Category Archives: Seller Information

Ideas for Turning a Room into an At-Home Office

“Now more than ever people are looking for ways to create a new office space in their home. Here are just a few ideas to check out.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Originally published by American Home Shield

The COVID-19 pandemic turned many professionals into remote workers. Use these tips to create a functional home office.

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The COVID-19 pandemic turned a lot of professionals into remote workers, and it looks like many of us are going to stay that way for a while. Some companies are discovering that a remote workforce is more productive and cost effective, and lots of employees are discovering that working from home isn’t so bad.

If your work from home situation is starting to look like it might be more permanent than it initially seemed, then it’s time to stop working at the kitchen table. You need a home office. Ideally, you have a spare room you can dedicate to your work, but if not, an attic, basement or even a large closet can be converted into a perfectly suitable home office. Here are some tips to turn whatever room you have available into a home office.

Use as Much, or as Little, Space as You Have

A spare bedroom is the best location for a home office — it’s out of the way, has a door you can close, should have several outlets and probably has windows for natural light. It might even have a ceiling fan and a closet for extra storage. If you’re using your spare bedroom as a guest bedroom, you don’t have to sacrifice that — your spare room can be a home office most of the time and a guest bedroom as needed. If the room is small, install a Murphy bed and use a floating console desk, rather than a clunky piece of furniture.

An attic or basement can also work, particularly if you need a larger space for more than one person to work from home. But you don’t need a whole spare bedroom or a spacious attic to create a private, dedicated home office space. Many large closets can accommodate slim-profile desks or floating desks, with floating shelves above for storage. When you’re done with work for the day, simply shut the door.

Don’t Sacrifice Ergonomics

One of the most common tips for working from home is that you shouldn’t ignore ergonomics. When choosing a space for a home office, make sure you have room for a properly sized desk (at least 29 inches tall), and a comfortable, adjustable-height office chair, preferably one with casters, adjustable armrests and an adjustable seat pan tilt. If you splurge on one item in your home office, it should be the chair — you’re going to be spending a lot of time in it, after all. A chair without the proper support could cause pain and repetitive stress injuries.

Of course, sitting all the time isn’t good for you, either. A standing desk is a good option, and they’re available at a range of price points. A desk that easily converts from sitting to standing offers the best of both worlds.

Consider Who Will Be Using the Space — And How

Are you the only person who will be working from home, or do you have a spouse who also needs a home office? You might choose a desk large enough to accommodate two people, although you’ll need a room with double the space — like an attic or finished basement, or even a garage. 

Consider how much time you’ll be spending in your home office, too. Do you work long hours? If so, you’ll want a larger desk and a more comfortable chair, then.

Shed Some Light on the Situation

Indirect light is important in any office setting. Natural light is best, if you have a space that offers it, but you should use curtains or blinds to diffuse it and arrange your desk so that natural light sources don’t cause a glare on your screen. Install an overhead light fixture or add lamps that aren’t directly in your line of sight or right behind you to provide any additional light you might need.

Adjust Your Internet Speed

If you’re going to be working from home, you need to make sure that your internet is fast and reliable. Obviously, there will most likely be an additional cost to increase your internet speed. If that’s the case, it’s worth checking with your employer to see if they will cover the difference or the entirety of the charge. And while you might think your current bandwidth can do the job, remember that if you have multiple people working from home and children doing schoolwork, your normal internet speed probably won’t hold up.

Install More Outlets

No matter what space you choose for your new home office, you’re probably going to need more electrical outlets. You might also need a hardwired Ethernet connection and other data cabling for your equipment. Take the time now to install the outlets and data cabling infrastructure your new home office needs, so your work hours can pass smoothly and with minimal interruptions.

11 Ways to Create a Welcoming Front Entrance for Under $100

“Be proud and feel good every time you come home, by using one of these helpful tips on improving your front entrance.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

© Copyright 2020 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

5 Tips for Proper Lawn Care for Winter

“Even in the Winter there are steps you can take to help your lawn in the Spring.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – Dc Metro Realty Team

Originally Published by American Home Shield

Love your lawn, but hate how winter makes it a brown mess when spring arrives? Use these tips to protect your grass in winter so you’ll have green grass in spring.

Winter grass

Sure, you’ve likely mowed for the last time until spring, but that doesn’t mean you’re finished preparing the lawn for winter. (Don’t worry; you don’t have to do nearly as much lawn maintenance in the cooler months.) Become a pro at knowing how to take care of the lawn in winter — and help ensure you’ll be able to enjoy lush, green grass when springtime rolls around — by following these five simple winter lawn care tips.

Related: Fool-Proof Tips for Growing Your Best Winter Garden (With Recipe)

 1. Cut Down On — or Eliminate — Scheduled Watering

Depending on where you live, your lawn may not need any additional watering in the wintertime, now that the weather is cooler. If you are in a warmer climate, simply reduce how often and how long you water the lawn. If you’re in a cooler climate, stop your sprinklers altogether. Watering doesn’t help if the water ends up freezing anyway.

 2. Keep Your Lawn Tidy

Another great way to prepare your lawn for winter is to make sure your lawn stays clean and neat. That includes removing furniture, toys, branches, leaves and other debris. They can smother the grass, create conditions conducive to diseases and invite pests — resulting in a not-so-gorgeous yard in the spring. In addition, remove any weeds that pop up. If you live in a region with warm-season grass, yours has probably turned a buff color in its dormancy, making it easy to spot those pesky green invaders.

Bonus Tip: Along with removing anything that doesn’t belong on the grass, also remedy or eliminate any places where water can collect around the yard. Otherwise, you may end up with a mosquito infestation when the weather warms up, as standing water sources are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

 3. Leave the Snow

A snow-covered lawn doesn’t just look pretty; it’s actually beneficial for your grass. In fact, a blanket of snow is just that — a blanket. It helps to insulate the grass and ground from the crisp, bitter winter air.

Related: Protect Your Home Against Snow

 4. Watch Where You Shovel

If your area gets heavy snow, shoveling that snow is a regular part of your routine. Did you know that shoveling snow from salted areas onto your lawn can cause damage to your grass, though? If it’s necessary for your driveway and walkways and you can’t avoid getting it on your grass, one of the best winter lawn care tips to consider is using calcium chloride–based mixtures versus sodium chloride–based ones.

Related: Let is Snow, Let it Snow, Let it … Whoa! How to Remove Snow and Ice From Your Home

 5. Avoid Excessive Traffic

Repeated walking or driving over snow-covered or frozen turf can damage the existing grass and leave bare spots in the spring. Never park a car on the lawn, and make sure everyone who visits walks along your driveway and walkways instead of your grass.

Want to learn more ways to lawn prep for winter? Find out how to protect your plants this winter.

15 Smart Ideas From Beautifully Organized Pantries

“Ever wonder what you could do different to make it easier to find things in your pantry?  Check this article out to find several ideas that might just work for you!”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Steps to Clean Your Washing Machine

“It’s something that most of us don’t think about…keeping your Washing Machine clean.  It doesn’t take a ton of effort and the steps you take will ensure you don’t have a mildew problem in the future.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Originally published by American Home Shield

Taking the time to clean your washer and dryer can help make your machines more efficient and even prevent scary fires. See what you can do to keep this essential appliance mildew and danger free.

Someone Cleaning Font-Loading Washing Machine

The inside of your washing machine has to be one of the cleanest spots in your home, right? All that soapy hot water swishing around and rinsed again and again. Probably a good place to keep leftovers (we kid, we kid). But wait? What’s the perfect environment for the growth of mold and mildew? One that’s dark, warm and moist. Uh-oh — that’s the washing machine.

Have you noticed that your washing machine smells? Do your clothes smell after being washed? It looks like it’s a good time to learn how to clean a washing machine.

Related: How to Prevent and Eliminate Mold in the Bathroom

Yep, It’s a Dirty Washing Machine

First things first: How did your washing machine get dirty? Well, today’s washing machines are made to conserve water. If you are used to dumping in a lot of detergent out of habit (or from thinking that your clothes will get cleaner with more soap), you’re likely using too much. With the reduced amount of water, the detergent may not be breaking down fully, leaving a coat of soap on the tub and possibly damaging your machine. Likewise, if you have a tendency to leave wet clothes in the washer, it’s a real possibility that you’ve welcomed some mold and mildew growth.

You should always follow the washer manufacturer’s instructions on the type and amount of detergent to use. Newer, high-efficiency washers use special detergent made for those machines. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to use washing machine cleaner tablets every month to help dissolve the soap residue, too. And since mold and mildew are always ready to take advantage of dark, warm, moist environments, you should be ready to move wet clothes from the washer and into the dryer as soon as the wash cycle is complete. Similarly, damp wash cloths, towels and dishtowels should always be hung up to dry before being placed in a clothes hamper. The same goes for wet clothes.

Related:
–Am I Using Too Much Laundry Detergent or Cleaner?
– My Washer Won’t Drain

What You’ll Need to Get it Clean

Fortunately, getting that washing machine sparkling only requires these materials:

  • Vinegar
  • Baking Soda (front-loader only)
  • Bleach (top-loader only)
  • Sponge
  • Clean Cloth
Related: Top Load vs. Front Load Washers; Which is better?

How to Clean a Front-Loader

If you have a front-loader washing machine, cleaning is not very difficult.

1.     Set the washer to the hottest, longest setting.

2.     Add two cups of vinegar.

3.     Add one-quarter cup of baking soda.

4.     Start the wash cycle and let it run until it’s complete.

5.     When complete, wipe down the inside and outside surfaces with a damp sponge.

6.     Dry all the surfaces with a clean, dry cloth.

7.     Repeat these steps monthly.

How to Clean a Top-Loader

Cleaning a top-loader washing machine is a little more involved than cleaning a front-loader.

1.     Set the washer to the hottest, longest setting.

2.     Add four cups of bleach.

3.     Let the washer fill completely, then stop it and let it soak for a full hour.

4.     Turn it back on after an hour, and let it complete the full wash cycle.

5.     Now start it again, on the hottest, longest setting.

6.     Add four cups of vinegar.

7.     Let the washer fill completely, then stop it and let it soak for an hour.

8.     At the end of an hour, take a sponge and dip it in the vinegar water from the tub.

9.     Use the sponge to clean all the exposed surfaces, including the detergent or softener basket and the lip of the tub.

10.  Now start it again, and let it run through the complete wash cycle.

11.  When complete, dry the interior with a clean, dry cloth.

12.  Repeat these steps monthly.