9 Deep-Cleaning Tips for New Homeowners
9 Deep-Cleaning Tips for New Homeowners If you’ve never owned a home before, cleaning it from top to bottom for the first time can feel like a daunting task. Here’s a guide to deep cleaning your house. 1. Declutter Before you start cleaning, get rid of as many items as you can — then you’ll have less to do! If you haven’t touched it or worn it in the past year, ask yourself: Do you really need it? 2. Start at the top Gravity can be your friend — or your enemy. Start cleaning at the top of each room and work your way down so that you aren’t knocking dust and debris onto your freshly cleaned floors. 3. Let there be light When was the last time someone cleaned your light fixtures? Many of them can be detached for a deep cleaning in the sink or tub. 4. Screens and windows Remove screens, wipe them down, and dry them. Then wash your windows on the inside and outside. Scrub your windowsills while you’re at it. 5. Clean out your dryer vent Despite the best effort of lint traps in dryers everywhere, quite a bit of lint still gets into dryer vents. It's not only a potential allergen, but also a fire hazard, so clean them seasonally. 6. Vinegar-steam your microwave Put a cup of white vinegar and a cup of water in a microwave-safe container, crank up the power and nuke it for 5 to 10 minutes. Then wipe it down. 7. Detail your kitchen appliances Clean your oven, your fridge, and your stovetop at a micro level; this would be a good time to remove everything from your kitchen counters and clean them, too. 8. Deep-clean your floors You might have a few different kinds of flooring in your home. Make sure you’re using the cleaning technique best suited to each type of floor for best results. 9. Organize, organize, organize Establish a place for everything and put everything in its place. When you always know where to find the essentials, you’ll find your life in your home goes more smoothly.
9 Fixture and Upgrade Tips for New-Construction Homes
9 Fixture and Upgrade Tips for New-Construction Homes Building a new home is a perfect opportunity to customize your space according to your own needs and wants, and you’ll have to make lots of decisions. Before you dive into a new construction deal, make sure you've got these basic tips in mind, and your experience with the builder will be both fun and rewarding. 1. Set a budget This needs to encompass both the building itself and all the fixtures and features you can add. Some of the upgrades will be cheaper and offer more options if you wait until after you're living in the home. 2. Create a vision board A vision board for a house can include colors, textures, fabrics, pieces of furniture, windows and doors, flowers and plants — anything that you feel captures the essence of what you want to achieve. 3. Know why you want what you want Sit down with the other people in your household (if there are any) and have a conversation about what they like and don't like about how your current home is configured. 4. Tour homes to collect examples Spend some time looking at the different homes available to you; you'll get a better sense of what different fixtures and finishes look like in a completed house. 5. Coordinate finishes Thinking about how your finishes coordinate together within each room will save you from mistakes like ordering a towel rack that's a different color than your faucet. 6. Match the look and feel of your house Do your best to match the look and feel of each room in your home with your home's overall look and feel. This is how professional stagers work to make homes enticing to buyers. 7. Remember the floors and walls The floors and walls in your house are going to have a big influence on how the space feels when all is said and done. 8. Know what to skip now and tackle later Range hoods, countertops, light fixtures, cabinet hardware, paint, backsplashes, and kitchen appliances are usually cheaper if you wait. 9. Try not to fall in love When you find yourself starting to have feelings for something specific, back up, take a deep breath, and remember you’ll be living here a long time and can make it perfect later. Here is a FREE NEW CONSTRUCTION GUIDE to help you when it comes to building your new home! And check out my NEW CONSTRUCTION SERVICES I offer if you are ready to build a brand new home!
19 Home Renovation Mistakes to Avoid
19 Home Renovation Mistakes to Avoid Home renovations are more popular than ever before, but this isn't a journey for the faint of heart. To streamline the process and set yourself up for success, avoid these mistakes: 1. Forgetting about permits Head to the permitting department at your city or county office and ask them what you'll need. 2. Setting an unrealistic timeline Your timeline needs to reflect realistic estimates that you're hearing from contractors, and a little bit of wiggle room. 3. Creating an unrealistic budget Like your timeline, your budget needs a little bit of room to stretch. 4. Buying the cheapest materials The adage "you get what you pay for" is as true for home renovation materials as anywhere else. 5. Skipping prep work The small steps you take will be well worth the time in the long run. 6. Taking inaccurate measurements If there's one home renovation mistake that you should try to avoid at all costs, no matter what, this is it. 7. Starting without a plan If you're renovating a room or an entire house, then you need a game plan for exactly what you're doing and when. 8. Failing to anticipate a mess A home renovation is usually a big, messy project. Some of your rooms might not be usable. 9. Following trends Nothing dates a house quite like a trend. Consider asking your contractor about a modern twist or spin on a classic look. 10. Using the wrong tools Each tool was specifically designed to do one job, and to do it very well. 11. Selecting the wrong paint Paint comes in so many different finishes and price ranges because it's meant to be used in different ways. 12. Choosing materials that aren't sustainable Even if you aren't environmentally conscious, there's a lot of merit in considering "green" building materials. 13. Ignoring additional storage opportunities Almost every house has some odd nooks and crannies that could use a little attention. 14. Neglecting safety measures Make sure you're following best practices for safety for any renovations you're helping with. 15. Failing to secure subcontractors or backup Make sure you have a backup plan for what you'll do if something unexpected happens. 16. Hiring the first (or cheapest) contractors you talk to You may be tempted to make an "easy” decision. Resist! This is your home, a huge financial investment. 17. Being afraid to think big Sometimes homeowners just don't know what's possible in a renovation, but you might be surprised. 18. Overbuilding A room can start to look and feel overwhelming if you don't consider balance when you're making your plans. 19. Changing your mind Before you take the first step on your renovation journey, make sure that your mind is set in stone. If you can avoid these mistakes, your renovation will undoubtedly make your house shine. CONTACT ME if you'd like a list of preferred vendors or recommendations to help you with your home renovation!
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