Home Maintenance Archives | Blessings Realty | Colorado Springs and Monument Realtor

4 Things You Can Do to Make Your Home More Valuable to Buyers

April 2, 2021 By Claire Garlick Leave a Comment

If you have a home of your own, you already know how to think like a buyer. You know buyers look for a home that’s structurally sound, with modern amenities and conveniences that fit their lifestyle. If you look at your home through a buyer’s eyes, you can anticipate what will appeal to their tastes and fill their needs. This sometimes means updating certain areas of your home to ensure it stands out in the market. Here are several things you can do to make your home more valuable to buyers:

Update the Kitchen

You may wish to resurface your kitchen cabinets in a lighter color to provide a brighter, more appealing look. New hardware on cabinets can also help to improve the general appearance of your kitchen. Simple home improvements, such as a new backsplash or faucet, can help to modernize your kitchen area without accumulating a great deal of construction expenses. Since kitchens see a lot of use, you may want to replace flooring to give the room a fresher look.

Freshen Up Bathrooms

Bathrooms also see a great deal of use in homes. Moisture and humidity can cause floors, ceilings and fixtures to look old and unattractive. A fresh coat of paint, a new vanity and better lighting can give the room a more modern look. Consider new shelving for grooming items, towels and other frequently used items.

Pay Attention to Your Home’s Exterior

Check that your siding, gutters and roofing are all in good condition to put your property in the best possible light for potential buyers. Prune trees and shrubs for a well maintained appearance, paying close attention to your front entryway. A fresh color on the door, a flowerbed or a new railing can help to make your home look more inviting.

Update Your Appliances

Buyers consider not only the cost of the property itself, but also how much it will cost to update appliances and critical home systems. If your HVAC is more than 15 years old, consider replacing it with a more efficient model that will help to save the new buyer money. Inspect your kitchen appliances for wear and tear; new appliances can reassure buyers that they won’t have to spend money on replacements in the near future.

If you think strategically about what will make your home most appealing to buyers, you can avoid unnecessary expenses and choose the improvements that create the greatest impact. Real estate experts find that these four features can make a home more desirable for prospective buyers and can garner a higher sale price and a faster closing.

Article source: http://blog.rismedia.com/2021/more-valuable-to-buyers/.

April Showers and Leaks: The Most Common Springtime Plumbing Issues

April 2, 2021 By Claire Garlick Leave a Comment

Spring brings warm weather, sunshine and an abundance of flowers, but it also brings about a few unique plumbing problems. While spring showers help your flowers and other plants to grow, rain can also cause plumbing issues. As the weather warms up, be on the lookout for these four springtime plumbing problems. Catching them early can save you a lot of headaches!

Leaky Plumbing

Cold winter temperatures can cause pipes to contract or freeze, which can cause tiny cracks. As the weather warms up, pipes begin to expand, causing any tiny cracks to also expand. Old pipes and outdoor plumbing are vulnerable to developing such cracks.

If you notice dripping pipes, standing water, a musty odor or a mysterious increase on your water bill, you could have leaky plumbing. Any leaking pipes must be fixed right away to prevent water damage and mold growth.

Low Water Pressure

Poor water pressure can be caused by a plumbing leak somewhere in your home. These can be hard to find, so you may need to contact a plumber to find them and fix them. It could be somewhere inside, or it could be leaking from the outside pipes that lead into the house.

Spring rainstorms can also cause low water pressure. Because rainwater is heavy and drenches the soil, that weight can put stress on your underground pipes, causing leaks which can lead to low water pressure inside your home.

Slow Draining Sinks and Backed Up Pipes

Just as spring rains can put pressure on your incoming outdoor pipes, the same is true for the pipes leading out towards the sewer. If heavy, rain-soaked soil puts too much pressure on an old or weak sewer pipe, it can result in backed-up sinks and toilets, as well as sewer water flooding your yard. The warmer weather also spurs plant growth, and tree roots can grow through a small crack in a drain line, causing a blockage. In either case, backed up pipes are a serious problem that need immediate attention from your local plumber.

Sump Pump Failure

Basement sump pumps typically don’t run during the winter, because it’s frozen outside in much of the country. However, once the weather warms up and spring rains flood your basement, you’ll need a working sump pump to clear water from this area. Early in the spring, have your sump pump checked to make sure it’s working properly. That way, you can easily avoid a flooded basement.

Spring is just around the corner and now is the time to make sure your plumbing survived the winter and will give you consistent support through the warmer months to come!

Article source: http://blog.rismedia.com/2021/april-showers-plumbing-issues/.

Toasty Tips for Home Maintenance in Winter

January 15, 2021 By Claire Garlick Leave a Comment

Keep your home warm and toasty this Winter by following these simple expert tips!

Every homeowner should start their Winter by tackling the “oh so fun” task of checking their home for leaks. Leaks can not only drain your pocket of money, but also drain your home of precious heat.

The U.S. Department of Energy (energy.gov) knows how important it is for homeowners to stay warm and to save money. This is why they offer up prime tips for what and where to inspect. Let’s start on the outside of your home.

Visually inspect:

• All exterior corners
• Outdoor water faucets
• Where siding and chimneys meet
• Areas where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet.

Next, take the inspection inside. Look for drafts and gaps around:

• Electrical outlets
• Switch plates
• Door and window frames
• Electrical and gas service entrances
• Baseboards
• Weather stripping around doors
• Fireplace dampers
• Attic hatches
• Wall- or window-mounted air conditioners.
• Cable TV and phone lines
• Where dryer vents pass through walls
• Vents and fans.

After filling gaps and repairing cracks, it’s time to consider upgrading your insulation. Insulation is literally your defense against cold air and Winter elements. Old homes are notorious for their meager amounts of insulation. Many of today’s products were simply not available at the time of the home’s construction. If you have an old home, especially one that has not been updated or been subject to today’s building codes, it’s time to see where improvements can be made.

Several options are available. If you’re a green-minded homeowner, then be sure to check out the latest advances in recycle paper, cellulose, and denim insulations. Yes, you can insulation your home with “old jeans”!

Recycled denim insulation is VOC and formaldehyde free, as well as 100% recyclable. Cellulose is made from at least 75 percent post-consumer recycled content (newspaper) and takes as much as thirty percent less energy to make than traditional insulation. Cellulose also has no effect on indoor air quality.

Be sure to research the best “R” value of insulation for your area. The “R” value is a measure of thermal resistance and there will be a recommended amount from the Department of Energy for your particular zone.

Article originally published at https://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/homeownersadvice/item/26963-homeowners-advice-toasty-tips-for-winter.