Tag Archives: Home Maintenance

How to: Clean Baseboards

how-to-clean-baseboards“One of my least favorite household cleaning chores…Baseboards.  You really have to get down on your hands and knees to get this one done.  And when you stop and look at all the baseboards you have in the house it seems a bit overwhelming.  This article not only shows you to clean them properly but also how to make it not quite so daunting of a task.”

Ed Johnson & Denise Buck – DC Metro Realty Team

You can spend hours washing the floor, dusting the furniture, and vacuuming the nooks and crannies in any given room, but so long as its baseboards are dirty, they are going to attract attention and create an overall impression of shabbiness and neglect. It’s by no means difficult to clean baseboards; this is not one of the great housekeeping challenges that you will face in life. Indeed, the trickiest bit is overcoming inertia. So if you’re actually reading this, the hard part is over! 

MATERIALS AND TOOLS 
– Vacuum (with brush attachment or duster) 
– Sponge 
– Dish soap, vinegar, or wood cleaner 
– Cotton swabs 
– Dryer sheets 

Rather than set out to clean the baseboards in every single room of your house all at once, make an agreement with yourself: Each and every time you break out the sponge and plastic gloves, you will clean the baseboards thoroughly in one room only. That way, the task of cleaning baseboards never becomes overwhelming. Also, remember that baseboards accumulate the dust and dirt that housework stirs up. Save the baseboards for last—don’t waste effort cleaning the same thing twice. 


STEP 1 
Begin the process by removing as much dust and dirt as you can from the area. If your vacuum has a brush attachment, use it to suction along the length of the baseboards, paying special attention to the crevice where the trim meets the floor. In lieu of a vacuum, you can rely on a duster to do a decent job of freeing up debris, which you can then corral and remove with a broom and dustpan. 

STEP 2 
Once you’ve removed all loose dirt and dust, you can begin to address stains and stuck-on grime. (Particularly in the kitchen, baseboards are the notorious hosts of unidentifiable splatters.) Dip a sponge into a mixture of warm water and dish soap (vinegar works well too), then go about scrubbing any marks that you can find. Note that if the baseboards in the room you are cleaning are stained, not painted, it may be preferable to use a cleaning solution formulated specifically for that application. 

STEP 3 
As you’re already crouched over cleaning the baseboards, you might as well do as good a job as possible. For those hard-to-reach spots—the crevice between the trim and flooring, for example, or around any imperfections that appear on the wood surface—use a cotton swab dipped in the cleaner. 

STEP 4 
Protect the baseboards’ newly acquired cleanliness by rubbing them with a fresh dryer sheet. Not only will this leave a fresh laundry scent that lasts a few days, but also—and more importantly—the sheet’s anti-static properties actually repel dust. Perhaps it sounds like overkill, but going this one step further can really pay off. 

Unless you live in a fraternity house, you’re unlikely to find that your baseboards need to be cleaned weekly. In the grand scheme of housekeeping, baseboards are rather low maintenance. If you’re like me, you probably notice baseboards only when they are not clean. So if on each occasion that you clean, you live up to the promise of doing the baseboards in one room only, you may never notice them again!

By Bob Vila – originally appearing on BobVila.com

Factors that Influence Your Home’s Value

ForSale“Often times, Sellers will wonder why their home isn’t selling as fast as the one down the street did.  Sometimes it’s just timing…the right buyer was looking at the right time and found the perfect home.  The following article identifies the key factors. But at the end of the day pricing it too high will completely negate all of the items below, so be sure to let us help you price it right to begin to begin with.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

While home sellers hope to get top dollar for their property – and some have an inflated idea of what to expect – establishing a home’s value can be a complex, multifaceted process. Do home renovations really pay off? And which is more valuable: a three-bedroom or a four-bedroom with the same square footage? We talked to real estate insiders to find out.  

1. Location. The classic real estate refrain says, “location, location, location.” Location includes factors such as the price of recent nearby transactions, the quality of local schools and whether the area has a strong sense of community. “Buyers increasingly value community in the community where they’re buying,” says Amy Anderson, an agent with Davidson Realty, Inc. in St. Augustine, Florida. “They come to me not looking for a house for four years, but focusing much more on the community, the activities and the school district.”

As Americans scale back their dependence on automobiles, some homebuyers seek out communities that don’t require cars to get around. One resource is WalkScore.com, which rates neighborhoods throughout the U.S. based on access to public transit and proximity to grocery stores, parks and more.” I think walkability has become more important in many markets, especially amongst millennials,” says Ken Wilson, president of the Appraisal Institute, a professional association for real estate appraisers, and founder of Wilson Realty Advisors in Dallas. “You’re also finding empty nesters that are looking into properties that have walkability.”

But as Zillow.com chief economist Stan Humphries points out, location encompasses many other considerations. “Does it have a view? Is it a waterfront home?” he asks. “What’s it next to? Is it near retail establishments? Or a highway?”

2. Size and layout. While homebuyers used to swoon over ample square footage, many have fallen out of love with the McMansion. “I think people realize when they buy a 3,300-square-foot house, they’re not getting what they thought they were,” Anderson says. “There’s more upkeep and a lot more involved with taking care of these huge houses.”

Layout is a key factor because an open-concept design can look much more spacious than a boxy space of the same size. The number of bedrooms also influences a home’s value, so think twice before putting up a wall and subdividing one room into two. “Adding a bedroom will take away value,” Humphries says. “Fewer but larger bedrooms tend to boost value.”

3. Age and condition. Historic homes (assuming they’re livable and well-maintained) and new homes are typically more valuable than homes built somewhere in the middle. “Generally, as a home gets older, it becomes less valuable,” Humphries says. “Then there’s a U-shape where, at some point, homes become so old that they have historical significance. A home that’s built in 1910 is probably more valuable than one built in 1970.”

Age aside, condition matters too. “Someone will pay $15,000 more for a well-kept house that’s move-in ready than they will for a house that needs $5,000 worth of work,” Anderson says.

4. Upgrades. Renovations play into a home’s value, but if your home is considered “over improved” compared with other properties in the neighborhood, it can actually hurt the property’s value. “You want it to be common for the neighborhood or subdivision,” Wilson says. “It wouldn’t hurt to visit neighbors’ homes or visit a home via an open house to see what people are marketing [before undertaking big improvements].” You could also hire an appraiser to prepare a feasibility analysis that will help you determine the impact of renovations on your home’s value.

Unless you live in an area where granite countertops and built-in wine fridges are the norm, Humphries says you might be better off saving the money and choosing more basic finishes. “It’s harder to recoup [your investment] if you guild the lily, if you will, on granite this and chrome that in your kitchen,” he says. “You’re spending a lot of money on something that might have a lot of personal taste attached to it.”

However, you should keep records of repairs and upgrades to show potential buyers that the home has been well-maintained.

5. Negative events. If your property has issues like mold or experienced a fire or was the site of a violent crime, it could be a harder sell – and command a lower price. “Nowadays, people are very concerned if there was a fire, prior mold damage or even if there were some sort of death or crime at the property,” Wilson says. Federal law requires the disclosure of all known lead-based paints, but state laws vary in whether the seller must disclose issues related to natural disasters or crimes committed on the property.

The appeared on Yahoo Homes and was from US News & World Reports

By Susan Johnston July 15, 2014

While on Vacation, don’t forget…

Check the garage“When planning what your going to do on your vacation, don’t forget to plan what will and won’t be going on at home, while you’re away.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

 

Planning a summer trip is usually focused on what you’ll do, see and experience. Enjoy it even more by spending a little time before you leave to make sure your home is safe while you’re gone.

Consider these suggestions along with your other normal efforts:

  • Tell your neighbors you’ll be out of town and to be aware of any unusual activity.
  • Notify your alarm company .
  • Discontinue your postal delivery.
  • Use timers on interior lights to make it appear you’re home as usual.
  • Don’t make it easy for burglars by leaving messages on voice mail or posting on social networks.
  • Post on social networks about your vacation AFTER you’ve returned.
  • Remove the hidden spare keys and give one to a trusted neighbor or friend.
  • Lock everything, double-check and set the alarm.
  • Take pictures of your belongings in case you need them.
  • Disconnect TVs and other equipment in case of unexpected power surges.
  • Adjust your thermostat.
  • Arrange for lawn care.
  • Consider disconnecting the garage door opener.
  • Put irreplaceable valuables in a safety deposit box.

It’s nice to go out of town on a well-deserved trip and it’s always nice to get back home…especially when it is just the way you left it.

Protect Yourself from DIY Disasters

DIY Disaster“It always looks so simple, especially when they do it on TV.  Anyone can caulk the bathtub, or install a new light fixture…and think of all the money you can save by Doing it Yourself?  But before you tackle one of these projects, do yo have the right tools, do you really know what you’re doing?  Maybe you’re ready, but maybe you’re not.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

“The road to the hardware store is paved with good intentions,” says David Pekel, president and CEO of Pekel Construction in Milwaukee and a master certified remodeler. He is often greeted at his office on Monday by frantic calls from homeowners who failed in their DIY weekend projects.

Just know this: “It takes twice as long as you think it’s going to and generally costs twice as much,” Pekel says.

Here are 11 tips for avoiding your own DIY disasters.

Measure twice, cut once. There is a reason this proverb has been around for decades. If you cut your crown molding, tile or paneling too short, you can’t go back and make it longer.

Beware of plumbing projects. Most people can change the insides of a toilet, but problems can still arise, as Prescott discovered. If you have just one bathroom, be prepared to stay overnight elsewhere if something goes wrong. Make sure you turn off the water before you start any plumbing project.

Leave electrical projects to the professionals. If you know what you’re doing, you can change a light fixture. But replacing a light fixture with a ceiling fan involves more than just changing the fixture. Other electrical projects are even more complicated. If you do give it a shot, turn off the breaker before you touch anything.

Look for instructions online. You can find a YouTube video or detailed instructions for any project. But if that’s all the information you have on a project that you’ve never done before, beware. A video on building a deck from someone in Florida may not tell you what you need to get the deck to withstand 80 inches of snow, and a video from Minnesota on building a deck may not have the instructions you need to ensure your deck can survive a hurricane.

Take a class at Home Depot. Nearly every week, Home Depot stores nationwide offer free classes on everything from replacing a faucet to tiling a room. Be mindful that you need to register ahead of time to participate in these workshops.

Ask questions at the hardware store. Most hardware stores, and even some big-box stores, have experts on staff who can answer questions about home projects. If you’re replacing specific parts, bring along the parts if you can rather than trying to remember what they look like.

Use the right tools. You can rent or borrow some tools if you don’t own them yourself. Hint: If you’re going to assemble a lot of Ikea furniture, invest $20 in an electric screwdriver.

Know which work requires a permit. Some cities are stricter than others about permits, and only licensed contractors can obtain permits for some work. Doing major renovations without a permit could cause problems when you sell your home. Some cities require presale inspections, which can result in fines and the need for retroactive permits. That can mean redoing the job to city specifications.

Know what you can and can’t do yourself. “If you have to go to YouTube to learn something, you probably don’t know what you’re doing,” Pekel says. Homeowners often “don’t know what they don’t know.” If you mess up a painting project, you can always redo it. But if you take down a load-bearing wall and bring the second floor down with it, you’ve created a very expensive problem. With DIY projects, being cautious is typically the way to go.

Consider what your time is worth. If you earn $100 an hour and replacing a faucet takes you three hours, you would probably save money by hiring a plumber.

Be prepared to live with the results. That includes both the quality of work and the time your house will be in disarray. Can you install crown molding well enough to be happy with the results? Or will it forever bug you that it’s not exactly straight? That goes for more complex projects, too. If you gut the kitchen and end up taking six months to redo it, can you live without a kitchen that long?

Written by Teresa Mears, Originally appearing in US News

DIY Wall Ideas Using Items in Your Home

Hangplates“You know you want to do something new and different on a wall, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money.  There are any number of ways to change up a wall and make it look and feel different, using items already in your home.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Banish those bare walls. Go from boring to unbelievable with a few creative tricks:

Hang Plates The good china needn’t stay behind the cabinet glass. Display plates or flea-market finds in a space where art would feel cramped, such as in the corner of a large kitchen or along a lengthy corridor. A casual assemblage of patterned and neutral plates delivers a visual bang that’s homey. (For this project, pick up special wire hangers from the local hardware store.)

Hang Plates

Create a Gallery

Let your wall express yourself. There are no rules saying everything needs the same frame or, better yet, that everything needs to be framed. Choose art, prints, and photos that tell a story about people, places, or things in your life. If you’re hanging a grouping of art, maintaining two inches or more between frames on all sides is a good rule of thumb.

Gallery Wall

Transform A Stairway

When it comes to hanging art, we often need to force ourselves to think beyond the living room wall. Other spaces, such as along a stairwell, are often overlooked and can be truly captivating. Before hanging anything, arrange the art flat on the floor in front of the wall and experiment with placement.

Transform a Stairway

Hang a Grid

Tell a story on the wall with polaroids of friends, family, and vacations. Attach them with double-sided tape above a fireplace or other focal point.

Hang a Grid

Balance it Out

When decorating a wall with furniture, set the bottom of the picture six to eight inches above the sofa. Add some supportive decorative touches on both sides to pull the look together.

Balance it Out

Reinvent a Corner

Yes, you have the power to personalize any nook or corner. Bare white walls should have a chance to inspire you, too. Choose a grouping of inspiring prints that work together. Mixing up shapes and sizes adds visual interest to the space.

Reinvent a Corner

Originally appearing on Yahoo! Shine from Domino.com

7 Biggest Mistakes Made with Area Rugs

ARea RugsIt’s such a small thing, but it can make such a big impact.  Do it right and it adds just the right touch to a room.  Do it wrong and it sticks out and takes away from the room.  Just following a few simple tips might make the difference in your room.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

1. Choosing a rug that’s too small
Skimp on size, and your room will look smaller. “You need your rug to set boundaries, and ground your furniture,” says interior designer Danielle Oakey. “In a living room, your rug defines the conversation area, and it should be large enough so at least the front legs of the furniture are on it.”

“In the bedroom, you want to feel the rug on your feet when you get out of bed,” says interior designer Amber Lewis. “I like two feet to extend beyond the bed on each side.”

2. Not trying layering
Why do people often choose a too-small rug? Tinier rug = tinier price. “We’re the layering queens,” says Lewis, about her design team. “Buy a neutral jute rug — which cleans up really well, even if you have stain-prone kids or pets — and place your patterned rug over it.”

3. Leaving your wall-to-wall carpeting bare
“Don’t be afraid to layer an area rug over carpet,” says Oakey. “It adds playfulness, and pulls together your room with the boundaries it needs.”

4. Choosing your rug last
If you’re decorating your room from scratch, choose the rug first. It’s the big, impactful piece that ties a room together, and if you wait until you’ve placed the final throw pillow, you could search for months before the perfect rug come around. (Though, you could go with something neutral until the rug gods grant you a better choice).

“When we’re designing room, we’ll choose the rug and then throw pillows, textiles for curtains, and more on the floor with it, and pick whatever goes with the rug best,” says Lewis.

5. Being afraid of pattern
Some contrast (read: a cute print) is necessary to create a happy space. “Brown walls, a brown couch, and a brown rug will make a room look flat and bland,” says Oakey.

6. Skipping the rug pad
A rug pad dispels slipping and sliding, and adds a layer of comfort underfoot — especially to a flat weave rug. “Rug tape is useless,” says Lewis. “It doesn’t work, and will ruin your hardwood floors with its stickiness.”

7. Missing out on a discount
“If you’re looking for a great price on unique, vintage rug, like a Persian one or Turkish kilim, try eBay,” says Oakey. “Same is true with Etsy — thrift stores often post there. I also like RugsUSA. They have a huge selection and always run sales.”

By Lauren Piro on Yahoo! Shine

How to Paint a Door

how-to-paint-a-door-2“Painting a door…pretty simple right?  Well maybe not.  It’s an easy way to to add a pop of color to a room, but only if done properly.  Take your time and plan it out before you start to make sure it gets noticed for all the right reasons!”

 

 

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Considering the low cost of the project and the relative ease with which it can be completed, painting a door is a terrific way to add a punch of personality to any interior. Painting a door involves virtually no risk: If you decide to paint the door orange, let’s say, and you end up hating how it looks, no problem: You can always revert to the original color or experiment with a different one. That said,painting a door is different from painting other surfaces. It requires more planning, a slightly modified approach, and a few supplies you might not have anticipated. Follow the steps below, however, and you ought to encounter few difficulties. 

MATERIALS AND TOOLS 
– Interior paint 
– Sandpaper 
– Tack cloth 
– Mineral spirits 
– Painter’s tape 
– Paintbrush 
– Roller (with paint tray) 

[inset] 

STEP 1 
If you’ve painted before, you’re most likely familiar with the idea that proper surface preparation means the difference between a smooth, lasting, beautiful finish and a sloppy-looking job. Satisfying, professional-level results begin with sanding, which goes a long way toward ensuring that the paint readily sticks to the door. Use 120-grit sandpaper and either manually, or by means of a hand-held power sander, sand the surface of the door in the direction of the wood grain. Once finished, wipe down the door with a lint-free tack cloth dampened with mineral spirits. Doing so removes the dust and oils that can interfere with paint adhesion. 

STEP 2 
Of course, the presence of hardware—that is, hinges and knobs and perhaps a locking mechanism—spells the crucial difference between a door panel and a wall of plaster or gypsum board. Avoid getting any paint on the door hardware, not only for aesthetic reasons, but also because you might disturb the hardware’s functioning. The safest course is to remove the knob and lock—or to completely remove the door from the hinges—before you start painting in earnest. For those looking to avoid that sort of hassle, a decent compromise would be to protect the metal parts of the door with strategically positioned painter’s tape. 

STEP 3 
Paint the frame of the door (also known as the casing) first—assuming you want to—so that any errant brush strokes land on the door panel that you’re going to paint anyway. If you do choose to paint the frame, use a one- or two-inch brush and let the coat dry completely before you proceed any further. That way, you won’t have to tread carefully later on, fearing that your next movement might result in an unsightly smudge. 

STEP 4 
Are you painting a door with inset panels? If so, paint those before the rest of the door. As you did with the door casing, use a one- or two-inch brush for this round of detail work. Your goal is to get these more-demanding aspects of the job out of the way, so you can then speedily finish with a roller. 

STEP 5 
A roller not only enables you to work faster, but it also delivers a smoother finish. As you go, remember to blend in any brush marks created in earlier steps. To avoid leaving fingerprints, it’s smart to paint one side of the door, let it dry completely, and then go on to paint the edge of the door and the opposite side. 

A word to the wise: While the paint is drying, minimize imperfections by keeping pets and children away from the door. Replace any hardware you’ve removed only after the paint is fully dry. Finally, step back and marvel at what a difference a painted door can make!

Originally appearing on BobVilla.com

How to Clean Granite Countertops

how-to-clean-granite-countertops“Many of you have either purchased a home with Granite, just upgraded to Granite, or are thinking about Granite…but do you really know how to clean it?  Don’t make the mistake of using ‘normal’ cleaning products.  Take  a few tips from the pros and do it right!”

 

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

In many people’s minds, granite means strength and resilience. But to clean granite countertops successfully, a homeowner must act with caution. The stone can actually be damaged by many of the products and techniques that are perfectly safe to use on other kitchen surfaces. You don’t have to be a genius to clean granite countertops; the job just requires a bit of extra care and attention. Follow the steps outlined here, and you’re bound to be satisfied with the result of your efforts. 

REGULAR CLEANING 
Your best bet is nothing more sophisticated than mild dish soap that’s been diluted with water. Bear in mind, however, that because granite scratches easily, the solution ought to be applied with a cotton cloth or soft sponge—that is, not with an abrasive scrubber. Before gently wiping down the counter, wring out the cloth or sponge so as not to compromise the highly absorbent stone (it can become discolored under standing water). Dry off the countertop as a final stage in this routine, not only to protect the granite from water damage but also to eliminate streaks and leave the surface with an eye-catching, irresistible shine. 

STAIN REMOVAL 
Don’t panic! Most of the time, stained granite countertops can be cleaned with household items so common that you probably already have them in your pantry. No matter the source of the stain, start with baking soda. If you wish to clean a water stain, mix the baking soda with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. For an oil-based stain, mix the baking soda with water. In either case, the mixture should generate a thick paste. Generously spread that over the stain, then cover the area with plastic wrap, taping down its edges. Leave the stain remover overnight (or even for a couple of days), before rinsing and wiping down the granite. 

ADDING PROTECTION 
Most installations of granite are protected by a layer of sealant. If you’ve repeatedly tried and failed to remove stains from your counters, chances are that the sealant has ceased to function as it should. In situations where the sealant is to blame, stained granite becomes difficult or impossible to clean, at least for the average do-it-yourselfer. Your best bet is to hire a professional to completely clean and then properly reseal the stone, thereby preventing future problems.

Originally publish by Bob Villa on BobVilla.com

5 Upgrades to Consider when Re-Roofing

reroofing“Putting a new roof on a home is something that almost every homeowner has to deal with at some point.  Once you’ve made that decision there a several additional upgrades that can and should be considered at the same time.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Although re-roofing is not necessarily a glamorous home improvement, it is certainly an important one. If you are planning a new roof, consider these 5 upgrades that will make your roof more beautiful, functional, and long-lived.

Re-roofing your home is not the most glamorous of home improvements. You’ll note that HGTV shows rarely even mention the roof. Unlike decks, kitchens, and baths, the roof is not really something you’d invite your friends over to admire. But re-roofing does present some appealing opportunities for the homeowner who wants to reduce maintenance and unnecessary expenses for years to come. Here are five roof upgrades to consider when you are about to reroof your home.

1. Install an airtight chimney cap
Unlike masonry and metal chimney caps that are designed to keep rain and (if screened) birds and other critters out of your chimney, airtight caps are about saving energy.

When your fireplace is not in use, warm air from inside your home is literally gushing out the chimney when the weather is cold. The damper in your firebox does little to stop it because it is not airtight.

Ask your roofer about installing an airtight chimney cap while the roof is being worked on. These units are spring-activated. To open the chimney cap, you just tug on a steel cable that’s attached to a bracket inside your fireplace. Pull it shut after your fire is completely out. An airtight cap has the added benefit of keeping animals from nesting inside your chimney.

2. Install eave flashing
If you’ve ever experienced damage from an ice dam, you might want to invest a little extra when re-roofing to install eave flashing. These peel-and-stick bituminous membranes are applied prior to shingling to a depth that is 2 feet inside the exterior wall plane (three feet on low-pitched roofs). The membranes self-seal around roofing fasteners, forming a watertight seal over the eaves, which are the portion of the roof most susceptible to ice dams. Bituminous eave flashing may also be specified for other vulnerable roof areas, such as over valleys and around skylights and dormers.

3. Improve roof ventilation
Attics become like furnaces in summer if they are not well ventilated. That heat buildup radiates to the rooms directly below the attic, making them uncomfortable. To keep the attic—and your home—cooler, be sure your roofing contractor installs ridge vents across the top of your roof. Barely noticeable from the street, ridge vents allow air movement beneath the ridge cap shingles. For ventilation to be effective, soffit vents located under the eaves draw cooler air into the attic as hot air is being expelled. Gable vents, which are located near the roof peak of exterior walls, may also be needed to ensure adequate airflow. A cooler attic means your home will be more comfortable during the summer without your having to spend a fortune on air conditioning.

4. Choose an energy-efficient shingle
The recommendation for a cooler roof used to be to select light-colored or white shingles. This option, however, wasn’t always aesthetically appealing to homeowners. Today’s new reflective shingles come in assorted colors, from popular slate to wood tones. The granules not only reflect the sun’s radiation but also quickly reemit much of the heat that is absorbed. Depending on your climate and your home’s construction, a cool roof can save between 7 and 15 percent of your cooling costs.

Photo: LeafGuard Brand Gutters

5. Install low-maintenance gutters
While you’re having your home reroofed, it’s also a good time to scrap your old gutters and install new ones—especially if your existing gutters are misaligned or unsightly. Gutter systems with built-in curved hoods, such as those from Englert LeafGuard, are designed to be maintenance-free. The patented design works on the scientific principle of water adhesion, allowing rainwater to travel down and around its curved hood and into the gutter while deflecting leaves. This prevents clogs and unsightly staining on gutters and siding due to gutter overflow. It also means you can forget about the messy and hazardous chore of climbing a ladder to clean your gutters. The one-piece, seamless LeafGuard Brand gutters are generously sized for the heaviest of downpours, and homeowners like the clean architectural way they define the roof eaves. They even come in a variety of colors, allowing you to choose a tone that will complement your trim, roofing, and siding. Use LeafGuard’s design tool to get a preview of how the gutters will look with your new roof.

With all these improvements, maybe a new roof is worth celebrating.

This posts facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.

Be a Considerate Buyer when Buying a New Home

Handing over keys“As a Buyer, when you are looking at homes, and especially when deciding to make an offer, always remember to be considerate of the Seller.  More than once we have seen deals go south because one or both parties thought the other was being unreasonable or inconsiderate.  In contrast, we have also seen offers and negotiations go very well when the Seller ‘liked’ the Buyer.  Even though in the end this is a business transaction, it is also a very personal and emotional time for those involved.  Please follow these tips when you set out to buy your next home.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson” – DC Metro Realty Team 

Consideration associated with a contract is generally thought to be the price and terms but being sympathetic and courteous towards the seller could make a difference in getting the home you want.

Business people, like store owners, expect to deal with customers and even come to expect behavior that might not be accepted in a purely social atmosphere. Homeowners, on the other hand, may not be aware of what to expect. They are opening the sanctity of their home to the public for review and criticism. Buyers may be detached from emotional feelings while the sellers might react unfavorably to comments that are taken personally.

  1. Be on time for appointments; cancel if necessary. The sellers may be rearranging their schedules and making an additional effort to make it convenient for you to see the property.
  2. Be a good guest and respect the seller’s privacy. Look at the home and avoid looking at the seller’s personal items; there is no reason to look in refrigerators or furniture drawers.
  3. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Try to focus on critical items of a home like location, floor plan, layout, size and not dwell on cosmetic items that are easily and inexpensively changed.
  4. It’s not a good negotiating technique to list the defects. Most people become defensive when presented with a list which could have the opposite effect of helping you get a better deal.
  5. Limit your visits until you actually own the home. It’s natural to be excited and making plans to move into your new home but it is still the seller’s until closing and they’re making plans to move too.
  6. Negotiations are generally finished when a contract is completed. It can be frustrating to continually be asked for “one more thing.” Make a deal with the seller and live with it. If there’s something you’re not sure about, specify it in writing in the contract.

Some things are obvious: the seller wants the most for their home and the buyer wants to pay the least possible. Showing consideration to the seller about things that don’t have anything directly to do with price can actually benefit the buyer.