Your children’s vacation is almost over and another school year is about to start. As parents, you already know what that means right? The yearly hunt for clothes is on You’re about to take on a new adventure of back-to-school clothes means, right? The yearly hunt for clothes is on. You re about to take on a new adventure of back to school clothes shopping for school.
To help you out, here are five things that you should keep in mind while you’re at it!
Tip #1. Teach your kids budgeting.
It would be great if you can teach your children the art of budgeting at the earliest age possible. They should know that money is a factor that should be put into consideration when buying clothes. Tell them how much you have allocated for their wardrobe and let them choose within that amount.
Middle and high schoolers will more likely understand this mindset already. Once you encourage them to budget, they will be learning lifelong, valuable lessons.
Tip #2. Take note of the dress codes.
Some schools implement dress codes, so check if the one your children are attending has one. If yes, be sure you understand them before you do your shopping spree.
A lot of schools forbid t-shirts with writing on them, and some don’t allow sandals, hats, crop tops, and short skirts.
In case you don’t, you can make up your own dress rules too! This can be the perfect time for you to teach your child the proper wardrobe for going to school without cracking up their style.
Tip #3. Buy what you only need.
Shift your focus to the clothes that your kids need—shirts, jeans, underwear, and socks. Try to buy only one or two special outfits that your children can’t go without and then you can buy some more later on. Don’t forget to check their cabinets first before going shopping. There still might be some shirts or jeans available for use.
Trends come and go, so the chances are that your kids will come home after days or weeks in school clothes with a different kind of style in mind and would beg you to shop for more.
Tip #4. Don’t avoid brand names.
Of course, while it’s true that clothes are nothing more than superficial, outer trappings and that it’s what’s on the inside that counts, there are also times when choosing between brand names is appropriate. This is most especially essential when you’re working on a budget and need to stick to it. If there’s a particular brand famous at your children’s school and they beg for it, give in only if you can afford to. You don’t need to cave into each request, but know that wearing the clothes they wanted can boost their self-esteem.
Tip #5. Create a system.
You may want to stock up on underwear, socks, and t-shirts for your children. The only problem is, these items usually look the same that it could get lost in the laundry. To solve this, you can buy socks with different patterns and colors as they will be easy to match. Various underwear brands also have different colored strips or other markings that will make your laundry sorting much easier. Color code t-shirts and outfit match according to your child so they can put it directly into their drawers pronto!
Remember to keep this back to school clothes shopping list as reasonably short as you can, and don’t forget to have fun with your children too! While you’re away, why don’t you call a professional cleaning service (https://dynamicduo.cleaning/) to take care of your home while you do for the kids? It will be total ease for you. Happy shopping!
You’ve started on your lists of small repairs, you’ve contacted a real estate agent, and now you’re in the final steps of getting ready to sell your house. But before you put your home up for sale, and certainly before having your first open house, here are 11 things to consider that most home sellers forget to think about and could cost you a sale.
1. Declutter and Organize Your Closets and Cabinets
Sure, you went through your entire house and reduced the clutter in each room, organized your desk and other surfaces, and arranged your collection of antique ceramic kitty figurines to be facing perpendicular to the window. However, did you tackle your closets and cabinets?
One thing you should definitely expect during an open house or individual home tours is that potential homebuyers will be looking in your closets, kitchen drawers, and cabinets. Will your walk-in closet fit all of his shoes and her summer dresses? Is there enough storage space in your kitchen for their cookware, bakeware, and all the kitchen gadgets that they seem to collect each year? These are all questions homebuyers will be asking themselves as they walk through your home.
Of course, you as a home seller will have no idea what the needs are of a potential homebuyer, but you can definitely showcase what your house has to offer in terms of storage. Start by decluttering your closets, cabinets, and drawers, and then keeping only enough belongings in each to really show off the potential that space has to offer. Think of it as an extension of staging your home, but for your storage areas.
2. Clean Stains and Eliminate Odors
We should all consider small stains, marks, and other imperfections as badges of honor for a house that has been lived in for years. Nonetheless, these slight bumps and bruises your home has encountered over time will stick out to potential homebuyers, so tackle them head-on.
Begin by trying to put yourself in the shoes of a potential homebuyer and look at your house objectively. Start by going outside and then re-entering your house as if you didn’t actually own it but were an interested homebuyer looking at it for the first time. What do you see? Walkthrough every room and take note of all the imperfections you notice.
You might surprise yourself with how quickly your list grows. You can then add them to your list of repairs so you can make your house truly be at its best before your first open house.
Also, if you have pets there is a strong possibility that your home has an odor that you can no longer smell. Deep cleaning (https://dynamicduo.cleaning/our-services) your house is a sure-fire way to help eliminate these odors, but also think about using an odor-eliminating spray every day for about a week before your first open house. You can also place plugin room fresheners that offer a great crisp smell, like cucumber, to help infuse a sense of cleanliness throughout your house.
3. Replace Light Bulbs
Walkthrough each room in your house and look at every light bulb to see if it’s working. As homeowners, we sometimes forget to immediately replace a lightbulb when it goes out. You want your house to be at its brightest when new homebuyers are touring your home and replacing old burnt out light bulbs is one of the easiest ways to do it.
Also, don’t forget to walk around the outside of your house to make sure all the lights of your home’s exterior are working as well. Depending on the time of year, your open house or home tours could happen when the sun is going down or when it’s already dark. So be sure to make your house shine inside and out!
Pro tip: Make sure all your light bulbs are the same color temperature inside your house as well as outside. A soft-white light LED bulb can create a bright but welcoming environment for new homebuyers.
4. Think About the Small Details: Plants, Mirrors, Rugs
Consider each room’s individual characteristics, so you can really showcase the potential every room in your house can offer.
Add a little green to your spaces
Nothing breathes life into a room more than a little greenery. A potted tree can work wonders in a living room, but for smaller areas think smaller plants such as a small potted herb garden in the kitchen or a miniature cactus on the mantel.
Open up even the smallest rooms
Mirrors can make small spaces seem large because they create the illusion of depth. Mirrors also work wonders in darker rooms as they reflect light deep into areas of a room that may not receive an abundance of natural light.
Add character to an otherwise unimpressive space
While staging your home, think about adding character to various spaces with rugs. However, keep in mind that you want to use rugs to enhance a space, not be the focal point of it. Also, if you have a strange space that you never really figured out a good use for, a rug could at least offer a little personality while leaving the space and its potential to the imaginations of home buyers.
5. Enhance Your Outdoor Space
You’re probably already aware that enhancing your curb appeal is one of the most impactful things you can do to create a great first impression. However, you don’t want to forget about your other outdoor areas, such as your front porch or entrance, your back entrance, side yard, and backyard. You want to enhance your outdoor spaces around the house so potential buyers can see themselves living as much outside your house as inside.
Simple enhancements like placing potted plants to your front entrance or adding fresh beauty bark around the base of your hedges and trees can go a long way. If you don’t already have a designated outdoor space for entertaining, think about building a DIY fire pit and adding four Adirondack chairs to create the idea of outdoor fun. Ultimately, your outdoor space can be just as important of space as what your home has to offer on the inside.
6. Get Professional (Aerial) Photography
By now your research has probably shown you that homes with professional photos sell for more and spend less time on the market on average. What you may not have considered is adding aerial photography to your listing photos.
Aerial photography can show off your entire property, a scenic view, and the surrounding area. If you have a lot of property, an aerial shot can easily put into perspective the full scope all your land has to offer to potential home buyers.
Furthermore, aerial photography has come a long way thanks to the rapid development of drone technology, resulting in reasonable pricing that is accessible for many homeowners today.
7. Don’t Forget About Your Gutters
Imagine that you’re having your first open house and despite the rain, foot traffic has been steadily increasing all morning. Your house looks immaculate, like one of those homes off of an HGTV show, and your real estate agent has been messaging you updates every hour about how great it’s going. But then the unexpected happens. A small stream of water starts coming down right in front of your large bay window in the living room. The stream is outside the house, but your would-be buyers watch on as it grows into a miniature waterfall.
Red flags go up for the home buyers touring your house as the foot traffic thins then disappears altogether. What they didn’t see was that the spillage was the result of a clogged gutter, nothing more, causing water to spill over in a very inopportune place and at the worst time.
Depending on where you live, you may not see as much rain in locations like Phoenix, AZ, but in many locations where rainfall is a common occurrence, such as Seattle, WA, this situation is more likely to happen. If you don’t have time to clean your gutters yourself—because you have a house to sell and a million other little things to do—there are professional services that can clean your gutters for you so this little oversight doesn’t drown out your hopes of selling your home quickly.
8. Paint Your Baseboards and Crown Molding
It’s pretty common knowledge that you should paint the interior of your home a neutral color to appeal to more buyers. Home buyers want to imagine themselves and their stuff in your space, so your red accent wall will need to be painted over with a more neutral hue. But what a lot of home sellers forget to do is pay attention to their baseboards and crown molding.
Where crown molding may just need some cleaning and touch-ups, your baseboards most likely have seen a lot more traffic, especially if you have kids. It may be a toy truck that has repeatedly crashed into your white baseboards, crayons that went rogue, or the black rubber wheels from bikes racing down the hallway, most likely your baseboards have been marked with years of life experiences.
To correct these homely blemishes, you can try cleaning your baseboards with simple dish soap and water. But if it has been years of wear and abuse, you most likely will need to paint. Use a paint with a semi-gloss finish that will offer a light sheen but not glossy enough to distract attention away from your floors. You can also match your crown molding using the same paint, making every room pop to potential home buyers. Of course, if you end up hiring painters to repaint that accent wall of yours, you might as well have them paint your baseboards while they’re there.
9. Focus on Your Floors
Your hardwood floors were once beautiful and one of the initial reasons you bought your home, but after years of traffic your hardwoods have since dulled to a shadow of their former glory. Likewise, your once plush carpet has also now matted down into obvious paths that lead from room to room.
One of the first things potential home buyers look at when entering a new home is the floors, so make yours a statement.
If your carpet is approaching that 10-year mark, it is most likely looking pretty worn. Think about re-carpeting your house to make it look fresh and ready for new homeowners. Such as you did with your walls, you’ll want to go more neutral in color to appeal to the majority of home buyers. If your carpet is only a few years old, however, getting it professionally cleaned can go a long way in bringing your carpet back to life.
If you have hardwood floors bring them back to their former glory by refinishing them. Refinishing hardwood floors typically includes sanding down the floors to eliminate the original finish and stain, then re-staining with the desired color followed by a coat or two of sealer. Your floors will look brand new and really stand out during the open house.
10. Gather Your Documents
You might not be aware of this but you’ll want to gather all the documents you have in regards to warranties, manuals, service records, and repairs done to your house. These documents are hugely important for several reasons and certain ones are needed by different parties before you sell your house.
Your agent is your best friend during the home selling process. They are also your homes’ first line of marketing and the more information they have about your house, the better they can promote it. They will write out the specific details of your home as well as an enticing description that will highlight key features that home buyers want. So, if you’ve made recent updates like a new deck, new roof, updated HVAC, or if your home has hot water on demand make sure your agent knows it and you have the paperwork to back it up.
During the home inspection process, home inspectors are going to go over your house with a fine-toothed comb. If your furnace or water heater hasn’t been serviced in years, they’ll let you know. Take a proactive approach by gathering all your service records so you’ll know ahead of time if something needs to be serviced before listing your home. However, beyond the paperwork your agent and the home inspector would like to see, title companies require very specific documentation in order for you to even sell your home including:
Mortgage loan information, which will show any outstanding mortgage balance and pay-off balance (if there is any)
Final purchase and sale agreement
Deed
Title report
Property tax information, including most recent tax statement
Homeowners insurance information
Lease agreement, if you’re currently renting the property
Any reports or documentation that relates to the property – Warranty paperwork, permits, service documentation, instruction manuals, dates of home improvement projects, and age of the roof, furnace, hot water heater, HVAC, and all the other major appliances.
11. Pre-Sale Home Inspection
The last thing most people don’t think about before they sell their home is getting a pre-sale home inspection. Though it is not mandatory, a pre-sale home inspection is a proactive approach to understanding your home’s condition at that point in time, and if there are any repairs that need attention, you can address them now versus trying to do it during the home selling process.
Home buyers will most likely get a home inspection of their own, right? So, why would you get one as a seller?
A home inspection report will most likely turn up a list of repairs that will need to be fixed. Would you prefer to fix these issues now before you list your home, or after you’re in negotiations with a potential buyer? If you wait, you may push back the sale date of your house as repairs are being made. Or, home buyers may ask for concessions on your asking price in order to cover the repairs and the time it takes to make them. Ultimately, getting a pre-sale home inspection will leave you in a better position when it comes time to negotiate with potential buyers.
You may feel like spending a lot of time and money on your house is pointless because you’re just going to sell it anyway, right? Just consider that the more you appeal to the majority of home buyers the more bids you’ll likely see and ultimately help you sell your house quicker and for more money.
Here at Dynamic Duo Cleaning, we love our pets. They brighten up our day, and they’re always there to support us, through thick and thin. However, they can make it a real challenge to keep your home clean, healthy and smelling fresh when pet accidents occur, let alone how to remove pet urine and odor from your carpet and furniture.
Not only is it difficult to deal with a pet urine accident once one has occurred, but it’s also tough to know where past accidents may have taken place, including accidents you may not have even known about. Using a unique UV light, Dynamic Duo Cleaning can detect pet accidents in your home and eliminate pet urine odors from your carpets, rugs, and upholstery through our revolutionary cleaning process called P.E.T.® (Pet Enzyme Treatment) (https://dynamicduo.cleaning/services). P.E.T. contacts the source of the odor and immediately begins a chemical reaction that destroys the pet urine odor. It’s shown excellent results on even the most severe pet urine damage.
Tested and Proven Superior Results
An independent laboratory recently conducted multiple tests of our P.E.T. process to determine its effectiveness in treating pet urine odors and stains. In tests against the most common odor sources found in dog and cat urine, this study found that P.E.T. removes an average of 99.9% of pet urine odors from carpets. Also to go one step further, the study also tested Dynamic Duo Cleanings ability to eliminate the bacteria that can be found in pet urine. When used along with our HCE (Hot Carbonating Extraction) cleaning process and a sanitizer, the study found that P.E.T. removes an average of 99.2% of the bacteria from pet urine stains in carpets.
If not treated properly,
The odor from pet accidents can travel through the entire home and impact your health and your happiness. Above all the smell emitted from an accident area, also often leads to repeat incidents in the same area until it removed.
Pet urine in the carpet not only leaves an unsightly stain and an unpleasant odor, but it penetrates the fibers and contaminates both the carpet and the floor underneath.
That’s why it can require specialized cleaning, well beyond just a simple cleaning and treating. The longer an incident goes untreated; the more likely the urine odor is to permeate deeper and deeper into floors, walls and even the framework and foundation of the home. As the urine dries, the liquid evaporates, but the urine crystals become even more concentrated and pungent. Simple cleaning will not remove pet urine this odor.
To help rid your home of the smells caused by pet urine, Dynamic Duo Cleaning applies P.E.T. – specially designed to eliminate pet urine odors at their source. While most cleanings only mask the odor, Dynamic Duo Cleaning revolutionary Pet Urine Removal Treatment works at the molecular level and destroys the urine crystals to completely eliminate the odor. With P.E.T., your most severe pet urine odors can be solved, and your carpets, rugs, and upholstery can be saved.
How P.E.T. Works
Our proprietary P.E.T. process is unparalleled in the industry. It’s precisely formulated to break down molecules found deep in the carpet that are the source of the odors.
First of all, our IICRC trained professional (http://www.iicrc.org/) will do an inspection of your carpets with unique ultraviolet light. This light exposes any problem areas and odorous urine deposits that may not be visible to the naked eye.
Next, the carpet will be rinsed with our deep cleaning, patented Hot Carbonating Extraction cleaning process to remove any liquid or loose urine crystals. Therefore, we apply our fantastic odor removal product, P.E.T., to each stain. P.E.T. travels deep into the carpet pad and even the sub-floor reaching areas that typical cleaning products or processes cannot reach.
Once, P.E.T. goes to work breaking down all the odor-causing elements over the next 24 to 36 hours. Also when each the treated area has dried, the odor is gone for good.
At Dynamic Duo Cleaning, our goal is to clean for your health and the health of your family. We provide a healthier, longer-lasting clean for a happier home. P.E.T. and our other Healthy Home cleaning products are safe and non-toxic for you, your children, and your pets.
At Dynamic Duo Cleaning, we clean for your health like no one else.
How to remove pet urine from carpet? Dynamic Duo Cleaning has been asked this question over a million times, and we counted. LOL! Seriously, if you have an animal that lives in your home, chances are you have had this problem. It’s okay, we have seen this and are prepared for it. We’re not even scared a lot, only a little bit.
We mix our chemicals from concentrate and not from ready to use “RTU” solutions. This gives us the cleaning power way above and beyond the competition. This is why we have a 100% guarantee on our services because it works!
Okay, so maybe you want to work a little harder at this. Let’s say you really step on all of the urine and you really think it’s all gone? Chances are you have a good percentage of urine removed but here are a couple of special tips that will really, really help with removing urine.
Follow these Tips
Take a towel that won’t bleed its color onto your carpet. There is a lot of ammonia in that urine and it very easily could pull color and make things a lot worse.
Fold the towel into a square, you can go ahead and double it up. If it’s a huge towel then really fold it up to match the size of the urine area. Just make sure it’s flat and not all bunched up.
Place the towel on top of the animal urine or “other urine” and gently press it down. Leave it until the towel has absorbed a good amount of it.
You will then either refold the towel to show a dry spot or simply flip it over if the towel is big enough. Repeat the pressing down process, yes you can even stand on it. Keep repeating this process until the urine disrepair or at least it feels dry.
You’re very close to being done. Mix 1-part vinegar with 5-parts water. 6 oz total for a 12-inch square should do the trick.
You then saturate the area that once was wet with urine. Let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Yes, you have to use another towel or hopefully your first towel is still dry enough. You need to repeat the towel step by pressing the “dry” side on the urine and pressing down on it. The trick here is to take something with a little weight to it an empty pot from the kitchen. Set this on top of the towel so that it holds the pressure down for you. You can leave it for about 15 minutes.
Lastly, you will pour about 6 ounces of clean water over the area you have worked on. Replace the towel with a clean one and let it sit with that same kitchen pot for about an hour.
Now that’s “how to remove pet urine,” fast and easy with your at-home supplies. If you ever need our professional help we are here for you.
When Dynamic Duo House Cleaning Services in Burnsville, MN (https://dynamicduo.cleaning/) is called out for pet urine removal. We use specific chemicals for this process. They are powerful and truly remove the pet urine from the carpet. Even using the method above should make it hard for your pet to remember that they ever had an accident there before. Our professional products work in the same method as described above.
Is DIY carpet cleaning a good choice? Although professional carpet cleaning is an option, there are plenty of do-it-yourself steam cleaning machines that you can rent or buy to handle daily or weekly cleaning.
They are an excellent investment for cleaning up light soiling and are particularly suitable choices in households with pets or children, where spills and stains happen quite regularly.
That being said, for more large jobs or full carpet cleaning (https://dynamicduo.cleaning/services#1520313405318-ba64eaf7-169d), a professional cleaning service is always recommended. The DIY machines are suitable for smaller jobs, but there are a lot of variables to consider when cleaning carpets, including the temperature of the water, the exact function of the machine, the appropriate amount of cleaner, and many others. Mostly, those are all things that could possibly go wrong.
Two of the most common mistakes that people make when cleaning their own carpets is over-wetting and using far too much detergent. These two factors can severely compromise the integrity of your carpet, so carpet manufacturers typically tell customers to avoid DIY carpet cleaning on a large scale.
After proper, thorough cleaning, the carpet should only be mildly damp, not wet. If your carpet is wet after cleaning, your machine isn’t properly removing the water, so be sure to speed up the drying process with fans, if possible, to avoid mold and mildew from forming. Also, try to stay off the carpet until it is completely dry to prevent any markings.
Aside from over-wetting, excessive use of detergents is the other major DIY crisis culprit for carpet cleaning. Many people think that using more detergent will result in a deeper clean, but that simply isn’t true. In fact, using too much detergent might mean leaving that excess residue in the carpet, making it even easier to resoil and essentially undoing the work you just did.
DIY carpet cleaning
These are the two main issues with DIY carpet cleaning, but there are a few others as well, including the improper use of non-carpet cleaners. Although you may think this is a quick and easy solution, those cleaners may contain bleach or optical brighteners, both of which can permanently alter the dyes in your carpet, resulting in discoloration or fading.
Furthermore, if you want a really deep clean, your DIY steam cleaning machine isn’t going to deliver the best results. It won’t be able to suck out all the dirt, water, and grime in your carpet because of their generally low extraction power. Even in terms of temperature, DIY machines don’t have the same heating capacity compared to professional-grade machines to deliver an effective clean. Heating is essential in helping to dissolve soils.
In short, DIY carpet cleaning is always an option, but before trying your hand at a major carpet cleaning job, be sure that] you have the best tools and the correct knowledge or else you might end up doing more harm than good!
We hope you found these tips helpful. If you have any other questions or need carpet cleaning assistance, please Book Online https://dynamicduo.cleaning/booking) with Dynamic Duo Cleaning Services (https://dynamicduo.cleaning/services) of Burnsville, MN.
If you want an area where your kids can make noise and play instruments without disrupting the rest of the household, send them to the garage and let them have a party! Just make a couple of simple changes like adding bookshelves, cubbies or storage for toys and games. You can also use a large, cushioned rug or two, or set the scene for a young garageband and let your kids’ imaginations run wild.
If you’re thinking of an area to spread out all your craft projects, you may want to consider using your garage. There are loads of different garage storage systems that can help you organize and store your artistic supplies such as slat boards and overhead storage systems for large items.
Consider transforming your garage into a home office. You don’t have to be a woodworker to use your garage as a workspace. With desks and tables, you can transform your garage into any workplace. If you plan on having other people in the space, you may need to convert the area ultimately. To create a more professional appearance, consider replacing your doors with glass panes so you can also let extra light in.
Have your movie theater in your garage. This DIY could be a grand addition to your home and enjoy a movie marathon with your family or friends. Create the best home theater you can and get a large, wall-mounted TV or projector and an excellent sound system. Add a soft rug to ensure those who are standing are comfortable, and with a plush comfy chair, it will make you feel
like you’re in a movie theater. To create a warm environment, you can add bonus features like soundproofing or insulate your walls.
Say goodbye to that gym membership and say hello to your garage gym!. Many people consider putting in a home gyms in their attics and basements, but few may turn to the garage as the perfect set up for an extensive home gym. It has lots of space, although you may need to restructure the floor and walls to support equipment.
Nevertheless, it’s worth it so that you can work out at any time of day without leaving your home. Also, place rubber mats over the floors for cushion and set up weight racks along the walls. Make use of overhead storage in small spaces, lifting and lowering pieces of equipment as you need them to keep more machines in use easily. Keep towels and supplies in a cupboard you can add.
One of the most natural conversions for your garage is a man cave. It doesn’t need that much to become one. You can add some chairs, a sofa, and an entertainment system. The rest are luxuries: a poker table, fridge or minibar, video games, even installing a bathroom.
If you need extra space in your home and you aren’t currently using your garage, consider converting it to one of these garage organization tips and tricks. Then hire a trusted and professional house cleaning service (https://dynamicduo.cleaning/) to help you clean your garage and add a lot of value to your house and lifestyle.
Selling your house can be both exciting and stressful, especially if it’s your first time. Regardless of why you decided to sell your home, there are a number of pitfalls you can easily fall into, making your home selling experience less than ideal. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of the most common home selling mistakes people make so you can sell your home knowing you have your bases covered.
Underestimating the cost of selling your house
While you should ultimately profit from the sale of your home, many home sellers forget about the costs associated with selling a house. For starters, you should expect to use five to six percent of the total sale price of your home to cover the commissions of both the seller and buyer agents. For example, if you sell your home for $300,000 you could wind up paying upwards of $18,000 in commission.
Furthermore, this hefty cost doesn’t include possible concessions homebuyers might want you to make during the negotiation phase, such as making repairs suggested by a home inspector.
Not budgeting for your move
When you consider the moving process, you have two options: hiring a moving company or borrow your buddy’s truck and doing it yourself.
By hiring a moving company, rather than doing it yourself, you’re getting someone who will pack, move, and then unpack your belongings. This means that a full-service mover can be well worth the investment when you’re preoccupied with all of the other tasks associated with selling your home. Not to mention, when you hire movers your belongings are insured so you’re covered if anything breaks.
Selling a house you owe more on than what it’s worth
If you still have a remaining balance on your mortgage, you’ll most likely use a portion of the sale proceeds of your home to pay off the existing mortgage. Make sure you don’t owe more on your mortgage than what your house is actually worth or you won’t make enough money on the sale to pay off your mortgage. The best option is almost always to wait on selling your home so that it can build more equity. This way you can sell your home and buy a new one without having two mortgages at the same time.
Pricing your home incorrectly
If you price your home too high, your home may fall into seller’s limbo, sitting on the market for what feels like an eternity. On the other hand, if you price too low then you will likely sell your home quickly but you risk missing out on a significant amount of money.
The first step to understanding how much your home is worth is utilizing an online calculator. Afterward, meet with your real estate agent to discuss a good pricing strategy for your home. They will look at other comparable properties in your neighborhood that sold recently as well as bring keen insights into what the housing market is currently doing. Together, you’ll determine a good starting price as well as a pricing strategy that will incentive buyers if your house begins to sit on the market for too long.
Skipping a pre-listing home inspection
Selling a house is stressful enough, even when everything goes right. But if a home buyer hires an inspector who catches an issue like mold, pests, or a cracked foundation, then your stress levels will multiply as you risk losing a potential sale entirely.
Given the affordability of home inspections, there’s not much reason to avoid them. Getting a pre-listing home inspection will put your mind at ease as you’ll either know that your home is in sound condition or you’ll be able to tackle problems before home buyers have the chance to bring them up during the negotiation phase. If an issue does arise, you can either fix it or you can let buyers know and then make a concession during the negotiation phase by reducing the price of your home accordingly.
Not refinishing hardwood floors or cleaning your carpet
If you’re reading this at home, look down. How do your floors look? Even if they don’t look terrible, there’s a pretty good chance they’re starting to show their age. Since potential buyers are going to be inspecting every aspect of your home, you should start thinking of refinishing your hardwood floors and cleaning your carpet.
Whether you’re selling in Atlanta or Bend, the best time to have your carpet cleaned or hardwood floors refinished is right before you stage your home. Since you’ll already be moving most (or all) of your furniture to either a new home or a storage unit, this is a great time to get your floors done (like the floors above) and make them a selling point to potential home buyers.
Not staging your home for a quick sale
The main point of staging your home is to allow potential home buyers the chance to picture themselves living in your space. They get to see a home with furniture and art that’s arranged in a way that highlights key features of your home, rather than an empty house that echoes every sound. Staging your home pays off too as 21 percent of agents told the National Association of Realtors that staging a home increased its’ sale price by as much as 10 percent, making it a worthwhile investment.
Forgoing professional real estate photos
With the advent of cameras on smartphones, everyone likes to think of themselves as a photographer these days. Even though that picture you took of your dinner last week looked like it could be featured in advertisements, you’re still probably not ready to take your own real estate photos. A real estate photographer will make sure that your home looks great when you list it because not only do they have the equipment, they understand the angles that best sell a home.
If you have a large home, a stunning view you want to show off, or a large amount of land, you may also want to consider having aerial photos taken of your home. The views that drones are able to capture are impressive and can help show off your home in a way that will make sure it stands out from other houses in your area that are on the market. Even better, drone technology makes this option more affordable than ever before, allowing you to get a lot more bang for your buck.
Trying to sell a poorly lit home
You want to show your home in the best light, so take the time to really gauge the quality of your lighting by closing your curtains/blinds and looking at each room as though you’re a potential home buyer. Make a note of any rooms that are poorly lit or just seem dark and then call an electrician so that you can have some additional lighting installed.
Even worse than a poorly lit room, however, is when the lights don’t work at all. Sometimes the light bulb is just burnt out, while other times the socket itself is in need of repair. Consider calling an electrician before you begin showing your home to make sure it’s shining its brightest like the one above. Potential buyers (and your bank account) will thank you for the investment.
Not making your home energy efficient
If you’d like to spend less on your utility bills, you aren’t alone. A study by the National Association of Realtors found that 33 percent of home buyers see high-efficiency HVAC systems as an important factor when looking at a new home. If you have an older home, you should look into either retrofitting or replacing your HVAC unit altogether as your current system might be using a lot more energy than it needs to be. This will ensure that you have a system that is meeting your home’s needs, while also lowering your utility bill.
If you’re committed to energy-efficiency then there are a few extra things you can do. These options include making sure your home is properly insulated, ensuring that you don’t have any leaky air ducts, and buying a smart thermostat. Whichever route you pursue, having an energy-efficient HVAC system will make your house stand out from the competition.
Not cleaning your house before trying to sell it
Most of us would probably be lying if we said our homes weren’t overdue for a good cleaning, so don’t forget to check this box before listing your home for sale. There’s nothing more off-putting during a home tour than realizing the house is dirty, and potential home buyers may wonder what else you’ve been neglecting. By hiring a professional cleaning company, you’ll guarantee that not only is your home spotless but that you’re going to make a great impression on home buyers when they tour your house.
Not addressing the exterior of your house
Over the years, your home’s exterior has taken a beating from the elements. With everything mother nature throws at it every year, the paint on your home’s exterior and the stain on your deck have likely lost a bit of their luster. So before listing, be sure to pressure wash your house first. In addition to making sure your house looks its best in the listing photos, you will also enhance the overall curb appeal when buyers eventually show up for a tour.
In addition to pressure washing your house and deck, you can also take the time to pressure wash your garage door, fence, patio, driveway, and any walkways you may have.
You never got around to repainting
One of the first things a potential buyer will notice when they pull up to your home is the paint. If you want to make a good first impression, then you’ll need to ensure that your home is painted an inviting color and that the quality of your paint job is top-notch. While the job of repainting your house might take a few days, the value of painting your house before selling will be well worth the effort. A recent study found that painting the exterior of your home has a 51 percent return on investment.
Don’t stop with the exterior though! We’ve all seen some pretty questionable color choices on the walls of homes. If you happen to have a lime green or bright purple wall, you’ll want to repaint them to be a more buyer-friendly neutral color. Doing so will make it easier for buyers to be able to picture themselves living in your home as it makes them think of your walls as a blank canvas.
Selling a home with a yard in need of some TLC
The other way to make a great first impression is by wowing potential buyers with your yard. Start by cleaning up anything that may be cluttering your yard, porch, or pathways (things like gardening equipment or a child’s bicycle). Then you can move onto mowing the lawn, weeding your garden, and planting some new flowers. If your yard has a damaged pathway, you may also want to think about fixing or even replacing it as well.
If these touch-ups seem like a lot to tackle while you’re trying to sell your home, don’t be afraid to hire a landscaper as the cost is well worth it. A study by Turf Magazine found that a home’s value tended to increase by as much as 10 to 12 percent after making upgrades to the landscaping.
You have mismatched appliances
Maybe your black stove died a couple of years ago and you replaced it with a brand new stainless steel one. Or maybe you swapped out that white kitchen faucet you always hated with a copper one that caught your eye. Either way, the result is mismatched appliances. While it won’t necessarily impact the overall sale price of your home, many home buyers are going to find the mismatched color scheme off-putting, so consider making some changes before you sell – the kitchen below is great inspiration.
The best way to proceed is to decide which kitchen appliances are your favorite and base the color scheme off of them. So if that fancy new stove you bought last year is stainless steel, then make sure your other appliances are too. Luckily, many appliance manufacturers offer discounts if you purchase multiple appliances with them at once.
Lingering during a home tour
Nobody likes a lingerer, especially when they also happen to be the owner of the home you’re currently touring. If you don’t leave the home during a showing, then potential buyers feel awkward as they attempt to discuss what they like and dislike about the house. You also prevent your listing agent from being able to do their job to the best of their abilities as you’re naturally going to want to answer any questions the buyers have rather than leaving those questions to your agent. So instead of staying in your home during a showing, try taking the opportunity to go shopping, run errands, or visit some friends instead. Your agent will thank you.
Taking a Lowball Offer Personally
Regardless of your reasons for moving, the fact that you’ve probably lived in your home for years means that you have a lot of strong feelings attached to it. So when you receive a low-ball offer, it’s natural to be offended.
Instead of walking away, send them back a counteroffer that you and your real estate agent think is fair. If they really are interested, then you’ll be glad you didn’t let your emotions get the better of you.
People who work from home have a few more challenges than people who work in a traditional home office setting do.
It’s so easy to be distracted by dirty dishes or a room that needs to be tidied. It’s also common to get carried away playing with the kids and forget all about that 2 pm meeting. The home office can become a dumping ground for any manner of things, causing still more distractions. Everyone needs to be a productive worker, and these nuisances can become a serious problem if they are not properly dealt with. We can’t help you say no to one more tea party with your kid, but we can offer home office organization ideas some and how to keep it that way.
Declutter
One major problem in the home office is clutter build-up. You need to find a way to keep your workspace separate from your little one’s play area. Take a minute removing stuff that doesn’t belong in the room and finds it a proper place elsewhere in the home. Go through the remaining things and decide what you need to keep in the space and what is unnecessary. Remove any items you don’t need in the office without hesitation.
Separate
Chances are your work isn’t the only thing being done in the office. Perhaps you pay your bills and do your taxes in this area as well. You should, though, create a separation between work and home. Perhaps you can color-code your filing system so that you know which things pertain to work and which relate to your personal life. Consider purchasing separate filing cabinets for this purpose if color-coding is too much to handle.
Stations
You can designate specific areas throughout the space to function in specific ways. No one says your printer must sit on your desk. If it can function well elsewhere, move it to free up desk space. Maybe you have a cabinet on which the printer can sit, with a drawer for paper and ink. Make separate areas for your mail. One box for incoming mail and one for outgoing mail. Designate an area for work mail and household mail as well. Use a system that works well for you.
Create an area in a drawer or cabinet to house all your small office supplies (https://www.bhg.com/rooms/home-office/accessories/home-office-solutions/) as well. You can place all your extra pens, paper clips, sticky notes, and other supplies in this area so that they are neatly contained. If you don’t have a lot of space for different areas, use baskets to store things.
Keep It Tidy
In addition to organizing the area, it is essential to keep it clean so that you can function well. Spend time dusting the cabinets, cleaning the desk and keeping the floors regularly swept. You can also add a home office organization checklist to stay organized.
Cleaning Service
If you spend too much time in your home office for your liking, it can be difficult to take the extra time to clean it. If you’re a busy self-employed person, using a house cleaning service can be a legitimate tax-deductible expense!
Carpets take the brunt of liquid spills and fallen foods, tracked-in dirt and snow, and other unknown substances that fall upon them. Carpet cleaning bacteria and debris scatter through the fibers and make a happy home on our floors. Gross, right?
Eventually, we all turn to carpet cleaners. But not all carpet cleaners are the same. Consider the pros and cons when deciding between a DIY carpet cleaning job or hiring the pros.
DIY Carpet Cleaning
Pros: Personal carpet cleaners are great for small areas and serve as a quick-fix for removing stains. They are also a convenient method for removing odors. Having a dinner party next weekend and concerned your carpet looks worn and dirty? Pull out the carpet cleaner for a once-over.
Cons: Unfortunately, removing stains and odors with DIY carpet cleaners (https://dynamicduo.cleaning/is-diy-carpet-cleaning-a-good-choice) is likely only a temporary solution. These carpet cleaners are limited in the depth they are capable of reaching, so the red wine that seeped to the bottom will likely rise back to the top of the carpet fibers over time.
Likewise, odors thought to be removed might have been only partially eliminated. Since DIY carpet cleaners don’t penetrate through the depth of the fibers, the deep clean isn’t deep enough to remove all that’s hiding in your carpets. Another disadvantage of using DIY carpet cleaners is that you do not have professional ensuring proper cleaning techniques. The type of carpet cleaning solution and potency level is an important factor in achieving a proper clean. And the amount of water can vary between not using enough to rinse the chemicals out and using too much so that mold and mildew begin to grow during its drying stage.
Professional Carpet Cleaning
Pros: Experts take control over the carpet cleaning process, using high-powered equipment, measured solutions and proper amounts of water to execute a professional carpet cleaning process. The high-powered cleaning equipment is capable of reaching the full depth of the carpet fibers and penetrates through, cleaning each strand of its debris and bacteria. Best of all, you don’t have to lift a finger during the process. The deep-cleaning service is recommended every 12 to 18 months, by The Carpet and Rug Institute (http://www.carpet-rug.org/).
Cons: Professional carpet cleaning can be pricier than the DIY method. It is also a service that needs to be scheduled and planned for, taking more time out of your day than you might prefer. The bottom line, DIY carpet cleaning jobs are great for tackling smaller stains and touch-ups like before (and after) having company over for a dinner party. But professional carpet cleaning should be scheduled into your annual spring cleaning checklist in order to cleanse those carpet fibers from top to bottom.
For more information about carpet cleaning services, contact Dynamic Duo Cleaning.
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When you call Dynamic Duo Cleaning to clean your rental property, you won’t be getting complaints from your occupants! Our talented crew will keep your property looking clean and ready to welcome your next guests. We’ll make sure the property is cleaned, sanitized and that everything is in place with each and every visit.
A sampling of our services includes:
Vacuuming
Kitchen cleaning and sanitization
Bathroom cleaning and sanitization
Stripping and making beds
Laundry services
Trash removal
Dusting
Furniture polishing
Restoring items/organization
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Let Dynamic Duo Cleaning Care for Your Rental Property
In addition to keeping your condo, apartment or rental home clean and welcoming, we’ll also restock the essentials per your request. Soaps, shampoo, dishwasher and laundry detergent will be stocked and cleanly presented. Towels will be hung and arranged and beds will be made. When your guests enter your rental property, it is our goal to make them feel at home. We will also keep in contact with you or your management company to inform you of any broken or missing items quickly so that they can be repaired or replaced accordingly. Dynamic Duo Cleaning will treat your rental property as if it was our own home!
Types of Rentals We Clean:
Hotels and Motels
Airbnb
Bed and Breakfasts
Rental Homes
Condos
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