How to Keep Your Deck/Patio in Great Shape


It’s springtime—which means it’s time to think about home maintenance. How can you take care of your deck and patio in the best way?

Anytime you own a home, you have to deal with home maintenance. If you have a deck and patio, you’ll know that those areas really take a lot of wear and tear. So what can you do to keep your deck in tiptop shape?

1. Seal your deck every few years. This will help maintain your deck’s good condition. With all the rain we’ve been having, there’s a good chance that there’s some mold and mildew building up.

2. Rearrange your furniture once a year. This will help keep the mildew growth down, and it allows the air and rain to travel in different areas on your deck, which can help reduce mold growth and other problems related to exposure.
 

3. Do not paint your wood deck. If you paint your wood deck, it’ll be pretty for a time, but it won’t be long before it becomes a maintenance nightmare.

Your deck and patio are great selling points for any home, so be sure to do what it takes to keep them in good shape.

4. Don’t overdo your power washing. Excessive power washing can really warp the boards on your deck and possibly tear up the siding, so be careful. If you’ve got a synthetic composite deck, it’s a little easier to power wash.

5. Don’t use chlorine bleach. To clean your deck, just use regular water, and also avoid using abrasive tools like wire brushes to clean. Just let the power washer do its work.
 

There are certain companies that will help you keep up with your deck and patio maintenance, and there are also ways that you can do it yourself. Regardless, your deck and patio are great selling points for any home, so be sure to do what it takes to keep them in good shape—that’ll bring you lots of good money when it comes time to sell your home. 

If you’ve got questions about buying, selling, or maintaining a home, feel free to reach out to me. I’d be glad to help you.

What Are Buyers Looking for in Today’s Homes?


What kinds of things do today’s buyers love and hate in a prospective home? We’ll be going over a few examples of each today.

If you’re thinking about selling your home and you’re wondering what the best and worst features of your home are in the eyes of potential buyers, look no further. We’re going to talk about that today.

If you have laminate kitchen countertops, that’s something you should consider replacing. Today’s buyers want granite, quartz, or another similar solid surface. Today’s buyers also want laminate or hardwood flooring.

Also, if you have a room that’s unused, such as a sunroom or a media room, let’s make that space more of a multi-purpose one. Maybe it can function as those things, but also as a bedroom or lounge area.


Today’s buyers don’t use or care about whirlpool tubs.

If you have a whirlpool tub, know that today’s buyers don’t really want or use them. If you have an opportunity to do a remodel, replacing the big tub with a nice shower is a smart idea. Outdoor kitchen and fireplaces aren’t as popular as they used to be either.

Finally, neighborhood walking trails are not a selling feature that really registers on people’s radars anymore.

If you're thinking about selling your home, we’d be happy to answer any questions you have and send a list of things you can do to help get your home ready for sale. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Are You Sabotaging Your Own Listing Success?


Unless you want to sabotage your own chance at success, steer clear of these five common listing mistakes.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to mess up a home sale. Many seemingly innocent actions can hurt your chances of success.

There are five simple things that can work against you when you list:

1. A color scheme that’s out-of-step with current trends. One of the least expensive things you can do to help your home sell quickly is to paint it. Using neutral colors is best, as off-trend or overly vibrant hues could turn off potential buyers.
 

2. Overly personal decor. As much as you love the family photos or sports paraphernalia you’ve got on display, it’s important to remember that buyers want to see the property as their future home—not your current one. When you declutter before listing, make sure you also depersonalize.

If you’ve got unaddressed pet odors in your home or you haven’t cleaned in a while, buyers are sure to turn up their noses at your listing.

3. Unpleasant odors. If you’ve got unaddressed pet odors in your home or you haven’t cleaned in a while, buyers are sure to turn up their noses at your listing. On the other hand, pleasant smells can also be overwhelming. Rather than the collective scent of 15 candles, aim for light, fresh smells. A clean-smelling home is ideal.
 

4. An inflexible schedule. As a seller, you should open your home up for showings as often as possible. The less often you make your listing available, the less likely you’ll be to get an offer.
 

5. Undisclosed problems. If you try to disguise the issues in your home rather than being upfront about the problems that exist, this is bound to come back and haunt you later in the deal. Whether it's during the inspection, a showing, or the final walk-through, buyers will find out what’s wrong with your property.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.