House Hunting Hints

Realtors say this is the best time of year to put your house on the market and go house hunting.  Families want to get settled well before the school year begins.  HGTV magazine had lots of tips that both buyers and sellers should note.

• another house on the block looks uncared for-could detract from the curb appeal of yours.  Ideally, all houses should look equally well-maintained
• too close to a school-nice to be near, but not next door or across the street since there will be constant traffic
• smelly basement-may mean moisture and mold issues
• buckling wooden floors-can happen with extreme temperature changes or installed incorrectly on top of a cement foundation
• cracks around a door’s edge-may indicate house settling and potential structural issue
• wet yard although hasn’t rained recently-possible drainage problem or a leak.  Check under the house, too.
• too many scented candles lit or potpourri is overwhelming-may only be to hide fresh paint or floor staining but could be masking pet urine or smoke.  Odors can seep into floors.
• don’t forget the roof-patches of the roof looking worn may call for a new roof

On a positive note, if you are selling your home, make a check list of the above and know there are often simple remedies that appeal to house hunters.

• Check the curb appeal.  Trimming vegetation, mowing and raking along with adding some bright annuals may be all you need.
• Freshen exterior and interior paint where necessary, make sure all plumbing is working, and don’t forget to clean the windows!
• Put away all personal items and declutter.  Remember, people WILL open cabinets and closets!    Potential buyers want to envision how they can live in your home, not how you live in it.
• Finally, an easy, cost-saving tip is to freshen the decor by adding some bright pillows and don’t forget to include the porch if you have one.  Check your existing pillow sizes and simply purchase slipcovers to go over them.  Here are a few suggestions and you can see lots more at Casart Decor.

To all you buyers and sellers, happy hunting!

–  Lorre Lei

P.S. Recently I had an opportunity to write a guest post for Greenspiration which offers readers suggestions on how to GREEN their homes.Here’s the link is you want to see some non-conventional uses for wallcovering.  https://www.greenspirationhome.com/diy-headboard-project-showcases-the-many-lives-of-repositionable-wallpaper/

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