tips and insights to help you enjoy your home long after the paperwork is signed! We hope that you will rely on us for years to come and count on us as a trusted community resource to assist you whenever you have home questions.

Keep Your Home Cool This Summer!

No doubt about it, for most of the country Summer time is definitely here!

This is certainly true for those of us in the Northwest; while everyone knows some of the usual ways to cool down there’s a few things you can do to keep your house cool this Summer without cranking up the air and that will help keep the power bill down too.

Take a look at these helpful hint to keep you down to a slow sizzle this Summer!

Close Doors
If you have rooms in your home that are largely unoccupied for long periods during the day close the doors. By closing off sections of your house you can help keep cool air inside of the individual rooms easier, especially during the hottest parts of the day.

Change Your Fan Direction
Which way is your fan spinning? Believe it or not it makes a huge difference! In Winter it’s good to use your ceiling fans to pull warm air up, but in Summer turn off the fan and flip the little switch to reverse direction so it runs counter-clockwise – this forces air downwards providing a direct skin cooling effect.

Cool Yourself
It’s a lot more cost effective to cool yourself off than to try to cool down the entire house! Consider dressing lighter, and drinking cool drinks (including plain old water!) to stay hydrated. This will help you feel cooler even if the house is warm.

Close the Curtains
Close up the curtains, especially if you have a sunny facing window or French doors as heat will penetrate your home and cause it to run hotter. Better yet, if possible get thicker black out curtains. Windows and glass surfaces are one of the biggest places where heat will enter your home.

There are plenty of ways to keep your cool! Hopefully these ideas will get you started. Long term things you may also consider include planting shade trees, or adding patio mist systems. Your home should be a place you love living in, get in touch today to find out how we can help make that happen!

Questions to Ask Before You Sell

Selling your home can be one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as a homeowner.

Whether it’s due to work relocation, or just that you’ve looked around and decided it’s time for a change, selling your home is something you will want to put some real thought into before jumping in with both feet.

Here are some good things to questions to ask your chosen real estate agent to help make your move a success!

What Is The Last Home You Sold?
Track record counts. While it’s fine to go with a new agent you do want to make sure your needs are taken care of. A good way to protect your own interests is to be sure to work with an agent who has a record of proven results. Ask them about the last home they sold for good insight!

What Is My Home Worth?
Knowing the market is key so you don’t undersell your property or over-price yourself into a long term holding pattern. Before you jump on Zillow or some other automated CMA tool talk to a real live agent – they will know far more about your local market and can give you a much more accurate property assessment.

How Long Will It Take?
Your agent may not be able to give you an exact date, but don’t be discouraged! They will know the market well enough to be able to predict a general timeline and also give references from some of their previous clients.

What Will An Agent Do?
You’ve sold your own car. You’ve sold stuff at a garage sale. Why not sell your own home? What does an agent really do, anyway? Well, you’ll be glad to know a qualified agent will do a lot more than just help shuffle paperwork! A trusted REALTOR will be there to assist with any questions, market your property, and handle any problem items that might arise. Your real estate agent is without a doubt your most valuable asset during a sale.

Find out what working with a professional is really worth – get in touch!! We’ll be there all along the way to help – let’s go find your dream home today!

Update Your Bathroom Without Breaking The Bank!

Everyone knows the kitchen is the “heart of the home”, and while the bedroom may be where you spend the most hours dreaming, it’s often the bathroom where a lot of the living gets done and also the room most likely to be used by guests. Isn’t it important then to make sure it looks great? We think so too! So we’ve put together these get ideas to help you give your bathroom an updated look without spending a small fortune on a full remodel.

Frames
If you have a free standing shower one way to really open the space is to ditch the framed in glass. Going frameless helps take the hard edges off of corners and gives the shower a more open feel. Adversely, consider taking the frames off any mirrors in the bathroom as this lends to a more modern feel.

Paint
Seems like a no brainer! Changing up the color palette in a room is one of the best ways to change it up without knocking down walls. Take this time to patch up any dings and scratches on the walls too.

Fixtures
Update that faucet! Swap out that sink! Or hey, just change the knobs on the drawers. Just changing the hardware in your bathroom can make a big difference. It’s more than okay to splurge on that fancy infinity sink you’ve been wanting too!

Lighting
Consider changing the lights as well! Fixtures themselves, or even just a different style of cool bulb can add a real flare of personality. Lights literally light up our world, so the tone, brightness, and color can all make a big difference on how you feel in a room.

Hopefully these quick tips will get your ideas flowing! There are tons of ways to change up your home and keep it fresh and new for years after you’ve moved in. Stumped? Let’s talk – as your chosen REALTOR® we’re always happy to help any way we can!

Get Your Home Ready For Spring!

The rains have come and the wind is blowing the fresh smells of a new season across the land…and that means Spring cleaning!

Yay. Right? Nobody looks forward to the work part of the process but everything sure is nice when it’s done and you can sit back and breathe in that crisp clean house smell.

We’ve put together a few quick but powerful tips to help you get ready for Spring without taking the spring out of your step!

Dust Off The A/C
Seasons change fast, and if you have central air it won’t be long before you’ll be wanting to turn it on to cool down. It’s a good idea to give the unit outside a good hose down and inspect it for any damage. Go ahead and change those air filters and turn the system on to make sure everything sounds right.

Do the Junkmail Jump
It’s a good time to review all those subscription and junk mail ads hitting the mailbox. Unsubscribing may not be the way you want to spend your Saturday but by the end of the year when the sales ads are really hitting you’ll be glad you did. It’s not a bad idea to take a look at your online subscriptions and bills in general as well…are there some things you’re paying for that you’re not even using? Cut them out!

Clean the Grill!
This one brings it’s own reward really. For many of us grilling season never really stopped so this may just be a matter of some light brushing off, but for everyone else go ahead and break out the wire brush and get things looking clean. Dump out old ashes and maybe even fire up a few burgers after you’re done – just to make sure it’s still “good”.

Brave The Deep Clean
Now is the time. Before Summer sports and the year really gets rolling, Spring is often the best time to go beyond your normal maintenance cleaning and go for the deep grime. Bleach the grout, wash down the baseboards, and do all the little things that make a big difference.

A good real estate agent wants to help long after the paper work is signed and helping you take care of the home you’re living in is just one part of that. If you’re looking for a home, or even looking to sell the home you’re in just get in touch!

Tame the Clutter! With These Kondo Tips!

Marie Kondo is the start of an outrageously popular Netflix series called “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo” where she helps homeowners tame their clutter by embracing the things they love in their home. She has some very creative and imaginative ideas for organizing your living spaces, and since the change of seasons is just around the corner it’s a great time to get started thinking about Spring cleaning!

Here are some tips we’ve put together to help you apply some of Marie’s techniques to transform your home into your oasis of tranquility!

Visualize Your Goal
It might seem like a small thing, but it helps to picture in your mind the end result you want before you even begin! Believe it or not this helps the idea of this change seem more real in your mind, and thereby also more achievable.

Does It Spark Joy?
A big part of Marie’s method is to go through items that may be cluttering up your home and ask yourself: “does this item spark joy in me?”. If the answer is not YES! Then it’s no; chances are the item is just something you’re holding onto. Free yourself! Get rid of things just taking up space and make room for what really makes you happy.

Treat Your Possessions Like They’re Alive
Seems kinda nuts doesn’t it? But think about it. A lot of the clutter and disorganization in our lives comes from haphazard habits; only respecting the items when we put them to use. By treating your possessions like they have feelings it makes it easy to treat them properly and put them in their proper places.

Call A Professional
Even if everything goes smoothly and you’re de-cluttering like mad there’s still the problem of where to put all the stuff you’re getting rid of! If you have a truck it’s not such a big problem but otherwise you may want to hire a professional junk hauling company to come pick things up. Some of them even take donations to thrift stores instead of just throwing it all away!

Keeping your home tidy is an essential part to the overall health of your home! You will be absolutely amazed by how much better a clutter free home feels. It’s about more than just cleaning  up – it can help improve every moment you spend in your house.

Get Your Home Ready For Travel

No, your house isn’t going anywhere! Well, hopefully not anyway…and that’s kind of the whole point.

With the holidays coming up Winter is one of the hottest travel times of year; it’s likely for many that you will be off to see friends or family and leaving your homes for at least a few days.

It’s important to make sure everything at home is just as ready for your time away as your suitcase, so we’ve put together some tips to help you be prepared!

Set Your Temp
If you’re not going to be home and don’t have pets or plants to worry about consider setting your thermostat lower to save on energy costs. In Winter months most suggest at least 55 degrees to keep pipes from bursting, and in Summer most recommend 80 degrees. If possible you can even buy a smart thermostat you can control from your phone!

Turn Off Water
If you’re going to be gone for any extended period it’s a good idea to turn off your water to avoid coming home to a flood of troubles.  You’ll need to do this via the main water line of your home; then let the faucets run until dry before you leave. It’s a fairly easy thing to do that can really help save you a ton of headaches.

Clean The Fridge
It’s not the first thing to come to mind when leaving to go on vacation, but while you’re out soaking in the sun those groceries are still at home going bad! If you’re going to be gone for an extended time you really should check the dates on things like milk and fruit so that you won’t come home to a real stinky situation.

Last Minute Tips…
If you have a trusted friend or neighbor have them stop by while you’re away to check on things – even if it’s just to drive by and take a look from the outside. You may also want to put a pause on posting all those beautiful sunsets until you get back: criminals may see posts on social media and see you aren’t home. Your home is one of your most valuable assets, be sure to keep it safe while you are away from it!