SkyFive Properties Blog

Over the last few years, millennial pink, forest green and even black have been touted as the hottest new colors for house paint trends.

While life’s too short to play it safe with plain white walls, you want to make sure you get it right when it comes to decorating your biggest investment. After all, the paint colors you go for can make or break the feel of your home.

If you’re ready to give your home an interior makeover, here are some of the leading 2019 color trends to look out for this year.

Vanilla

When it comes to color trends 2019, delicious shades of vanilla, buttermilk, and French cream are top of the crop. With a hint of soft yellow and a touch of nude, this creamy color palette is ideal for giving your home a warm and inviting glow.

It’s also versatile enough to work in different rooms, including your kitchen, bathroom, hallway or bedrooms. But, as expert residential painters will tell you, different home environments need different kinds of paint. As such, it’s worth investing in a professional service to make sure all your walls get the best color treatment.

For a modern look that’s anything but ‘vanilla’, this shade works best with dark wooden flooring, cool grey marble, and bold furniture.

Cornflower Blue

Another leading paint color trend for this year is cornflower blue. While people naturally gravitate towards blue, it can sometimes seem cold for your interior walls. Although, this particular shade has a hint of lilac, giving it a warmer edge.

Cornflower blue is also striking without being overwhelming, especially if you choose a more muted tone. We’d also recommend opting for a matte or eggshell paint to ensure that the color feels more subdued.

Cornflower blue works well for any room for the house, including the kitchen, bathroom or living room. It’s also a great choice as an accent wall in a bedroom. In terms of interior decor, this shade looks best combined with brass accents, tortoiseshell detailing, and a mix of dark and light wooden furniture.

Coral

With ‘Living Coral’ named as Pantone’s color of the year for 2019, it’s only natural that this vibrant shade is one of the top paint colors for 2019.

Somewhere between pink and orange, coral is an uplifting and optimistic color that’s sure to bring life to your walls. And, although it’s not for the faint-hearted, it’s more versatile than you might think.

While it could be a tough sell for a bathroom or kitchen, coral can work well in living rooms and hallways. It looks great against stark white furniture but also complements dark wood for a more sophisticated feel. And, if your child insists on a pink bedroom, coral offers a modern compromise that you can all be happy with.

Sage Green

Create a haven of calm for your home with this muted shade of green. With slight grey undertones, this color works well to create a sophisticated ambiance in living rooms and bedrooms.

It’s also ideal for a zen-style bathroom. Although you should avoid pale greens for your home office as green walls can reduce productivity and lead to stagnant thinking.

Mix sage green walls with soft textiles, thickly textured rugs, dark wood and a variety of plant life to tap into its soothing effects.

Terracotta

If coral is a little too bright for your walls, you might prefer terracotta, another popular paint shade on the 2019 color forecast.

Warm and luxurious, this shade provides the ideal backdrop for your home. It also helps bring the outdoors in, creating the feel of a sun-kissed Mediterranean patio or desert oasis for an instant lift.

Terracotta is perfect for decorating a relaxing living room or an inviting hallway. But, make sure you stick to matte or flat paint to hide surface imperfections. Complete the look by adding in heavy wooden furniture, worn leather, and plenty of greenery.

Dove Grey

Although dove grey is one of the hottest colors for 2019, this timeless shade has real staying power. As such, it’s sure to look just as fresh and sophisticated in years to come.

While grey can be cool, the warm undertones of dove grey give a soft and dreamy feel that will add a soothing ambiance to your home. As such, it’s the ideal shade for your bedroom walls or an inviting entrance hall.

Alternatively, dove grey would add a luxurious look to a kitchen, or turn your bathroom into an oasis you won’t want to leave.

Dove grey is also perfect for spacious living rooms. Combine grey walls with bare wooden floors, layered rugs, and plush furnishings for optimal comfort and relaxation.

Teal

Jewel colors like magenta, teal, and sapphire are popular choices for making a statement with soft furnishings like armchairs and sofas. But teal has now come into its own to lead the way as one of the top 2019 paint colors for your walls.

This bold shade of blue-green looks elegant in a hallway or living room, while updating your kitchen with teal walls is a stylish choice for a contemporary feel.

Mix teal walls with warm wooden furniture, polished floors, and accessories in pale greys and creams for a touch of sophisticated glamour.

The Leading 2019 Color Trends

When it comes to adding life to your walls, these 2019 color trends offer a variety of different shades that are sure to suit many different tastes and preferences.

Whether you’d prefer the subtle warmth of vanilla, a bright coral, or a bold teal if your walls could do with a makeover, let this 2019 color forecast be your guide.

And, while you’re upgrading your interior walls, you might want to consider how to improve the curb appeal of your home with an exterior paint job.

Are you about to buy a home with propane heating?

Propane is a clean and efficient heating method, which makes it a valuable addition to any home. But if you’ve never owned a home with propane before, make sure you know what you are buying in to.

Read on for some important questions you should ask before buying a home with propane heating.

What Else Is The Propane Used for?

Propane is most often used to run a home’s heating system, but that is not all it can do.

A versatile fuel, propane is also used to directly fuel cookers and outdoor barbecues. It can even power many electrical appliances, such as clothes driers and even generators.

When looking at a home with propane heating, it is important that you know exactly what it is used for. This will give you a better idea of how much propane you will be using.

Where is the Tank?

Tanks can either be above ground or buried underground. Overground tanks are easy to access, and underground tanks are hidden.

Maintenance is easier on overground tanks, but they take up a lot of valuable room. Underground tanks are out of the way, but many rental agencies won’t allow their tanks to be buried.

There are regulations dictating where a tank can be placed, so make sure you check these if you plan to move the tank. Always hire professionals experienced with propane tank installation for homes.  Be sure to target someone like 2 RED Ltd for the job.

Will I Own the Tank?

It may seem like a silly question, but not all homes with propane heating actually own the tank.

Many homes rent their tank from their fuel company. Renting means that you don’t need to worry about maintaining the tank. Repairs and replacement are covered by the rental company.

If you own the tank, then you don’t need to budget for ongoing rental costs, and can make changes to the tank and how it is used.

What is its Condition?

Like every part of a property, a propane tank needs to be well looked after.

Tanks should receive regular maintenance checks from qualified professionals. This will ensure that they stay safe. If these checks have been carried out then the owner should have maintenance reports.

If the current owner is unable to show you these reports, you should be wary. At the very least, have the tank inspected yourself.

How Much Does the Tank Hold?

There are many different tank sizes, suitable for all space and usage requirements.

Residential tanks range from 120-1000 gallons. The larger your tank, the more propane it can hold and the less frequently you will need refills. Knowing how big it is will help you budget.

If the property could have difficulties with deliveries, then a larger tank may be useful. This will ensure that you don’t lose your propane heating in the middle of winter.

Propane Heating Questions

As long as you ask these questions you can buy a property with propane heating in confidence. These questions will help you avoid any nasty surprises, and help you budget in your new home.

If you found this article useful, check out our blog. We have tips to help you get the best out of any home, whether you are there for the long term or looking to move.

The average homeowner pays almost $22,000 to remodel a kitchen. That might seem like a steep price to some, but it’s well worth it when you consider how much it can increase the value of a home overall.

As long as you use the right materials during it, a kitchen remodel can offer an excellent return on investment. You’ll often bring the value of your home up by about 90 percent of the cost of your kitchen remodeling job.

There are other home improvement projects that’ll pay off in a big way, too. Here are 10 home improvement house tips for 2019.

1. Remodel a Bathroom

Next to remodeling your kitchen, remodeling a bathroom is one of the smartest investments you can make in your home.

Some homeowners will make minor changes to a bathroom to make it look more modern. Others will gut a bathroom and alter the layout of it to make it more functional.

Either way, you’ll usually get a 90 percent return on investment when you remodel a bathroom, if not higher. You’ll also make a bathroom look and feel better when it’s done.

2. Spruce Up Your Landscaping

Is the curb appeal of your home awful?

If so, you’re going to have a tough time selling it one day. People are going to pull up to your home and then keep on driving once they see what kind of condition it’s in.

An easy way to fix this problem is by making improvements to your landscape design. You can:

• Replace mulch in flower beds
• Plant trees, bushes, flowers, grass, and more
• Install landscape lighting

Revamp your landscaping and you’ll give your home’s curb appeal a big boost. It won’t look like the same house anymore when you’re finished.

3. Add New Siding

The siding on your home is designed to make it more energy efficient and protect it from the elements. But it also plays a big part in the overall appearance of your home.

If you have old siding on your house, it’s probably not protecting it like it should. It’s also dragging down your curb appeal and making your home look more dated than it really is.

Consider putting new vinyl siding on your home to bring it back to life.

4. Replace Your Windows

Are the windows in your home more than 20 years old? It’s time for them to go!

Old windows will make your home look outdated. They’ll also struggle to keep air from coming in and out of your home, which will force your HVAC system to work a whole lot harder than it should have to.

You’ll have the option of installing:

• Vinyl windows
• Wood windows
• Aluminum windows
• Fiberglass windows

You can also choose from many different window styles. But no matter which ones you choose, they’ll increase the value of your home by anywhere from 80 to 90 percent of the cost of your windows.

5. Finish Your Basement

If your home has an unfinished basement in it, it still has so much potential. Take advantage of it by finishing off your basement and adding a ton of square footage to your home.

You can turn your basement into:

• A play area for your kids
• An office area for yourself
• An entertainment space for your whole family
• A bar area for you and your buddies
• A workout area for everyone in your home

Finishing off a basement is one of the most expensive home improvement projects on this list. But it’ll transform the way your home functions and give your family room to spread out.

6. Turn Your Attic Into a Bedroom

Adding a bedroom to your home can have a substantial impact on its value. But the problem is that most people don’t have a place to put an extra bedroom in their homes.

If you have a large attic space, though, this won’t be an issue for you. You can convert your attic into a bedroom and make your home more attractive to buyers in the future.

You might even want to think about turning your attic into a master suite for you and your spouse. You can outfit it with its own master bathroom and get into a California king vs king mattress debate to decide how big of a bed you can fit in it.

7. Put a Deck in Your Backyard

Do you wish your family had a place to spend more time together outside?

If you don’t have a deck already, put one in now. It’ll allow you and your family to hang out on the deck, barbecue, and play games while enjoying nature.

8. Create a Walk-In Closet

Have you always dreamed about having a walk-in closet in your master bedroom? That dream might not be as far-fetched as you think.

Depending on what you have behind your current closet, you might be able to knock down a wall or two to create the walk-in closet you’ve been imagining for years.

9. Install Hardwood Flooring

A few years ago, home buyers used to prefer hardwood flooring over carpeting in homes. But today, they pretty much expect it.

If you still have wall-to-wall carpets throughout your home, think about ripping them out and replacing them with hardwood flooring.

Installing hardwood floors costs more than installing new carpets. But they’ll last so much longer and provide you with an ROI that you just won’t get with carpeting.

10. Rip Off Your Old Roof

The roof is arguably the most important part of your home. If your roof isn’t strong and sturdy, it could put your whole house into jeopardy.

An old roof can also affect the way your home looks and cause damage if it ever springs a leak. You should, therefore, replace your roof with a new one if your current roof isn’t in good shape.

New roofs cost upwards of $8,000 on average. But they’ll stay put for years to come when you find the right roof for your home.

Use These Home Improvement House Tips to Your Advantage

As you can see, there are so many home improvement projects that you can do to increase your home’s value and make it a better place to live.

Use the home improvement house tips found here to map out your next remodeling or renovation job. You’ll enjoy making improvements to your home and change the way that it functions.

Check out our blog to learn about other home improvement hacks that can bring up the value of your property.

When you’re selling a home, the last thing you want is for the home inspection report to show major issues. These include radon in the basement, exposed wiring, and black mold. Asbestos, a buried oil tank, and termite damage are also deal breakers for most home buyers.

Termite damage, in particular, is something a lot of home sellers dread. This is because DIY methods aren’t that effective.

There’s only so much you can do to stop termites from destroying your home. If you want the problem solved, you’ll have to call a pest control company.

You’re lucky if you caught it early. But if the damage is extensive, it’s a sure thing you’ll pay a lot to have it fixed.

Now, before you worry about that, you should know that a termite-damaged home isn’t unsellable. That said, let’s talk about your options for selling a home with termite problems.

First Things First: Confirm You Have Termites

If you haven’t had an inspector check your home for problems, there are signs of termite damage you can watch out for. These include wood-colored droppings, mud tubes, and discarded wings. You can read more here to know what termites look like, plus some prevention tips.

Pro advice: Even if you know how to spot termites, it’s always better to play it safe. Get a pest control professional to check your home asap. The problem could be worse than you think, and you’ll be glad that you called for help early.

Selling a House with Termite Damage: Option 1

You’ve seen termite damage signs. The professional termite treatment company even confirmed it. Now what?

Your first option is to take care of the problem. Before listing your home, it should be 100% treated.

And yes, how much termite treatment costs might shock you. But if you plan to sell your home with the help of a real estate agent, you don’t have a choice in the matter.

For one thing, the law requires you to disclose any known problems when you fill out a seller’s disclosure form. Of course, these include the presence of termites. If you keep it a secret and the buyer learns about it when they move in, they can sue you.

Along with the disclosure form, you have to provide documentation about the types of treatments you’ve done to take care of the problem. The more detailed the documentation is, the less likely buyers will find your home objectionable.

Option 2: Selling Your Home As Is

We talked about some of the ways to sell a house fast in a previous post. One of the options listed there was to sell to a fast sale company, which is another term for cash buyers or as-is buyers.

With a fast sale offer, you don’t need to do anything to fix the problems in your home. Buyers who offer cash for your home will snatch it as it is. They could even give an offer in as fast as 24 hours.

Once you accept a fast sale offer, the whole closing process could take as little as 7 to 10 days. This is what makes it such a good option for homeowners who are facing foreclosure, in the middle of a divorce, or plan to move to a new place soon.

Should You Go for Option 1 or Option 2?

If you want a good price for your home, then go for option 1. With option 2, it’s a sure thing you’ll never get back what you paid for. Cash buyers or investors pay only about 60% on the dollar.

Keep in mind though that it’s not a sure thing you’ll get to profit off your home sale if you choose option 1. Yes, you could get good offers. But those offers won’t matter much if you already spent a fortune on termite treatment.

The best situation for you to be in is if the pest control company didn’t find extensive damage. After all, there is a huge difference between “some” and “a lot” of damage.

If you find some damage and you’ve taken steps to correct it, it shouldn’t affect the sellability of your home that much. Also, working with the best real estate agent could help you close the sale faster.

Now, if you don’t plan to sell yet, you should consider investing in annual termite inspections and treatments. This way, you won’t have too much on your plate when you’re ready to sell.

More on Option 2

Is option 2 looking more attractive to you right now? There are pros to selling your house as is such as faster closing and few to no closing costs.

But here’s where you might want to think twice before calling up that ugly home buyer. Even if you’re itching to sell your not-so-good home to a cash buyer, you still need to tell that buyer that it is termite-ridden.

It’s also not a guarantee that you’re free from any liability. If the home buyer finds that you’ve lied about the condition of your home, they can sue you.

To protect yourself, do your research. Don’t just accept cash offers without checking if that company is legit. Go online and look for reviews.

Check websites. A company that offers to buy homes for cash without a website is a definite red flag. Even if you’re not expecting to make a lot of money on your home sale, it still pays to do your homework to avoid getting scammed.

Ready to Sell Your Home?

Now that you know your options for selling a home with termite damage, are you ready to sell your property?

If you’ve decided on option 1 and you’re in the Miami area, we can help. Give us a call at (305) 357-0635 and talk to one of our experienced representatives. We offer a full range of consulting services unrivaled in today’s marketplace.

Want more articles like this? Check out 6 Signs Your Property Needs Termite Treatment or Property Investment Pitfalls You Must Avoid.

For more home advice and tips, don’t forget to check out the rest of our blog.

Whether a squirrel in your gutter has caused them irreparable damage or if you’ve just noticed your gutters don’t seem to be draining properly anymore, one thing is for sure:

It’s definitely time for you to replace your gutters, one of the most common home maintenance tasks.

Especially if you’ve always been a fan of the DIY lifestyle, you’re likely curious about how to install gutters on your own. Doing so is also an excellent way to save some money, and entitles you to serious bragging rights for at least a month afterward.

Still, there are a few things you need to know about how to install rain gutters the right way before you give it a go.

Read on to learn the tips and tricks you need to succeed — as well as when it’s time to call in the professionals.

Choose The Right Type

The first step in learning how to install gutters on your own?

Make sure you do your homework when it comes to the type and size of gutter you need. Most residential homes will use aluminum gutters in the “K style” that are about 6 inches wide.

When it comes to the right gauge, usually 26 is the industry standard. However, especially if you’ve never done your own gutter installation before, going with a 32 gauge is a safer bet.

You also need to take your climate into consideration. You may find that vinyl gutters are all it takes to stand up to the weather in your area. You may want to opt for a round gutter instead of a K style option.

Know Where to Place The Gutter

Especially if you’re a beginner, it can be easy to think that the right place for your gutter is along the edge of your roof.

However, the “sweet spot” for gutter placement is actually about 3 inches under your roof’s edge. This is because water goes off your roof’s edge and is also pulled up underneath the edge, as well.

If you don’t install your gutters in the right place, the water will quickly damage your fascia, your deck, siding, gardens, and even threaten the structural integrity of your home as a whole.

Another hack to help you make sure you’ve positioned your gutters correctly?

Start by setting them out on your lawn. This makes the process of cutting the gutters down to size a whole lot easier. You can even install the connectors for downspouts on your lawn. This makes the process both simpler and safer for you.

Downspout Considerations

In addition to knowing where to put the gutters themselves, you also need to think about where you plan to put your downspouts.

This is one of the first things you should do, because it will help you to properly align your gutters. One of the best places to put these downspouts is as close to roof corners as is possible. Make sure that you have a downspout at least once every 20 feet.

This will help to reduce the chances of clogging.

Seal It Up

Once you’ve installed both your gutters and downspouts, you need to be certain that everything has completely sealed.

To test things, we suggest you get a gallon of water and run it through your gutters. Ensure that the sealant is completely dry before you do this test.

For best results, wait between 12-24 hours after your installation to test the sealant for the first time.

When to Call a Pro to Install Gutters

We know that you’re looking to save on the cost to install gutters by doing it on your own.

But sometimes, you need to work with a professional because it’s not only a safer decision, but also the more financially sound option.

First of all, if you suspect that you have a serious infestation of either rodents or bugs in your gutters (not just a single confused creature) don’t go the DIY route.

You don’t want to risk exposing yourself to diseases, and you also need to be certain you find the source of any nests and points of entry these pests are using to set up shop in your gutters.

If your roof is especially high, or if you’re a bit older or not as spry on your feet as you’d like to be, you should also leave it to the professionals.

The same goes if you don’t have the tools or replacement parts you need. Remember, buying the wrong parts and not being able to return them is a costly mistake. Visit this page to see how professionals determine your quote.

Finally, remember that DIY work doesn’t come with any warranties or guarantees.

Do you really want to be out there fixing the same problem again in a month?

Learning How to Install Gutters Isn’t Impossible

We hope that this post has helped you to feel more confident when it comes to learning how to install gutters on your own.

However, remember that sometimes, it really is the best option to leave things to the professionals.

Don’t worry, though.

Even if you weren’t able to conquer gutter repair and installation without the experts, there are plenty of other DIY home improvement and decor projects you can try on your own.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re getting ready to put your home on the market and need to increase your curb appeal, or if you want to master easy fixes.

Keep checking back with us for all the DIY tips and tricks you need to improve your home.

Ready for a new home? Browse through our property listings to find the house of your dreams.

South Florida sees the sun over 200 days out of the year. With all that sunshine, why not set up your outdoor space as a comfortable place to entertain?

You can enjoy all the benefits of being outdoors without having to go to the park. Even better, you can set your space up how you like it with your favorite amenities and comforts.

Looking for ideas? Check out these fantastic ways of revolutionizing your outdoor space.

1. Outdoor Fireplace or Firepit

What better way to spend a pleasant evening than roasting marshmallows in your backyard? Firepits can be as simple as a few rocks in a circle up to elaborate pieces that will wow your guests.

If you prefer to enclose your fire, consider a fireplace instead. These pieces are similar to what you might expect to see in a cozy living room or study. They serve to make your outdoor space feel more like a gathering place.

It’s also a great way to enjoy a fireplace in a warm climate where an indoor fireplace would be somewhat impractical.

2. Outdoor TV

Televisions tend to end up being a focal point in many homes. It can be great fun to have your friends over for a movie night or to watch the game. Take your outdoor space up a notch by adding a TV.

You’ll have to install it correctly, of course, to protect it from the weather. There are several stylish and practical options you can take advantage of to keep it safe from the elements.

With an outdoor TV, you don’t have to worry about cramming everyone into your home to watch the Superbowl. Either everyone can be outside or you can have the game on in both your living room and your outdoor space for double the fun!

3. Outdoor Dining

Enjoying a meal outdoors is a pleasant way to wind down after a long day.

With new technology and materials, an outdoor dining space doesn’t have to be a simple picnic table. You can set up full dining sets in your backyard that are just as elegant and comfortable as your indoor one.

From rustic to contemporary you can find the perfect dining set to complement your outdoor decor.

4. Outdoor Kitchen

Of course, if you’re going to enjoy your meal outside, wouldn’t it make sense to prepare it out there as well? Set your dining space up alongside your outdoor kitchen and you can chat with your guests while preparing a feast.

You can do something simple like a sink and a countertop for preparing foods. Set up a grill and you have everything you need for a delicious barbeque party. Or you can get fancy and install a full kitchen, complete with a refrigerator and dishwasher!

The sky is the limit when it comes to designing your outdoor kitchen. Well, and your space and budget, of course.

Read more here to learn about the benefits of an outdoor kitchen and to get some excellent design ideas!

5. Water Features

There is something soothing about the sound of flowing water. If you want your backyard space to be a true oasis where you can de-stress, you need a water fountain–even if it’s a small one.

There are so many designs to pick from, it can seem overwhelming at first. Focus on the atmosphere that you want to create and go from there.

Do you want a rustic look? You could build a fountain from stones or river rock. Prefer something a little more upscale? Opt for an elegant statue. You can make your fountain an eye-catching centerpiece or make your guests work to find the source of the sound.

It’s completely up to you!

6. Balance Your Design

Be sure that whatever design elements you choose work for the space. You don’t want to cram so much into the space that it is no longer comfortable to spend time there.

In small backyards, think vertical with your decor. Include cubbies and innovative storage options to make good use of the space that you have.

If your space is larger, you can get more elaborate and install a kitchen and dining area. Think about whether you want to add a deck or stick with a concrete patio.

Whatever elements you choose, just make sure they work with your space.

7. Lattice Screen

Do you live close to your neighbors? You might love your neighbors, but that doesn’t mean you want them to be in your business during a romantic dinner for two!

A lattice screen is a great way to add a bit more privacy to a close-quarters backyard. Plant some climbing flowers at the bottom and in no time you’ll have a lovely divide full of bright blooms.

You can also use a screen to hide something unsightly. For example, your compost pile or trash bins…or your neighbor’s unkempt backyard.

8. Throws and Pillows

Would you like to freshen the look of your outdoor space? Maybe you just want to give it a simple update. Or you might prefer the option to change up the look with the changing seasons.

This is where small decor items like throws and pillows come into play. Have some fun picking out the perfect accents for your outdoor space. The right decor can completely change the atmosphere of your patio and this is an inexpensive way to do it!

Time to Update Your Outdoor Space

We hope these ideas have gotten you started thinking about what you can do with your outdoor space. If you’ve got it, there’s no reason not to take advantage of it when the weather is nice!

Are you looking for a new home altogether? Feel free to browse our listings to find the perfect home–and outdoor space–for you!

While some experts might suggest that you can wait 15 years between when you paint and when you repaint your home, that doesn’t work for everyone. Some people need to start looking into how to paint the exterior of a house every few years because of weather or because of an accident. If this is the case for you, you need to know how to prep your house to get it cleaned the right way.

Here are the six steps to take for improved curb appeal.

1. Clean the Exterior

When you’re first getting started, you’re going to want to paint on a clean and clear surface. If you paint over dirt, either you risk disrupting the surface or you end up painting that dirt into the paint job. You want a smooth surface that you’re not going to have to repaint sooner than you have to, so it needs to be clean.

Remove all the dirt and debris that’s built up on the exterior of your home using a pressure washer. This will give you the smooth surface you’re looking for, prepared for your next steps.

To get the most out of your cleaning, work from the top to the bottom of the house. Use a smooth and controlled motion so that you don’t have to repeat your work. Follow the directions laid out by the pressure washer manufacturer so that you know what to do.

2. Fix Problems Now

If you’ve got any problems with the surface of your home, fix them now. Trying to fix them after you’ve painted requires you to match colors, get all of your equipment out again, and risk having disparities between new and old.

Walk around the entire outside of your house and make notes of any damaged surfaces you see. If there are issues with wood, be specific as possible so you find the right replacement. If you’ve got damaged stucco, siding, or masonry, you might need to hire a professional to help.

You can fix some of the issues on your own if you walk around with a spackle knife and some epoxy filler. After the filler has dried, you can sand it all down with a sanding block to ensure that the repaired portion looks smooth. When you fix your problems in advance, you can use the paint to make the damaged surfaces disappear.

3. Scrape Loose Paint

One of the ways you can really spoil your paint job is by leaving loose paint around. Any paint that’s started to peel or to flake off should be removed so you can keep your next coat of paint as smooth as possible.

After you’ve washed and fixed issues on the exterior, walk around again making a note of any chipped paint or paint that looks ready to peel. Throw down some drop cloths and start getting busy on those spots with a scraper. Catch the pieces that come off because you never know how toxic they could be.

After you’ve scraped, pull out your sanding block again and clean up the surface. This way you can get an even surface for when you start putting some paint on your house.

4. Fill in Gaps with Caulk

While you might be itching to get painting, you still have some prep work to do. Now’s your chance to make sure that any gaps are going to be filled in before you get to painting. That way you can paint over the filler and keep things looking smooth.

Get yourself some caulk and a caulk gun and make your way around the exterior of your house. If you have a mix of siding and brick or any two materials like this, add a layer of caulk along the line where the materials meet up. This will ensure that there’s no undue wear on the edge of either.

5. Think About Doors, Windows, and Lights

When you’re painting and come across a door or a window with different colored trim, it can mess up your whole flow to have to work around them. If you have exterior light fixtures, paint on them can damage them, cause them to short, or just ruin the way that they look. You need to protect all of these things carefully before you paint.

Cover these elements with carefully fitted plastic sheeting and some painter’s tape. This will keep you from spoiling the details of your exterior.

After you’re done painting the exterior, you can go back and take off all of the plastic sheeting from these elements. Then you can add two coats of semigloss paint that’s optimized for exterior surfaces.

6. Get To Work Painting

When it’s time to get started, you’re going to want to use a sprayer to get things done evenly. Put flat or eggshell paint into your paint sprayer. If you have a strong color that you’re going for, you’re going to need to apply two coats to get the color you’re looking for.

As you go back and forth, make sure you overlap each stroke of your sprayer by 8 inches. This ensures that you’re adequately covering all of the gaps that are missed on the first pass and not creating any kind of strips that denote each stroke.

Go from top to bottom in a smooth way so that you’re not overapplying paint and that any drips can be caught on the next pass.

If you’re going from light to dark or dark to light, consider a layer of primer beforehand. This will allow you to get the coverage you’re looking for. When you’re finished, remove your drop cloths and dispose of debris properly.

If the actual task of painting feels daunting, check out what this painting company can offer you.

Deciding How to Paint the Exterior of a House Is Challenging

If you’re working on deciding how to paint the exterior of a house, look at what other people in your neighborhood are doing. Do you want to stand out or do you prefer to blend in? As long as there aren’t too many rules governing house painting, the choice is up to you.

If you’re doing all of this work to sell your house, check out our guide for tips.

Only 10% of homeowners keep their house as clean as it needs to be when they’re showing it off to potential buyers.

That number might make you question your own cleaning abilities. It can also make you wonder if you should call it quits on your cleaning and hire professional cleaners instead.

Worried cleaning services might not be worth the money?

Keep reading to learn the importance of professional cleaning when selling your own house.

The Importance of a Clean Home When You’re Getting Ready to Sell

When potential buyers look at your house, they want to imagine what they’re lives would look like if they lived there. In other words, your home has to be a clean slate so buyers can add to it with their imaginations.

A clean home makes that process easier for buyers. And it can, therefore, also make them more interested in your home.

And remember, the cleaner the better.

Dust on top of the furniture or doorframes might not bother you, but it could turn a potential buyer away. This means you might have to get your house professionally cleaned more than once in the selling process.

Before Your House Is on the Market

An inspection will show you what you need to fix and repair in your home before it’s ready for the market. You might think you need to replace something, but after a thorough cleaning, it could turn out it was just dirty.

Cleaning your home before an inspection will give you a better idea of what needs to get done. It will also make the inspection process easier for your inspector.

Before an Open House

This is possibly the most important time to clean your home. This is when you want to impress buyers, and as we mentioned above, a dirty home—even if it’s just a bit of dust—can turn people away.

After You Move Out

Once you move all your belonging from the home, you might notice new spots you missed before. You might have to go through your house one more time to clean any remaining dust and grime before you go for good.

Can’t I Just Clean My Own Home?

Yes… and no.

You can clean your house by yourself, but getting it done in time for important deadlines—like an open house—can be much more difficult.

On top of that, there’s a good chance you don’t have the same tools professional cleaners will bring with them when they work on your house. You might be able to vacuum the carpet, but you might not be able to wash it.

Professional cleaners can also often provide high-quality cleaning. Even if you’re an excellent cleaner yourself, you might not be able to give everything the attention it deserves while juggling the job of selling your home.

Benefits of Hiring Professional Cleaners When Selling Your Own House

The professional cleaners with Greener Southwest Carpet, Tile, & Upholstery Care make your job easier, but they offer a lot more than just convenience. Here’s a quick look at the main reasons you should hire professional cleaners to help get your home ready for the market.

Saves You Time

There are a lot of steps involved in the house selling process. Trying to clean your house top to bottom will make your job more complicated, and it can also take your attention away from more pressing issues.

Either that, or you’ll have to push off cleaning while you handle other matters. This might mean your house doesn’t get cleaned at all.

Professional cleaners take care of all the tidying up for your so you can handle the more pressing issues.

It’s Flexible

You can schedule professional cleaners to arrive at your house around your schedule. That means you don’t have to rearrange your day and push back important tasks to get your house clean.

And scheduling appointments is a quick, simple process. It doesn’t take longer than a few minutes.

You can also set up routine cleaning visits. This will ensure your house stays ready for showings without you having to continuously call and schedule more appointments.

Saves You Money

If your home isn’t clean, buyers may make lower offers than they would if the home was spotless. So even a small amount of dust or dirt may cost you big bucks in the long run.

You might also have to buy a handful of new cleaning products and tools if you decide to clean it yourself. This can add up to a lot of money.

Hiring professional cleaners can be much more affordable when you add it all up.

Ensure Everything Gets Done on Time

When you’re getting ready to sell your home, cleaning might be the last thing on your mind. You might not remember all the cleaning chores that need to get done until the night before your open house.

This can leave you in a frazzle and leave your house in worse condition than it could be.

Working with professional cleaners can give you peace of mind because you’ll know everything will get done on time. This can help you manage your stress levels as you prepare for the transition of moving.

Should You Hire Professional Cleaners Before Selling Your Home?

The short answer is this: yes!

Hiring professional cleaners before selling your own house can put you at ease, make your job easier, and attracted interested buyers. It might even give you a higher sale price at closing.

Don’t have time to stick around while you’re home’s sitting on the market?

Make sure you click here to learn how to sell your home fast.

Most people only call on pest control companies when they need something. They spot a mouse scurrying around in their kitchen or see roaches running around in their basement and freak out before getting a pest control company on the line.

Rather than taking this approach to pest control, why not invest in year-round pest control services instead? Pest control specialists can come to your home every few weeks to prevent pests from becoming a problem.

There are many benefits that come along with working with a pest control company all year long as opposed to just calling on them when you see signs of trouble. Check out the many benefits of doing it below.

Treats All Kinds of Pests

There are so many different kinds of pests that can work their way into your home. From tiny critters to larger rodents, you need to be on the lookout for all of them.

Here are some of the pests that you might see in your home at some point:

• Mice
• Rats
• Ants
• Termites
• Spiders
• Bees
• Squirrels
• Bed bugs
• Ticks
• Wildlife

When you take advantage of year-round pest control services, you’ll get protection from all of them.

During your initial consultation, a pest control specialist will check every nook and cranny in your home for signs of pests. They’ll also walk around outside your home to determine the types of pests your home might be susceptible to.

This will give the specialist a chance to figure out the most effective way to keep pests away. They’ll be proactive as opposed to reactive when it comes to dealing with the pests that could cause issues in your home.

Prevents Damage to Your Home

There are some instances in which you’ll see obvious signs of a pest problem in your home. For example, if you have mice or roaches out in the open, that’s a pretty clear-cut indication of a problem.

But there are also many times when homeowners have pests living in their homes without them even knowing about it. Rodents and bugs keep to themselves behind walls and under floors and don’t make many appearances.

When this happens, those pests often do a lot of damage to homes before homeowners realize they’re there. They chew through electrical wires, eat away at wooden beams, and leave entire sections of homes in shambles.

You won’t have to worry about your home sustaining massive amounts of damage due to pest activity. A pest control specialist will search for pests on a monthly basis and let you know if you have anything to be concerned about.

Learn more here about some of the damage that can be done by undetected pests.

Saves Money

When you sign up for regular pest control services, there will be a cost associated with it. Most pest control companies charge somewhere in the $40 to $50 range every month to monitor an average-sized home.

But believe it or not, you could save money in the long run by working with a pest control company month in and month out.

On average, pest control companies charge about $300 to $500 for one-time visits to homes. And if that doesn’t do the trick? They’ll often have to come back out again and hit you with another charge.

As a result, you’ll often end up paying a pest control company a lot more money for two visits than you would to have them come out a dozen times over the course of a year as part of a maintenance program.

You can also save money on home repairs by investing in pest control services. There is a lower chance of you having to make repairs to damage done by pests when you have a pest control company in your corner.

Cuts Down on Pesticide Use

Do you hate the idea of having your home subjected to pesticides when you have a pest problem?

Some people are under the impression that they’ll have to subject their homes to pesticides even more when they agree to pay for routine pest control services. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.

A pest control specialist may need to use pesticides the first time they visit your home if you have a bad pest problem. But once they’ve eradicated the pests, they won’t have to rely on pesticides anymore.

The specialists can take other steps to keep pests out of your home once they’ve been evicted from it.

Provides (Free!) On-Call Services

Even with regular pest control services, there is still a small chance that pests could find a way to gain access to your home. You could wind up seeing a mouse or a roach at some point.

If you do, your pest control company can provide you with on-call services and send someone to your home right away. They can come out and see where the pests are coming from before finding the right method for getting rid of them.

Best of all, they’ll do all this for free in most cases as part of your pest control program. There is a lot of value in that part of the program alone.

Gives You Peace of Mind

After you’ve seen pests in your home, you’ll feel on edge for a little while. It’s normal for people to think that pests might still be hanging around in some dark corner in their home.

You might even briefly consider moving out of your home because of it!

With pest control services, you won’t have to spend as much time stressing out about the potential presence of pests. Your pest control specialist will put your mind at ease by checking up on your home regularly.

Start Using Year-Round Pest Control Services Now

Whether you’ve had pests in your home in the past or not, pest control services could be very beneficial to you. You’ll sleep better at night knowing you’re doing everything you can to keep pests at bay.

You’ll also prevent your home from getting damaged by pests. It’ll stop your property value from taking a nosedive and help you steer clear of costly repairs.

Read our blog to find out some of the other steps you can take to increase your home’s value.

There’s nothing like spring to make you self-conscious about your home’s state of repair. The changing weather has a way of revealing our winter laziness.

Curb appeal remains a vital part of a home’s value, however. If you want to maintain potential interest in your home, then you’ll need to indulge in some sprucing up when spring comes. But overhauling your curb appeal can seem daunting when you’re working to a budget.

Don’t panic. Here are 7 springtime projects to boost your curb appeal on a budget.

1. A Clean Sweep

A top-to-bottom cleaning project is one of the easiest and most obvious ways to gain instant curbside appeal. After all, there’s nothing appealing about a grimy house, and dirt has a way of building up over winter. By spring, even the cleanest house may have taken a beating.

Tackle your gutters, clean your windows, and wipe down your doors. There’s a strong chance you’ll have neglected some of these jobs over winter, so now’s the time to bring the shine back.

You can use this post as your guide to ensure you take of everything. Cleaning has the added bonus of being cost-effective, as most of the cleaning is something you’ll be able to tackle yourself.

2. Power Washing Pleasure

When is boosting curb appeal also fun? When it involves a power washer. If you’re ready to go deeper with your curbside clean, then power washing is the solution.

There’s something incredibly satisfying about blasting layers of grime and moss from paving to reveal its original color. And as a bonus, it’ll boost your curb appeal, too.

It’s easy to underestimate just how much of your curb appeal has disappeared behind the dirt, too, as you see it every day. Bust out the power washer and you’ll soon discover some surprises.

You can power wash everything from your paths to your siding to your decks, so once you get your hands on the power washer, you should take stock of which areas of your home may benefit from a spray down.

3. If It Is Broke…

Winter can do a number on your home’s exterior appeal and your home’s value with it. Harsh weather and a general disinterest in the outdoors can combine to leave outdoor items in a poor state of repair.

Consider replacing or repairing items like fencing and light fixtures if they’ve taken a beating over the winter months. Buying replacements can quickly cut into your budget, so try repairing what you can — even a small fix could be enough to keep a fence stable for another season, for example.

If you have damaged items that you can’t afford to replace, consider removing them altogether. You may not miss them, and damaged outdoor areas will do more to bring down your curbside appeal than empty space.

4. Welcome to the Jungle

Nobody likes doing yard work in winter, so it’s easy to let your shrubs and lawn go wild. But an overgrown yard is one of the fastest ways to bring down your curbside appeal. Luckily, it’s also an easy fix.

When spring comes, get out there with the pruners and the mower to bring your garden back in line. Pay particular attention to any encroachment on paths or public sidewalk, as this will make your homecare routine look sloppy.

This is also the perfect opportunity to indulge in some green-fingered landscaping for curb appeal. Try to sketch out an arrangement for your planters that will flatter your home and turn your yard into a feature. Comparatively, easy landscape projects could have a huge impact on your curb appeal.

5. The Light Fantastic

Lights: life’s cheat code for making something look nice.

It’s true, lights can go a long way to boosting your curbside appeal without breaking the bank. Lights above your doorway can create a nice, welcoming atmosphere. You can also try adding some lighting to your path, creating additional ambiance — with the added bonus of fewer trips, slips, and falls.

Of course, lights don’t help to show off your home’s best side during the day, but they’re an inexpensive way to give your home a makeover at night. Pay careful attention to which kind of lights you’re placing and where, and the difference can be, well, night and day.

6. The Eyes Have It

One of the most subtle yet powerful tricks in real estate is to control the direction of the eye. If you can create a particular path for the eye to follow, you can direct it to where you want it most. This is the real estate version of showing your best side.

There are many ways to do this, and the right formula will be individual to your home. But experiment with your paving, planter arrangements, and lighting to pull focus to where you want it — and maybe draw some attention away from the less desirable areas of your property.

7. Beat the Rest

Curb appeal philosophy is (stick with us here) not too dissimilar to running from a bear. In both cases, you don’t need to be the world’s best, you just need to be ahead of your nearest neighbors.

Your home may not have the best curb appeal in the city. But if you can beat the neighbors on your street, then you have comparative appeal on your side. By making your home the cleanest and neatest on the street, you’ll max out your curb appeal without going overboard.

Keep this tip in mind if you don’t have a lot of cash to spend but do have the motivation to scrub things up. Even small efforts can go a long way if you have neighbors who aren’t setting the bar high to begin with.

Curb Appeal on a Budget

These 7 tips provide some excellent ways to boost your curb appeal on a budget. But even keeping up with your basic maintenance goes a long way to maintaining your curbside appeal, so stay on top of your DIY projects to maintain your home’s sale potential.

Ready to sell your home? Let’s go through the steps you’ll need to take.