Ready to Sell this Spring?

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Are you looking to sell your home this Spring? If you answered yes, then here are things you can get started on:

✅ Declutter living areas. Less is more when it comes to getting your house ready to show. Do a clean sweep of counters, windowsills, tables, and all other visible areas, and then tackle behind closed doors: closets, drawers, and cupboards—since virtually nothing is off-limits for curious buyers.

✅ Depersonalize your space. What is the next step on your checklist for selling a house? Sellers should remove distractions so the buyers can visualize themselves and their families living in the property.

✅ Touch up any scuff marks. Even if you’re not doing a full-on repainting project, pay special attention to scrubbing and touching up baseboards, walls, and doors to make the house sparkle and look cared for.

✅ Fix any loose handles. It’s a small thing, but you’d be surprised by the negative effect a loose handle or missing lightbulb can have on a buyer.

✅ Clean, clean, clean. Once you’re done cleaning your house, clean some more. Even if you’re not worried about what buyers will think of your home’s scent, you want your property to look spotless.

✅ Find a great real estate agent. Your real estate agent should be someone you feel comfortable working with and trust to sell your house for top dollar. Give us a call, we’re here to help! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

Preparing for Holiday Guests

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Are you planning for holiday visitors? Think about what you’d expect to find at a five-star hotel and use that as inspiration for the perfect guest room oasis.

  • Add extra plush accents, like quilted shams, a chunky knit throw blanket, or even a fur or sequined one for a touch of glam.
  • Stock the bathroom with essentials like extra toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, shower gel, body lotion, and a festive scented candle.
  • Be sure there is ample storage — especially if your guests have winter gear like coats or boots.
  • You don’t have to deck all of the halls, but a little seasonal greenery goes a long way toward adding holiday cheer.
  • Make sure there are plenty of clean, fresh towels on hand. And — a warm, comfy guest bathrobe to add that extra touch of hotel luxe!

Are you hosting holiday guests this year, or are you traveling?

Create a Welcoming Entryway

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First impressions are everything and an organized entryway can impact the entire experience a buyer has when they tour your house. Even if you’re not on the market and simply want to present your home well to guests, here’s how to create a foyer or entryway that says “Welcome Home!”

ADD AN INVITING AROMA The way your home smells is just as – if not more – important than how it looks because it is one of the first things your buyer will notice.

KEEP THE FLOOR CLEAR Create the illusion of more space by keeping the floors free of boots, shoes, backpacks, and other clutter. A clear path can help make the entryway appear cleaner and larger.

MAKE IT PLUSH Rugs instantly add a layer of coziness and placing a rug will make the space feel inviting and welcoming.

Preparing for Cooler Months

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Here are a few of our favorite fall home decor tips:

???? Light some autumn-scented candles – we love the Brown Sugar Chestnut from Chesapeake Bay Candle Co.

???? Layer up your chairs and couches with cozy throws.

???? Swap your linen and cotton summer bedding for flannel sheets and a down blanket.

???? Bring on the fall florals. Swap the summer blooms for mums and line your mantel heirloom pumpkins and rich autumn-hued flowers.

???? Take the sweaters out of storage! If you have to swap your winter and summer clothes, it’s time to take out the sweaters and warmer wear. Even if you don’t need it *quite* yet, you’ll be glad you did as soon as those chilly mornings arrive.​

Tips to Keep Your Home Sanitized

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If you are getting a little tired of soaping up and sanitizing during the ongoing pandemic, we have some tips to help you keep your homes safe and families healthy:

1) Before you disinfect surfaces, do a quick pre-clean to remove any visible dust, dirt, or grime.

2) Use your cleaner or disinfectant exactly as directed on the packaging.

3) After disinfecting, let the surface air dry. It needs to stay wet for as long as is recommended in order to kill germs properly!

4) When disinfecting food contact surfaces or children’s toys, rinse them with water once they have air-dried.

5) Throw disinfectant wipes in the garbage — don’t flush them!

cleaning house

Home Projects with Maximum ROI

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Do you ever come home to your perfectly nice house and just have the urge to redesign all the things? Sometimes I think about __________ or __________ (redoing our kitchen/finally putting a spa tub in the master bathtub/building a pool).

If you have the urge to make some changes to your home this year, it’s always good to keep ROI in mind. Sure, there are plenty of projects that are purely for enjoyment (like that spa tub!) but here are a few home improvements that can actually improve the resale value of your home:

  • ???? Minor Kitchen Remodel
  • ???? Minor Bathroom Remodel
  • ???? Exterior Improvements
  • ???? Garage Door Replacement
  • ???? Paint in a Neutral Palette

What is one home improvement project that you would love to tackle this year, practical or not?

house painting

10 Things Every Homeowner Should Know How To Do

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There are ten things every homeowner should know how to do…because chances are, you’re going to have to learn them eventually and a lot of us learn them the hard way! Take a peek at this list:

1-Change your own HVAC filters. 

2-Unclog a drain without using chemicals. 

3-File a property tax appeal. 

4-Shut off your water main line. 

5-Clean out the dryer vent. 

6-Find the studs in your walls. 

7-Protect hardwood floors from furniture. 

8-Clear out the gutters. 

9-Reset a circuit breaker after a blown fuse. 

10-Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

How many of these can you do? What would you like to learn? 

Sparkling Spring Cleaning Tips

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About 76% of Americans make it a tradition to complete their spring cleaning every year. Another 63% make an effort to clean the majority of their home. On average, spring cleaning takes around six days to finish. About 29% of people finish within one to two days. With the right plan and these spring cleaning tips, you can make the most of your time! Are you ready to get cleaning? With this spring cleaning checklist, you can stay organized and tackle your entire home!

1-Set a Schedule

Don’t reach for your mop or window cleaner just yet. First, take a look around your home. Which areas are going to take the longest to clean? Which rooms require the most attention? When you quickly clean throughout the year, what areas do you tend to avoid? Focus on tackling your big problem areas first. That way, you’ll have more energy to complete smaller tasks as you go.
Before you start cleaning, set a schedule for yourself. How many days do you want to spend cleaning? Break your tasks apart by room.Then, establish a plan of attack for every room in your home.

2-Declutter Every Room

Remember, clutter can cause stress. Start learning how to clean your house by decluttering every room. Remove any objects you no longer need. Then, give every item in your home a designated space. Once you use that item, put it right back where it belongs! Using this tactic will keep your home from getting cluttered in the future.

3-Room by Room

Entryway: Wipe the walls and baseboards, sweep and mop the floors, clean the door and doormat, and organize your shoes and hang your jackets.

Office: Recycle any paperwork you don’t need. Dust and polish the furniture and bookshelves. While you’re at it, don’t forget to sanitize your keyboard and mouse.

In the garage: Declutter the toys, sporting equipment, and tools. Open the garage door to air the garage out. Wipe down the walls and sweep the floor. Clean the garage door and frame. Replace the batteries for your garage openers.

Children’s playroom: Sanitize any plastic toys using soap and water. Consider washing the stuffed animals as well. You can declutter by donating unused toys. Clean the rugs, carpets, and floors. Keep everyone’s toys organized, too.

Living room: Dust and polish the furniture. Wash or vacuum the curtains. Clean the ceiling fans. Vacuum the sofa and chairs. Dust the blinds and curtain rods.Wash the slipcovers, blankets, and pillows. Clean the window sills and wash the windows. Sanitize the remotes. Shampoo the rugs or carpets. Vacuum or mop the floors.

Bathroom: Wipe the mirror down. Discard any expired products and clean up your makeup brushes. Clean the vanity, tub, shower, and showerhead, too. Don’t forget to give the tile grout a good scrub. Then, clean the toilet, hardware, walls, and baseboards. Sweep and mop the floors, too.

Kitchen: Clean the stovetop, microwave, dishwasher, oven, refrigerator (inside and outside), countertops, cabinet doors and backsplash, kitchen drain, floors, baseboards, and walls.

Upgrading Your Home When Selling

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Upgrading your home can be a good way to help you get back even more on your investment when the time comes to sell. If this is the main reason behind the idea of upgrading, then you should pay special attention to the renovations that bring in more money when it comes to resale value in today’s housing market.

Exterior

Spruce up the outside of your home before you try to put it on the market. Repaint the house if it’s looking a little faded. Consider painting the doors as well to help improve the curb appeal. And don’t forget about the landscaping. A small investment will go a long way toward making a good first impression.

Bathroom

Redo your bathroom, but don’t worry about trying to take apart the whole thing. A bathroom remodel should really consist of a replacement for your tub, toilet, sink, and tile. You don’t have to change the layout of the room, which may be very costly, but you should update the fixtures to suit what’s popular at the time. Don’t forget to redo the wall coverings if they’re outdated, too.

Kitchen

Just like the bathroom, you don’t have to gut your kitchen and redo the whole floor plan to update it enough to sell well. Bring in a new oven, sink, and new countertops, and consider redoing the cabinetry if it’s very outdated. The refrigerator may not need to be updated, but don’t forget to replace it too if it does. Recessed lighting and a kitchen island if you have the space for it are both great options, too. And don’t forget, a fresh coat of paint in the kitchen and any other room in the house that needs a fresh look.

Patio

Everybody enjoys outdoor spaces, and if they’re ready to use as soon as someone buys your home, that’s even better. Consider extending your patio or adding ceiling fans to encourage buyers to look twice at your home. The nicer your outdoor space, the better off you’ll be.

 

Vegetable Gardening in Arizona

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gardenVegetable gardening in the Arizona desert can be challenging. Gardening tips that may work in other climates, often don’t apply to gardening in the low desert of Arizona. Yet, growing a successful vegetable garden in the desert is absolutely possible!

Benefits of vegetable gardening in Arizona:

-Ability to garden outdoors year-round. 
-Abundant sunshine – necessary for all living things.

Challenges of vegetable gardening in Arizona:

-Extreme heat. A few vegetables (okra, Malabar spinach, Armenian cucumbers) tolerate the heat and continue producing. Some die, and others go into dormancy only to take off again when the humidity of late July or August sets in. 
-Low humidity. Many desert-adapted plants such as cactus, succulents, and plants with waxy leaves are adapted to less humidity. However, most vegetables and garden plants need more moisture in the air to grow well in the low desert of Arizona. 

SUCCESSFUL GARDENING TIPS

Take advantage of microclimates in your yard:

-Some parts of the yard will be warmer or cooler than others. Use those areas to your advantage by growing plants whose requirements match up to the specific microclimate available. 
-Notice in your yard which areas receive the most sun and shade during different seasons of the year. Learn the sun requirements and heat tolerance of different plants. Consider adding shade parts of the garden that need it during the hottest times of the year. Take advantage of the shade provided by larger plants to interplant different crops. 

Water your Arizona vegetable garden correctly:

-Vegetables and fruits do not produce well if they are stressed. Problems in the garden can often be traced back to watering – not enough, too much, or inconsistent water. Plants become stressed and are more prone to diseases and insects. 
-Spend time in your garden each day. You will notice the watering needs of your plants and be alerted to issues with your watering system.
-Water in the morning. Wilted leaves at midday don’t necessarily mean a plant needs water; always test soil a couple of inches deep to see if the soil is dry before giving droopy plants more water. They will probably recover once the sun goes down.

Looking for a new yard to start your garden? We’re ready to start searching for the perfect yard for gardening! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477