Home Life
Small Repairs That Can Raise Your Sales Price
May 15th, 2012 categories: Chantilly Fairfax County, Chantilly Loudoun Cnty, Home Life, Seller Strategies
If you’re actively preparing to list your home for sale Chantilly homeowners, resist the temptation to make major home improvements. Nationwide, home improvement projects recoup just 58 cents on the dollar, says Remodeling Magazine.
Rather, for a better return on your time and money, focus on the minor projects instead. It’s the smaller projects in Chantilly that tend to have a bigger, long-term payoff.
So, how do you determine which projects are the “smaller ones”? It’s obvious when you think like a buyer.
Consider : Home buyers don’t always notice when your home is in working order. In fact, they expect it to be that way. What they do notice, however, is when things are “broken”. When a buyer sees torn screens in your windows or burnt out light bulbs, it makes him wonder what else in the home has not been cared for.
This is one reason why — especially during warmer months — it’s sensible to hire an exterminator prior to selling your home. If a prospective buyer uncovers bugs in your bathroom, it can leave a lasting, negative impression — one that won’t likely lead to a purchase contrast.
So, with “small repairs” in mind, here are 5 simple projects that you can tackle in a weekend, and that will help your home show better. Each is low-cost and high-impact:
- Repair or remove torn screen doors
- Fix all leaky faucets and toilets
- Touch up holes and cracks in paint, interior and exterior
- Apply a lubricant to squeaky doors and cabinets
- Get “clutter” into storage and physically out of the way
In addition, you’ll want to pull weeds from your yard, seed any bare spots you find, and lay down fresh mulch, where appropriate.
You won’t need to spend big bucks to get your home ready for sale but the time spent on repairs will have a pay-off in the end. Homes that show better often sell much faster, and at higher prices.
And if you are getting your Northern Virginia home in good shape because you are preparing to sell, please know that the Kathy O’Neal Team is here for you!
Please feel free to contact us anytime! We have a section devoted to seller strategies on our website that may prove helpful!
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“Green” Meets the Arts: 50 Creative Reuse Ideas For Your Home
March 1st, 2012 categories: Buyer Strategies, Home Life, Seller Strategies
There are Chantilly Home sellers and home buyers who are into “Creative Reuse”….the transformation of everyday items that would otherwise be thrown out. “Green” and the arts merge in this activity.
In every Northern Virginia home, there are potentially dozens of things that could be reused and re-purposed, including such diverse items as chipped coffee mugs, step ladders, and bubble wrap. After transformation, for example, these three items can become a simple storage container, a plant stand, and greenhouse insulation, respectively.
Real Simple made a list of “50 All-Time Favorite New Uses For Old Things“. It’s a list that may give you inspiration to do your own projects.
Some of the things are very practical. But they can also be great learning projects for kids.
Here are a few samples from the Real Simple list:
- Distinguish your glass from other party-goers’ glasses at a party with peel-on/peel-off window decals
- Protect counter tops from hot dishes with and old mousepad-turned-trivet
- Eliminate travel bulk. Carry non-prescription medicines in an old contact lens case.
- Use Play-Doh as a candle or sparkler holder
- Pour pancake batter into an old ketchup bottle for no-mess cooking
With Creative Reuse, you’re limited only by your imagination and, even then, Google can be a terrific project resource.
Check the Real Simple list for 50 great ideas.
And of course, is your creative project is something really big, like buying or selling a home, please know that we are here to make that work in your favor. Check out our Testimonial Video for candid responses on how we serve our clients with excellence. Let us know how we can help!
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When Should I Change My Home’s Air Filters?
February 23rd, 2012 categories: Buyer Strategies, Home Life, Seller Strategies
How long has it been since you last changed your home’s air filters, Chantilly homeowners?
Home air filters trap and remove dust and particles from the air you breathe; leaving “clean air” to circulate your home.
Clean air in your home is important because it promotes better health.
One way to keep to keep your home’s air as clean as possible is to replace its used air filters at least once per quarter; or once monthly in homes with shedding pets or that otherwise “get dusty”.
Changing air filters is among the easier do-it-yourself chores for a Fairfax area homeowner; a task that takes less than one minute. The secondary benefit of doing it is that new filters help keep your HVAC unit in tip-top shape.
Here’s how to change your home’s air filter :
- Open the air filter compartment door/slider on your HVAC unit.
- Note the size of your current filter. It’s typically written on the frame.
- Note the direction in which the filter is pointing. There may be an arrow on its frame.
- Purchase a new filter at a hardware store. Make sure the sizes matches the size from Step 2.
- Remove the old filter.
- Replace old filter with the newly purchased one from Step 4. Make sure the arrow is pointing in the same direction as the original filter’s arrow.
- Using a marker, note the date of filter change on the side of the filter.
- Close the air filter compartment door/slider.
And that’s it.
When you find a filter type and style that you like, consider buying them in bulk — it can be helpful to have extra air filters laying around the home for when you need them — especially during season changes when you may want to replace filters more frequently.
In addition, when purchasing air filters, don’t opt for the cheapest available. Often, the least expensive filters allow large particles to recirculate through the HVAC unit, and back in to your home. Choose a mid-level or top-line product instead.
Your home and your health will thank you.
And when you are preparing your home for the possibility of selling here in the Northern Virginia area (or moving from elsewhere), please know that I am here to help! You can contact me directly with any questions.
If you are searching for a Chantilly area real estate agent, trying to make sure you make a great choice from the start, I invite you to visit of real estate Testimonial Video. It is an honest presentation of what makes us different.
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How To Keep Your Dishwasher Mold-and-Mildew Free
December 19th, 2011 categories: Home Life
Chantilly homeowners know that appliances in your home can be a big investment. Here is something you may have never considered.
Your dishwasher is a breeding ground for mold and mildew.
It’s warm, it’s dark, and there is a bevy of decaying, organic material in the form of both food particles and soap.
Therefore, you’ll want to periodically scrub and disinfect your dishwasher so that it remains clean and healthy, and so that your dishes stay that way, too.
Here’s how to clean your dishwasher :
- Remove all racks from the dishwasher. Wash with dish-washing detergent and set aside to dry.
- Mix 1 part vinegar with 4 parts very hot water into a spray bottle.
- Spray the mixture on the dishwasher seal and anywhere else you see discoloration, mold or mildew.
- Scrub the affected areas with a non-abrasive scrub brush.
- Replace racks in the dishwasher.
- Fill a small, dishwasher-safe bowl with white vinegar and place on the top rack.
- Without soap, run the dishwasher at the highest temperature setting available.
Then, if after performing these steps, you find that your dishwasher still has an “odor”, or if mold or mildew remnants remain, immediately pour 1 cup of baking soda on the floor of your dishwasher, and run the cycle a second time at the highest temperature setting available.
If your mold/mildew problem persists, you should check the dishwasher’s drain line. If it’s kinked, water may be unable to drain and will pool at the bottom of your dishwasher — a mold-breeding situation.
You should also check the food trap at the base of the dishwasher for too-large-to-drain pieces of food.
A good dishwasher will last years with proper care and maintenance. Keep yours mold- and mildew-free.
And if you are getting that dishwasher in good shape because you are planning the sale of your Northern Virginia area home, please know that the Kathy O’Neal Team is here for you!
Please feel free to contact us anytime!
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How Much Equity In Home Improvement Projects?
November 29th, 2011 categories: Buyer Strategies, Home Life, Seller Strategies
Consumers are doing lots of home improvement projects with about $110 billion in total volume this quarter.
Overall, these projects are not creating a lot of added home equity value. You may still have great reasons to do a project, but it does not hurt to look at these stats before doing so.
Remodeling Magazine reports in their Cost vs Value Report 2011-2012, that for each home improvement dollar spent in 2012, homeowners can expect to recoup just 58 cents in home equity.
This is way down from 2005, when the cost-to-value ratio was 87 percent.
It pays to consider which projects will help your home equity.
Remodeling Magazine’s “Mid-Range Project” list :
- Steel Entry Door Replacement : Cost, $1,238; Recoup, 73.0%
- Attic Bedroom : Cost, $50,184; Recoup, 72.5%
- Minor Kitchen Remodel : Cost, $19,588; Recoup, 72.1%
- Garage Door Replacement : Cost, $1,512; Recoup, 71.9%
- Wood Deck Addition : Cost, $10,350; Recoup 70.1%
Projects which have a relatively low cost-to-value ratio include the following. Consider them if they have a high personal value, but not necessarily for their home equity value:
- Home Office Remodel : Cost, $27,963; Recoup, 42.9%
- Sunroom Addition : Cost, $34,133; Recoup, 45.9%
- Backup Power Generator : Cost, $14,760; Recoup, 47.5%
- Bathroom Addition : Cost, $140,096512; Recoup, 51.0%
- Fiberglass Entry Door Replacement : Cost, $3,536; Recoup 56.3%
Projects that include the replacement of doors, siding and windows occupy the list’s first 6 slots in the cost-to-value ratio.
As always, if you live in the Northern Virginia area or are planning a move to this area, we are here to help you learn what is available in both the new and resale home market. Let us know how we can help!
You can see the complete Cost vs Value report online.
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Fall Fix-Up Solutions For Your Home
October 7th, 2011 categories: Home Life, Seller Strategies
Chantilly and Northern Virginia home sellers and home owners will benefit from this short Today Show video called a “Fall Fix-Up Checklist”. You will get very practical tips on how to:
- Clean up leaves. limit grass damage, and keep pests under control
- Unclog gutters so that you prevent house damage this problem can cause
- Turn off outside water sources and remove water from pipes and hoses
Also helpful is how to find air leaks in your home, and how they can be fixed. You can save a bundle by reducing or eliminating these leaks.
If you are a little handy, you can do this on your own. But if not, consider hiring a handyman. Some of these fix-its will pay you back many times over. If you need a few references, I can provide that. And of course, if you are doing fix-ups in preparation to sell, and would like a quick analysis of your home’s current value, let me know. We are here for you!
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Weatherizing Your Home With Caulk
September 13th, 2011 categories: Home Life
It is a good time of year to do a little caulking so you can have more comfort and savings during the winter months.
You can lose a huge amount of of heat through those gaps and openings around doors and windows.
This brief tutorial from Lowe’s will give you some very useful information on simple preventative measures to take. It is worth your time to check it out.
To weatherize your windows and doors you simply follow this 3-step process:
- Find the air leaks
- Clean the surface of existing caulk and debris
- Seal surface with new caulk, and clean-up
As you will see, this is not a big technical job.
If you’d like professional help weatherizing your home, let me know and I will provide a few referrals.
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Make Better-Tasting Food On Your Grill
August 28th, 2011 categories: Home Life
Labor Day is nearing; the unofficial end of summer across Northern Virginia. If you’re among the many Americans planning an end-of-season barbecue, you’ll want to make sure your grill is clean.
A clean grill makes better tasting food.
There are several ways to clean a grill but, for owners of gas grills, the first step always is to disconnect the gas source.
Next, open your grill and remove its metal pieces. This includes grates, trays and flame guards. Take these pieces to your kitchen. If the oven has a self-cleaning mechanism, place the items in your oven and let it “self-clean”. As the temperature reaches 900 degrees or more, residue will literally fall off your grill parts.
Be sure to wipe clean your oven once the cycle completes.
If your oven is not self-cleaning, wash the grill parts in your sink using hot water and detergent. You’ll want to soak the parts in soapy water if they’re especially dirty. Once clean, allow the parts to air dry.
Then, return to your grill and using a wire brush, scrape the residue from the sides, top and bottom of the appliance. Again, using a soapy hot water mixture, wash and wipe down the inside of the grill. Rinse it clean once the residue is removed.
Re-assemble your grill.
Lastly, reconnect the gas source (if applicable) and allow the grill to burn for 5 minutes. This will burn off any lingering residue from the cleaning process, including soap and detergent.
And that’s it!
Plan on cleaning your grill at least twice annually with heavy use.
If you would like to be grilling in your new home this time next year and are interested in moving to the Centreville/Chantilly area please know that I am here to help. Our website has many useful tools for home buying and you can contact me directly with any questions. Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!
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Removing Stains From Your Furniture
August 8th, 2011 categories: Home Life
Your home furniture can be a big investment. If you have ever wondered how to deal with spills and stains, here is a set of recommendations
from Martha Stewart. Think of them as first-aid for your home furnishings.
Wood
• Moisture “rings”: Pour table salt on the white rings/haze and cover with a terry cloth. Apply hair dryer on low setting until rings are gone.
• Alcohol spills: Blot spills immediately, do not rub. Apply small amounts of ammonia to damage.
• Wax spills: Allow to cool and harden, then freeze the wax with an ice cube in a sandwich bag. Use a butter knife to gently scrape off wax.
Fabric
• Red wine stains: Cover wine with table salt and let sit until salt has wicked up the wine. Vacuum salt and repeat, as necessary.
Blot remaining stains with damp cloth and dish soap.
• General spills: Repeatedly blot with a damp white cloth. Use white cloths to prevent dye transfer.
• Oil spills: Cover spill with baking soda and vacuum once absorbed. Blot remaining stains with rubbing alcohol
Leather
• General stains: Blot with all-purpose household cleaner. To prevent fading in the upholstery, avoid products with bleach or bleach alternatives.
• Scratches: Apply saddle soap to a damp cloth and rub the scratch to help it “blend in”. It won’t go away.
Also, a tip on leather furniture: forget touch-up kits or colored markers. It’s nearly impossible to match leather colors and your repair work will likely make the problem more noticeable.
If you are thinking about your home’s appearance in preparation for the possibility of selling here is the Northern Virginia area (or moving here from elsewhere), please know that I am here to help. Our websites have lots of tools, and you can contact me directly with any questions. We are always here for you!
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Chantilly Home Safety: Be Careful With That Home Project
August 5th, 2011 categories: Buyer Strategies, Home Life, Seller Strategies
According to the BuildFax Remodeling Index, people are doing lots of remodelling projects.
They report that for the 19th straight month, their May index rose.
If you are doing projects on your own, do be aware of safety. Many preventable accidents happen because basic safety precautions are not taken. Some of these accidents can be very serious…like falling off a ladder.
Check out this 5-minute video from NBC’s The Today Show. Being aware of the basic precautions mentioned could save you a lot of trouble.
The insights include:
- Use “expandable” earplugs to prevent hearing loss from power tools.
- Don’t wear sneakers or sandals. Wear construction boots.
- Never stand on the top 2 steps of a ladder.
Also, don’t forget the safety glasses. Eye problems are the number one injury as reported by home remodelers, and it is important to realize they can happen anytime.
Here is the video from the NBC website.
As always, if you need a referral for professional help to do a project, contact me and I will provide a few names.
Whether you are buying or selling, or just considering either or both, we are always here for you!
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