Spring Cleaning For Living And Selling

Spring is a time of transition, especially in how you live in your home. You’ve been buttoned up all winter, but now you can break out of your “winter cocoon”. Open the windows and let this fresh spring air circulate through your house. Clean out the debris gathered around the your home, inside and out. Flower gardens, ditches, nooks and crannies all seem to be gathering places of “stuff” all winter.

Winter has a way of causing dirt to accumulate in a house. Tracking in mud and snow doesn’t show much at the time, but the potential for damage is realistic. Dirt granules in a carpet that chafe on the fibers will dramatically reduce the life expectancy of your carpet. Even if you don’t see discoloration it’s a good idea to clean them for the maintenance factor. Wood cabinets and furniture can also be affected by winter. The closed up house can cause the wood to dry out excessively - treat each item appropriately.

Spring is also a good time to change your furnace air filter. You’ve been recycling the air in your closed environment all winter, and the filters worked overtime all that while. You will soon be deluged by pollen and other environmental “pollutants” that will readily enter your domain because your home will be open more as you begin sleeping with the windows open, and leaving your windows and sliders open.

Windows … yes, you’ll need to do windows! Clean the fog off and enjoy the clarity of Spring. Can’t get the fog off? You might have a broken seal. This will need to be replaced to sell your home so you might as well fix your broken windows now so your home will show better and build confidence in prospective Buyers. Open your window coverings – you are between summer heat and winter cold insulation needs – let the light in. Clean the blinds and drapes.

The days are getting warmer so be sure to get your watering going. Show the green of your lawn – most Bank Owned properties won’t be able to compete with that. Keep up with your weeds – it is essential for a groomed inviting look. Surely, we have a freeze or two still coming so be careful how soon you add your flowerful colors.

Our Advice: If you are considering selling your home, the above should be considered minimum standards for preparing your home for market. Consider this “Staging 101”, the basic essentials. A Buyer will be naturally put off by driving up to a home with weeds all around it, or trying to look at the beautiful views through a foggy veil. The stale winter air should be moved out and the house generally freshened up in the natural spirit of Spring. You can get good separation in your market from Bank Owned and Short Sale properties by cleaning, freshening, and making your home appealing as a home that a Buyer will relate to and want to live in. Not moving? Do it anyway and enjoy the results!

Have you ever washed your car and fixed the brakes so you could sell it … and wondered why you didn’t do it for yourself? This time is just like that time! Do it and enjoy the results … whatever your ownership future or fate. When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs… Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, 775-781- 5472. carsonvalleyland@hotmail.com, www.carsonvalleyland.com

It’s Spring … What Can We Do to Sell Our Home?

We will be so bold as to say that the proverbial “Spring cleaning” has never been as important to you and your family as it will be this year if your intention is to sell your home. The winter has been a good one for recharging our water sources, and it isn’t quite over yet for sure, but we are ready to shake it off and head towards summer. So what can you do?

With this warmer weather be sure to open your doors and windows to air out your home. The air can get stuffy when your home is closed up for winter. While your house is open is a good time to clean your carpet - a lot of debris gets tracked in during the inclement weather. While you are cleaning … be sure to dust, get the cobwebs, etc. Do a deep cleaning – oil your wood, cabinets, furniture, etc. Windows are important … especially if you have a view property. We don’t have much haze here and you don’t have to make a Buyer feel like they are at home by having a haze on your windows. They are moving here for a reason – clean air and wonderful people.

Remember, less is more. Are all your Holiday decorations put away? How about your winter clothing? It is nice to keep your snow boots handy when there is snow around, but they will only serve to remind people of winter, not spring and new growth, if they are lying around. Chances are slim that you’ll need them again for a big dump.

We’ve had some wonderful winds this winter – some served to enhance our appreciation of Mother Nature’s power. How is your roof? Be sure to look at the Southwest corner of your roof in the Carson Valley. Do you need to replace some shingles? Do it now instead of having a Buyer see them … or see them not. You will have to replace them eventually and your home will show much better without gaps in your roof line. Do you need touch up painting? You never get a second chance at a first impression and paint is an important component of your first impression.
Our Advice: Many people wait until Spring to list their homes. You will likely have a lot of competition in the market in the near future so it is important that your home is presented in the best way possible. Take the time to “tune it up”. Much can be accomplished with a little sweat and effort, not a lot of expense. You will be financially and emotionally rewarded many times over for your efforts.

Clean your garden areas, pick up the winter debris, make sure your sprinkler system is ready to go so you can “green up” as quickly as possible. Make it shine and smelling good and you will enhance your opportunities for selling. The birds are making their nests – all you have to do is clean up yours! Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, www.CarsonValleyLand.com www.CarsonValleyRemax.com , 775-781-5472.