Home Maintenance Tips

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kitchen photoWhether you are in the market for a home, are enjoying your current home, or are interested in getting your home ready to sell, home maintenance is of utmost importance.  Buyers are always better off if the home they’ve fallen in love with has been treated and maintained with care and attention.  Living in your home means your safety and enjoyment of your home is of top priority.  Sellers are better off if they’ve been proactive when caring for their home while living in it as deferred home maintenance can result in the need for annoying and often expensive repairs when it comes to the home inspection.   To that end, here are some tips to consider when it comes to home maintenance. . .

Maintaining your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system is of utmost importance, especially here in Arizona where a malfunctioning ventilation or AC system can be an (expensive) health hazard, especially during the summer months.  Therefore, be sure to be proactive when maintaining this system by changing the HVAC filters regularly (typically it’s recommended that this be done on a quarterly basis, but check your system’s user’s guide for specific recommendations).  Having your HVAC serviced on an annual basis (and saving this paperwork) will also help you when it comes to your home inspection.

Maintaining your water heater is another important task when it comes to home maintenance.  Draining your water heater once a year is a good way to make sure it functions up to capacity, by flushing out minerals and other toxins that may clog the unit.  If the water in your area is harder than typical, a flush out may be necessary more often than annually.  Directions on how to do this are in the manual (and also online), or you may want to call a plumber to walk you through it the first time you do it on your own.  Water heaters are a major line item on home inspection checklists so being proactive will serve you well later on.

Another big item on home inspection lists is your roof.  Therefore, be sure to have a professional roofer conduct an inspection (annually is ideal), to check for issues with insulation, structure and drainage.   The flashings and gutters will need to be inspected as well, especially prior to monsoon season here in Arizona.  Being proactive with the roof will also save you money in the long run.

Taking the time to tackle these major home maintenance items will help maintain your home’s safety as well as your enjoyment of it, as well as getting it ready for a future sale.

Do you know the value of your home?  Click here for a no obligation home value estimate.

Fire Safety Tips 

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Keeping your home safe from fires is of paramount importance when it comes to safety in your residence, but it may not be something that is in the forefront of your mind.

aviano club photoFirst and foremost, do you have a home fire safety
evacuation plan?  Does every member of your family know what to do when there’s a fire?  Are there are two ways out of every room?  And does each member of the family know where they are?  Can all windows be easily opened?  Can the window screens be removed quickly?  Does everyone know how to check doors to see if they are hot, and if so, how to find another way out?  Fire safety experts recommend using towels if they are handy, for handling, touching or grabbing items to avoid burns, and also they can be used as a cover to protect faces and cover mouths.

If you have a second floor, do you have an escape (rope) ladder in a central location, near windows?  And does every family member know where it is, and how to use it if there is a fire?  Also, have you designated a meeting spot outside of the home where everyone can meet if there’s a fire?  Everyone needs to understand that once they exit the home, they can’t go back inside for any reason (even if there are pets inside).  Finally, do the adults have a plan to find and transport any pets in the home if there is a fire?

Another fire safety tip, while a bit more obvious, is to make sure all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home are in full working order.  The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that you change batteries in these devices at least once a year. If you have children or older individuals in your own, you may want to change these batteries twice a year.  Following a replacement schedule is the easiest way to remember to do this (ie, on New Year’s Day and on Fourth of July, every calendar year).

However, changing the batteries alone isn’t sufficient.  Setting a monthly schedule to test each detector is also critical.  (You can write it on your family calendar to remind yourself).  Oftentimes, fire departments discover that fires occur in homes with smoke detectors that weren’t operational, either because the battery wasn’t working, or because they were disconnected temporarily (ie, after a smoky cooking incident).

We hope you find these tips to be useful!

Contact Chris and Cheryl Park

Grout Cleaning Tips

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tiled kitchen photoOne of the biggest turn-offs to potential buyers is seeing dirty grout on tile floors.  Dirty grout sends a message to buyers that the floor isn’t clean, and if the floor isn’t clean then the rest of the home may not be clean either, and unclean homes typically mean deferred maintenance.  See what happens there?  However, in most cases, grout isn’t dirty, it’s stained from years of product build up, mildew, and being walked on.  The bottom line, however, is that part of getting your home ready to list means making it sparkle from the top to the bottom, and the bottom means getting your tile floors in pristine condition.

My first suggestion is to try various non-toxic cleaning products, many of which can already be found in your pantry, and with a little elbow grease, you can diminish those unsightly grout stains.  First, try using the powerful combination of baking soda and vinegar. Just mix baking soda with vinegar into a paste.  (Some people also recommend mixing baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a paste).  Then, apply the paste to the grout lines with an old toothbrush (either manual or electric—the latter will help loosen dirt much more effectively).  Then, wipe off excess paste after letting it sit for 20-30 minutes.  If the grout isn’t as clean as you’d like, try applying lemon juice directly to the stained areas, let sit for a few minutes and then wipe clean.

Alternative cleaners to try include whitening toothpaste, again using an old toothbrush (electric is even better).  You can also try covering the grout with shaving cream, letting it rest for a few minutes, and then scrub it off.  Pencil erasers can also work, believe it or not.  Another cleaner that is non-toxic and free of fumes is oxygen bleach.  This common cleaner can be found in the grocery and drug store, and is often found in powder form (ie, OxiClean) which can easily be made into a paste.

Commercial cleaning services are also options for those who don’t wish to expend the elbow grease necessary to deep-clean grout.  While they are much more expensive than the remedies above, they certainly may be worth it for many homeowners.  However, you choose to get that grout clean, be sure to take the time to have it sealed.  Manufacturers recommend that tile be sealed at least twice a year, but annually at minimum is your best bet.  These steps will be sure to increase the value of your tile floors!

Do you know the value of your home?  Get your free, no-obligation estimate here.

Where Are the Good Contractors?

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hands photoGood contractors . . . when you find one, you’ve got to hold on and never let go.  Whether you’d like to update your existing home, or you are considering listing your home for sale, and making much needed updates to maximize your ROI (return on investment), you’re probably going to be enlisting the services of a contractor.  Finding a good, reputable contractor out of the thousands out there may seem like a daunting task.  However here are some suggestions on how to find the best person to help you update your home:

First, ask your coworkers, friends and family if they’ve used a contractor in the past. A second source of recommendations to consider is your neighbors.  An easy way to crowd-source your neighbors’ recommendations is through the website www.nextdoor.com.  This free website is a great resource for anything neighborhood-related, and members are very willing to share their experiences with contractors, good and bad.  A third source of recommendations to consider is your local tile store, flooring store and hardware store.  Chatting with the store manager or employees will often yield several names of reputable contractors in your area.

Checking these individuals out, once you’ve got a list of 3-4 names, is critical, to ensure they are reputable and legitimate.   In Arizona, the Registrar of Contractors maintains a list of all registered, licensed contractors in a handy database available to the public: http://www.azroc.gov/forms/contractorsearch.html.  This database contains an up-to-date record of the status of the contractor’s license, any complaints that have been filed against the contractor, the amount of bond they maintain, as well as how long they’ve maintained a license in this state.

The next step will be to contact the contractor and to interview them (by phone or email).  Some questions to ask include:  Do they take on projects of your size?
Can they give you a list of previous clients?  How many other projects would they have going at the same time?  How long have they worked with their subcontractors?  Would they be personally supervising the project?   The next step would be a face to face meeting, in which they can see the project you’ve got in mind, and so you can ascertain their personality and see if it’s a good fit.  Follow up this in person meeting with phone calls to 2 or 3 of their references.  Ask how their remodels went, and ask if you can see photos of the final product.

The final step is to collect bids (always ask for itemized bids in writing) as well as payment schedules.  Typically, with larger remodeling projects, contractors require 10% at the time of signing the contract, with 3 payments of 25% evenly spaced throughout, and then the final 15% once the remodel has been completed.   Then, it’s off to the races with a remodel that’s sure to increase the value of your home, or of your continued enjoyment of your home.

As always, we’d be happy to share with you who we have had success working with on home remodels, as well as to conduct a walk-through of your home to discuss what we recommend updating when getting your home ready for sale, or alternatively, where to spend your money in your new home, to increase ROI for selling your home in the future.

Contact us for referrals

Pros and Cons of Artificial Grass

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S putting green in backyardSince Arizona is primarily composed of desert land, with very little rainfall, and there are very valid concerns about future water supply from the Colorado River, you may have considered installing artificial grass instead of real grass in your front or back yard.

One of the biggest reasons to install artificial turf is the lack of maintenance.  Gone will be the mornings of mowing, weeding and trimming your grass.  Instead, you’ll merely need to rake off some leaves and debris occasionally.  Moreover, gas-powered lawnmowers and leaf blowers contribute to airborne pollution.  Additionally, with artificial grass, you won’t have to pay for fertilizer, watering or seeding, so the ongoing maintenance costs will be nixed.  Another upside to artificial turf is its appearance.  Your lawns will always be green, verdant, and lush-looking.  The average life expectancy of artificial turf, depending on the product itself, is 15-25 years, so it likely will something you won’t have to deal with the entire time you live in your home.   Finally, there are many more options of artificial grass nowadays, with many more realistic artificial turf choices out there, instead of the plastic-looking turf of yore.

Some of the cons of artificial turf to consider are first, the cost.  Artificial grass averages around $7/square foot, so the initial output can be considerable.  (This cost, of course, should be balanced against the maintenance and landscaping costs of real grass on an annual basis).  Also, there are some concerns about “off-gassing” with artificial turf.  The synthetic components of artificial grass may not be safe for children and/or pets, and when heated in the Arizona sun, these toxic effects may be amplified.  So it definitely pays to conduct some research as to the healthier options if you go this route.  (For example, look for options that don’t contain a crumb rubber infill.)   Finally, in Arizona at least, the temperature of artificial grass as opposed to real grass can be a real concern.   The surface temperature of artificial grass can exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes this surface a very real danger.  Watering down the surface on hotter days can ameliorate this risk, but this may negate the fact that you’re trying to reduce water usage.

We’d be happy to discuss these pros and cons with you, especially with regard to listing or buying a home.

About Chris and Cheryl Park, REALTORS®

Painting Home Exterior

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Thanks to Arizona’s dry and hot temperatures, and more days of sun than not, painting the exterior of your home is of critical importance.  Whether you are living in the home of your dreams, or you’re listing your current home for sale, there are some factors that will determine when and how you paint the exterior of your home.   An improperly or poorly painted home will not bear out a higher sales price.  

S AZ houseAs for how often you should paint the outside of your home in Arizona, the basic rule of thumb is every 5-10 years.  The determining factors here are the type of paint that was used, as well as the orientation of the home in terms of direct sunlight.  If the original paint was not 100% acrylic, the paint job will not last much longer than 5-7 years.  Paint that is of higher quality and 100% acrylic should last at least 8-10 years, with proper application.  Again, if your intention is to prepare your home for sale, then you may not want to go with the more expensive 100% acrylic paint.

Proper preparation of the exterior of your home for painting is critical for the application of the paint to be successful, and to look good.  Many of the homes in Phoenix and Scottsdale are stucco, due to its durability in the desert climate.  Stucco needs to be cleaned very well before painting, so be sure that a wire brush is used to remove sand and loose paint before the painting begins.  A pressure washer should also be used to remove surface dirt and grime, and all holes and cracks must be patched.  A paint sprayer is typically used on stucco exteriors, with the trim being painted by brushes and rollers.

contact us for more selling tips

Burglary Deterrence Tips

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We’ve all read the statistics about property crimes, and regardless of how the economy is doing, home burglaries are an unfortunate steady constant in today’s society.  There are some simple things you can do, however, to minimize the risk that your home will be a target.  In no particular order of importance:

  1. Unlocking a front door photoIncrease visibility of your home from the curb.  In other words, make sure to keep any large bushes or trees that obscure entry places into your home, trimmed back.  All windows and doors should be clearly visible to people on the street, thereby deterring burglars who need discreet ways to enter your home.
  2. Make it difficult for would-be burglars to access your backyard by always keeping side gates latched and locked.  Remove any easy ways to jump these gates, by removing any ladders, outdoor benches or large rocks that are nearby.
  3. Install and use a home security system.  At minimum, install an alarm, but also consider installing security cameras on the exterior of your home.  Nowadays these cameras are relatively inexpensive, and thanks to technological advances, some will send you an alert to your cellphone if anyone comes up your driveway or to your front door.  Whether or not you have an alarm system, just placing a placard from a security alarm company in your front yard is often a sufficient deterrent to potential burglars.
  4. If a burglar were choosing between a house with a dog, and a house without, the house without the dog would be broken into, every single time.  To that end, placing a Beware of Dog sign in your front window is an incredibly inexpensive and effective deterrent to home burglars.
  5. Finally, keep your front door and driveway clear of any pamphlets, newspapers and packages. These signal that you may not be home, and make your home an easy target for those wishing to enter without your lawful consent.

I’m happy to give you more tips specific to your own home.  Burglaries are crimes that can and should be prevented.

Contact Us

Pool Safety

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McDowell Mountain Ranch Park and Aquatic Center photoAs we’re fully immersed in the heat of summer, there will be more and more days spent in the pool.  Critical to enjoyment and relaxation is making sure the pool experience is a safe one for everyone involved.  Here are a few tips to help you maximize pool safety this summer, courtesy of the American Red Cross:

  1. Install a physical barrier to your pool, especially if children have access to your backyard and/or pool.  A 5-feet high fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate is the legal minimum (Source: here. )   Also consider placing a safety cover on the pool or hot tub when not in use, and remove any ladders or steps used for access. Pool alarms may offer a secondary layer of security and peace of mind.
  2. Supervise children at all times, and be in physical proximity to kids (with arm’s reach) at all times.  When enjoying the pool in large groups, make sure to designate one person to actively watch the children.
  3. Consider swimming lessons for young children, either through private companies or your local Parks and Recreation Department.
  4. Establish and enforce swimming pool rules such as “walk, not run, near the pool” and “no diving.”
  5. Make sure adults near the pool understand how to respond to emergencies by having appropriate safety equipment and taking water safety, first aid and CPR courses from the Red Cross.

About Chris and Cheryl Park

Pest Control in the Desert: Scorpions

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front yard photoWhether you’re an Arizona native, or new to the Grand Canyon State, there are some unique things which with you’ll have to contend as a homeowner in the Sonoran Desert.  Residents of the Midwest don’t have to worry about such things as scorpions, black widow spiders, rattlesnakes and packrats.  However, taking a few simple steps will make it much easier for you to coexist with the less desirable desert inhabitants without having to resort to chemical removal.

Scorpions are one of the most common, and most dangerous, pests that homeowners in the desert will encounter in and around their homes.  One of the most crucial steps you can take as a homeowner is to seal off any openings to your home.  Scorpions can enter cracks as small as 1/16th of an inch, so caulk and seal any cracks, pipes or wiring outlets on the exterior of your home.  Doggie doors are a very common method of entry so check that these exits are sealed when your animals are inside the home.  Put tight mesh screens on any and all return air or heater ducts that are on floor level. Be sure to clear any shrubbery or piles of wood that are next to your home.

Scorpions are also attracted to moisture, so repair any drips that result in standing water. Keep all interior drains (especially in bathrooms) closed or sealed when not in use as scorpions have been known to come up through the drains on occasion.  Also, keep outside lights to a minimum as scorpions, and other pests, are drawn to lights.  These other pests are food sources for scorpions.

As Arizona natives are aware, never walk around barefoot after dark. Shake out shoes and piles of clothing that are near the floor regularly, as scorpions like these hiding places.  Periodically inspecting the interior of your home with a black light (flashlights are available at any hardware store) will reveal any scorpions who have made entry into your home. The exoskeleton of scorpions contains a fluorescence that causes it to glow under UV light.

Taking a few of these simple steps should make it much easier for you to enjoy the beauty of our Sonoran Desert surroundings where it belongs, outdoors!  We’d be happy to give you referrals to recommended pest control experts as well.

Contact Us

What to Prioritize In a Kitchen Remodel

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Sibbach Kitchen photoIt’s often said that two rooms sell a home: the kitchen and the bathroom(s).  It’s also a widely-accepted truism that most home buyers are looking for homes that are updated, because simply put, they don’t want to do the work of updating.  Therefore, if the two most important rooms aren’t updated, many potential buyers will start adding up the cost to update the kitchen and the bathrooms, at minimum, and may not offer as much for those homes.

Therefore, if you are considering updating your home to maximize the sales price, as well as compete with similar homes in your neighborhood, there are ways to prioritize these updates, based on your budget:

  1. Paint.  Painting your kitchen, especially if it hasn’t been painted in the past five years, is a simple, inexpensive and quick way to update this area of your home.  Be sure to pick a neutral color that will appeal to the widest range of buyers, and that will coordinate with your existing cabinets, countertops and appliances.
  1. Stainless Steel Appliances.   Buyers still want stainless steel appliances, and this trend isn’t likely to change anytime soon.  After paint, updating your appliances is another cost-effective, yet simple way to quickly update your kitchen.
  1. Flooring.  After paint and appliances, take a look at the flooring in your kitchen.  Buyers prefer tile or other hard flooring in the kitchen.  Eighteen-inch porcelain or ceramic tiles in neutral colors are relatively inexpensive, yet provide a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to updating the look of your kitchen.
  1. Countertops. Non-laminate countertops in kitchens are very important to buyers in today’s market.  Granite or quartz countertops in the kitchen are upgrades that will quickly update the look and style of your kitchen.  There are various levels (or pricing) of granite, and I would be happy to suggest which level of granite would be appropriate for the price range of your home.
  1. Cabinets.  Assuming you’ve already implemented the above updates, when it comes to prioritizing updates in the kitchen, the last piece of the puzzle is updating your cabinets.  Depending on the type of wood and the style of cabinet you currently have, simply painting or refinishing your cabinets may do the trick.  If the interiors of your cabinets are in good condition but the style of the doors is not current, re-facing may be a better option to update your cabinets.    With re-facing, the doors and drawer fronts will be removed, and they can be replaced with any style or finish.  A finished wood veneer will be affixed to the cabinet sides, and new knobs and handles can complete the updated look.

Updating your kitchen with any of the above suggestions will be sure to help you maximize the final sale price of your home.  We look forward to working with you to prioritize the costs of any remodel or update you plan to undertake with an eye toward maximizing the sale price of your home.

Find out what the value of your home.