Home Maintenance Tips Archives - Page 12 of 16

What is is about a deep clean that makes us feel like we really have our lives together?

I’m a firm believer in getting your new year off to a good start, which involves leaving all the clutter and mess back in 2021. Let’s explore the top things you need to declutter and organize before the midnight champagne toast, because 2022 is going to be YOUR year!

1. Your Files

It’s a good idea to keep all of your important documents and files in one place, both for organization and easy access in case of an emergency. Certain documents should live here forever — things like your birth certificate and passport. Others you can hold for some time, but toss after a few years like old apartment leases. Make sure to shred any documents with sensitive information like your social security or bank account numbers.

2. Your Refrigerator

Be honest: when was the last time you saw the very back of your fridge? Even if you do a weekly grocery shop, there are probably spills and forgotten condiments taking up space out of sight.

Begin by pulling everything out of your fridge and tossing anything that’s empty or past its expiration date. Next, wipe down the shelves and inside your drawers to get rid of old stuck-on food and funky smells. Replace all your food, and finish with an open box of baking soda or used coffee grounds to help absorb any odors.

Source: @_harlowejames

3. Your Linens

I always purchase clean white towels and linens because you can toss them together for a bleach load to keep them clean and fresh. I realized I hadn’t actually purchased new bath towels since college (gross), so decided to splurge on some new ones. While my old towels were still fine, I couldn’t believe how dingy and worn-out they looked compared to my new, fluffy towels! Take a tour through your linen closet; if you can’t remember the last time you bought new sheets or hand towels, it’s probably time to invest in a fresh set. Consider donating any towels that are still in relatively good shape to your local animal shelter (they always need towels!) when you stock up on new ones.

4. Sneaky Areas of Your Home

You probably regularly sweep the floors and do your dishes, but when was the last time you gave your baseboards a good wipe-down? Giving the nooks and crannies of your home a good clean is good for your health and your sanity.

Some areas that could probably use a once-over include:

Fan blades
Blinds
Air vents
Dust ruffle
The inside of your dishwasher
Oven
Shower curtain
Lightbulbs

Source: Urban Outfitters

5. Medicine Cabinet

The only time I ever open my medicine cabinet is to grab floss or Advil. Chances are you have some expired medications on the high shelves that are taking up space. It’s important to dispose of old medication properly. The FDA recommends disposing properly of medication or dropping off any unused or expired medications at a take-back location, so check where the nearest one to you is located.

6. Kitchen Cupboards

Is there an unused ice cream maker sitting in the back of your cabinets that was gifted to you by a well-meaning aunt? Probably. Let’s face the music: you’re never going to use that waffle maker/baked potato cooker/panini press. Donate any appliances that still work and toss anything that’s broken/missing parts. This includes old cracked cups, Tupperware without lids, and grungy baking sheets.

Source: @toyota

7. Car

Clean car, clean mind! (That’s the saying, right?) Your car is another black hole area where things disappear into a dark void, never to be seen again. A deep car clean isn’t something you can do on your commute to work, so make sure to carve out a little time to dive in.

Begin by opening all your car doors so you can peek under the front chairs and between the seats. There’s almost a 100 percent chance there’s at least one lip balm down there. Toss any garbage, and run any clothes/shoes/yoga mats you’ve left in there back into the house.

Many car washes and gas stations have vacuums you can use to suck up crumbs if you don’t have a cordless vacuum on hand. Don’t forget a quick sweep of the trunk! If you’re feeling really empowered, finish off with a car wash and new air freshener.

By Cathie Ericson | Realtor.com

We’ve all been there—barely surviving the morning rush hour of making lunches, signing permission slips, and searching for matching socks. Then after a busy day at work and school comes the evening whirlwind of homework, dinner, and maybe a few minutes of downtime.

That leaves most of us with no time to keep our home tidy, much less clean.

But if your New Year’s resolution is to have a house that doesn’t send you into a shame spiral when friends drop by, read on for our dirty … er, clean dozen: simple, quick habits that will make it look like someone slaved over your house all day.

1. Keep cleaning supplies handy where you use them

Face it: There’s no way you’re going to trek downstairs to grab some cleaner to wipe off that toothpaste glob; you’re going to leave it there until it hardens into cement. That’s why Laura Smith, founder of All Star Cleaning Services, keeps a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner and a stack of cleaning cloths under all her sinks in the bathrooms and kitchen, so she can wipe up any little spot or spill she sees before it becomes a big mess that requires elbow grease—and time.

2. Clean the shower while you’re showering

You’re standing there rinsing your hair, so why not do a once-over of the shower walls? Smith finds one of the best products for keeping the shower clean is natural dish soap, because it is designed to fight grease—which, surprise, is mostly what’s in the soap scum lining your shower walls!

“Give the walls a quick once-over with soap and a sponge a couple of times a week, then use the showerhead to rinse, and continue on with your shower,” she says. And always wipe down those glass doors when you are finished to keep streaks at bay.

3. Clean as you cook

This is the best way to avoid a huge headache at the end of a meal, which you know you’re going to want to walk away and leave, says Janice Stewart of Castle Keepers House Cleaning. Even if you need to keep both eyes on the burners, at least fill your sink with soapy water and stick the pots, pans, utensils, and other cooking items in to soak while you eat.

4. Run the dishwasher at night

Yes, even if it’s not quite full. That’s so you can empty it first thing in the morning so it’s ready for action.

“Train your whole family to put dishes directly in the dishwasher, which keeps the sink clean and the counters clutter-free,” Smith says.

5. Embrace spot cleaning

Remember that it’s the whole chore that will wear you down, so deal only with what absolutely has to be taken care of that moment.

“One fingerprint on the door of the fridge is not a reason to clean the whole fridge,” Stewart says.

6. Keep surfaces clear

“Flat surfaces collect clutter like a paperclip to a magnet,” says Jessica Samson, spokesperson at The Maids.

They’re also what you see as you scan the room, so when you have clutter on flat surfaces it seems like it goes on forever.

“The more you can keep tables, floors, beds, and countertops clear, the cleaner and more spacious these areas feel,” she says.

The biggest clutter culprit is paper, so don’t let it pile up. Recycle unnecessary mail the minute it comes in, and create a filing system for the rest of it.

7. Clean out your refrigerator every week

Grab those sad celery stalks that you were so sure you were going to stir-fry and those takeout leftovers that never made it to the office, and trash them before they rot and leave a lingering order, advises Dawna Boone, owner of Valet Maids.

The best time to clean out the fridge is on trash day—off it goes—and ideally, right before you go food shopping to replenish it. You’ll be able to put away the groceries more easily—and you’ll be more liable to eat them if you can see them.

8. Never leave a room empty-handed

If you’re going upstairs, take something with you, whether it’s a stack of clean laundry or toilet paper refills. If you’re heading from the living room to the kitchen, grab that magazine that needs to be recycled and the water glass destined for your empty dishwasher.

9. Have a place for everything—and keep it there

Always put things back in their proper place after every use, says professional organizer Paloma Baillie.

“Dirty clothes go in the hamper—not on the floor—and clean clothes belong in your dresser and/or closet—not left in the laundry room or piled on the bed.”

Ditto for scissors, pens, and all those wayward objects that should have a designated spot in the junk drawer, as well as shoes, umbrellas, and coats that need dedicated hooks and bins to keep the entryway pristine.

10. Finish the day with a 10-minute tidying session

For those things that weren’t part of suggestions 8 and 9, make a nightly pickup part of your routine, advocates Devoreaux Walton, a lifestyle expert at The Modern Lady.

Set aside just 10 to 15 minutes every night—put on music if it makes the process more fun—and return everything to its spot, from toys to magazines. If you have a few minutes left over, run a cleaning cloth over counters or do a quick sweep, devoting five minutes to a different area every night.

11. Purge

This is more of a long-term solution, because less stuff means less to clean and organize. Use what Baillie calls her “three-bucket method,” where you keep buckets or bins handy to deal with items on an ongoing basis.

“Trash it if it’s worn out or broken; donate it if you no longer need it, but it’s otherwise usable; sell it if it’s in good condition,” she says.

If it’s hard to part with certain items, Samson recommends moving them at least temporarily to a box in the attic or a storage space. You’ll find it easier to keep up with laundry and closet organization when you have less stuff.

12. Buy a robotic vacuum cleaner

This might seem like cheating, but it’s really not.

“It is absolutely the best money you can spend if you want to keep a clean home but have pets or small children,” Smith says.

She recommends programming it to run daily while you are at work, or overnight—and then you can enjoy clean floors without lifting a finger.

Now that January is just around the corner, we present to you ten resolutions for your home this year, in the perfect spirit of new beginnings. They say home is where your heart is but a lovelier, better organized, and more comfortable place to live will surely work wonders.

CA REAL ESTATE GROUP powered by Keller Williams Realty

Christine Almarines @carealestategroup
Realtor DRE # 01412944
714-476-4637 | christine@carealestategroup.com

Michelle Kim @michellejeankim_homes
Realtor DRE # 01885912
714-253-7531 | michelle@carealestategroup.com

For more home maintenance and real estate tips, follow us on FB/IG @carealestategroup

Source: https://www.lifehack.org/354146/10-resolutions-for-your-home-the-new-year

By Jennifer Kelly Geddes | Realtor.com | Jul 27, 2021

It’s a Catch-22 homeowners are all too familiar with: Remodeling your outdated kitchen is almost certain to pay off big when you sell—but the actual makeover takes big bucks.

Is there any way to make a huge change without all the expense? Well, believe it or not, you can give your kitchen a face-lift without ripping out everything and starting from scratch. Yes, it all comes down to being creative with your cabinets—uppers, lowers, and everything in between.

Here’s some savvy advice from the pros who know, along with excellent cheap and simple cabinet updates you can start—and finish—this weekend.

1. Paint your cabinets a fresh color

Photo by Cabinets by Design

You can’t go wrong with basic white in the kitchen. It channels a clean vibe that’s easy to live with, and makes resale a breeze when you’re ready to move.

But a little color is also lovely, especially cool blue hues and trendy pastels. A handy DIYer can fix up kitchen cabinets with a fresh color coat in a couple of days. (It’ll cost you only the paint and brushes—and your time.)

Marty Basher, a professional organizer with Modular Closets, votes for matte paint finishes over glossy, as the latter sheen can veer into garish territory.

“Choose muted colors in jewel and earth tones instead of overly bright ones for a more luxe feel,” he says.

2. Install brushed-brass accents

Photo by Boswell Construction

This one’s easy: Grab a screwdriver and put in new drawer pulls, says Drew Henry of Design Dudes.

“It’s supereasy to upgrade your cabinets with different hardware, and it’ll give you a lovely look,” he says.

Henry’s pick: brushed brass for a chic but quiet appeal.

“And go for elongated drawer pulls with clean angles over small knobs,” he adds.

3. Brighten cabinet backs

Photo by Alair Homes Decatur

Glass-front cabinets are all the rage—you might even have a set in your kitchen right now. But rather than style (and restyle) the plate stacks and glasses inside, let paint step in (again) to do the tough work of updating and beautifying your workaday cabinets.

“A fun pop of color on the backs of a few glass-front cabinets adds interest to the room and lightens up the look,” Henry says.

4. Add temporary wallpaper

Photo by The Cross Interior Design

Just as bright paint can enliven your cereal bowl display, so too can a couple of pieces of wallpaper. Even better: Make it temporary paper, which you can remove anytime you need a change.

And don’t stop with cabinet backs—temporary wallpaper is a nifty surprise along your drawers’ outside edges. (Just pull the drawers open to reveal a pretty pattern.)

5. Put in under-cabinet lighting

Photo by Bartelt. The Remodeling Resource

You know that gorgeous glow you spy on Instagram when you’re scrolling kitchen renovations? It comes from under-cabinet lighting. This smart upgrade brightens shadows that are invariably created by overhead pendants and can be installed by a pro for just a couple hundred bucks.

Want to go cheaper? You can get lights that plug in to existing sockets or grab some adhesive lights to press on in dark corners. Or just place a couple of small lamps you already own along counters under your cabinets.

6. Consider smart storage

Photo by Dura Supreme Cabinetry

A simple rack or drawer rearrangement can take advantage of unused kitchen cabinet space. If you’re a wine person, you can quickly create an X design with plain wood for stacking bottles on their sides.

Photo by Dura Supreme Cabinetry

Or if baking’s your game, a shallow pull-out to store cookie cutters means you’ll never lose these little tin items again.

7. Decorate your cabinets with molding

Photo by Anthony Baratta LLC

You may not notice it at first, but molding is the unsung decor hero in every room. Simple pieces of crown molding, whether stacked, stepped, or the traditional variety, can be added to the tops of your cabinets for an upgrade that looks custom and expensive.

Karen Gray-Plaisted of Design Solutions KGP approves of crown molding on top of cabinets as it extends the design right the ceiling.

“Or reconfigure just a couple of upper cabinets to reach your ceiling like the ones around the sink or refrigerator area,” she says.

You might also try bottom molding, which is just what it sounds like: decorative pieces you attach to the edges or the base of lower cabinets or the kitchen island.

Adding these “feet” transforms lowers or an island, making them look like pieces of furniture.

By Sally Jones | Realtor.com | Dec 13, 2021

Freshly brewed java doesn’t have a season, as any coffee aficionado knows. But with holiday decorating upon us, caffeine lovers of Instagram are showing off their seasonal coffee stations and hot cocoa bars.

Why have these hot-beverage stations become a holiday trend? Because a cozy drink is like (getting or giving) a hug in a mug.

“Warm beverages not only warm the body, but they also warm the soul,” says Annemarie Schumacher, event planner and founder of Make Every Day an Event at Schumacher Creative. “People crave nostalgia during the holiday season, and things like hot cocoa bring us back to our childhood.”

Whether you confine your coffee station to a corner of your kitchen or go all out with a sideboard takeover, there are many ways to put your decor-style stamp on a beverage bar.

Ready to give the whole house a spike of holiday cheer? Here are Instagram’s best holiday drink stations to inspire you as well as tips on how to shop the look.

1. Ribbons and trim

Setting up a coffee station doesn’t mean you have to become a barista. Instead, let folks serve themselves.

“These days, there are a variety of warm beverage makers that make the logistics of a beverage bar super easy,” says Schumacher.

And to dress things up for the season, you can add some homespun charm to a white kitchen backdrop. Just tie some colorful ribbons and bows along a length of string to make a fun and easy garland. Red is the right pop of color for a holiday coffee bar.

Get the look: Glad tidings are here in this striped red and white ribbon ($3.99).

2. Wall art

A cocoa bar doesn’t have to be elaborate.

“Holiday-themed signs are a great way to add a festive look and feel to a beverage bar,” says Cate Griffing, who runs the painting-based website West Magnolia Charm, which also includes topics regarding decor and home improvement. “It’s a simple piece of decor that doesn’t take up a ton of space but can pack a lot of punch.”

Get the look: Look for your expressive wall art to find your perfect holiday message and build your tableau around it.

3. Santa mugs

Bring on the mugs!

“You can’t have a hot cocoa station for the holidays without some darling Christmas mugs,” says Schumacher. “Perhaps you have some coffee cups or mugs that have been passed down from generation to generation. I personally love the sentiment.”

You’ll find an assortment of Christmas ceramics at your favorite kitchen and home goods stores. And have some fun by mixing and matching styles.

Get the look: Sip from your very own Santa mug like this one from Sur La Table ($10).

4. Holiday bunting

Holiday bunting adds a festive touch to this coffee, tea, and cocoa station. Don’t be afraid to layer on several different strands—the more, the merrier. This bar features three: white “snow” balls, glittering confetti, and red felt.

“And trays are a useful tool in creating a coffee bar,” says Griffing. “If you aren’t lucky enough to have a separate coffee station in your home, a tray allows you to designate one by organizing all the coffee supplies in one place.”

Get the look: Nab your very own cheerful holiday bunting ($23), and check out which tiered tray suits your holiday style ($37).

5. Vintage thermos

This display of retro thermos bottles in red plaid brings to mind scenes of snowy days spent sledding and ice skating. It’s a unique way to summon both the spirit and nostalgia of the season to your beverage bar. And the idea is a practical one, too: Thermoses come in handy on days when you need to take your coffee on the go.

Get the look: Check out Etsy for a wide variety of vintage thermoses ($25 to $35).

6. Bar cart

If you can imagine your coffee station becoming a tradition, you may want to invest in a bar cart. With a cart, you not only get your hot-drinks station off the kitchen counter, you can also wheel it into the living room when you’re entertaining.

“Who can resist the coziness of sipping a delightful mug of hot chocolate in a darling mug while surrounded by the twinkling lights of your Christmas tree,” says Schumacher. Bonus: You can turn it back into a bar cart when the season ends.

Get the look: Check out this Falon modern glam bar cart to get rolling.

7. Upcycled sideboard

Another idea for a permanent coffee station is to upcycle a vintage sideboard.

“I encourage people to find a sideboard, console table, or bar cart to curate their station,” says Schumacher.

To get a similar “white Christmas” theme going at your house, try painting your upcycled furniture with milk paint, which needs very little prep work and has a matte finish that lets a bit of the natural wood show through.

Get the look: Once you find the perfect sideboard, grab a gallon or two of milk paint ($23).

by Trees.com – last update on November 24, 2021, 5:10 pm

Poor landscaping can decrease property value by as much as 30%

Key Findings

78% of real estate agents say poor landscaping and hardscaping negatively affects property values
59% of real estate agents say trees are the landscaping element that adds the most value to a home
Adding one healthy tree can increase property values by 30% or more, according to 1 in 5 real estate agents

Home prices in the U.S. surged within the last year, the result of pandemic-related relocations, low mortgage rates, and a lack of new and existing housing inventory.

According to Zillow, the median home value in the U.S. is $303,288 as of August 2021, a 17.7% increase from 2020.

However, according to a new Trees.com survey of 1,250 licensed U.S. real estate agents, there’s one way to decrease a home’s value—neglect your home’s landscaping and hardscaping.

3/4 of real estate agents say poor landscaping, hardscaping negatively affects a home’s value

There’s no question that landscaping elements like trees, grass, and flowers add a lot of visual appeal to a home, but just how much does their absence affect what a home is worth? Here’s an interactive map of the one shown below.

According to 43% of real estate agents, poor landscaping has a “very” negative impact on a home’s value. Another 35% say it will “somewhat” impact how much a home is worth.

Real estate agents have differing opinions on exactly how much a home’s value decreases with poor landscaping. Twenty-four percent say a home’s value decreases by 10%, while 22% estimate the value decreases by 20%. Eighteen percent predict that a home’s value drops by 30% or more if the property lacks an appealing landscape.

Much of it has to do with perception, according to real estate broker Kimo Quance, owner of the Kimo Quance Group in Santee, CA.

“Landscaping provides potential buyers with a first impression of your home,” Quance says. “When they observe a neglected lawn, or a home without any additional curb appeal, potential buyers immediately get the idea that the home was not well-maintained. They set a value of the home in their mind based on that, and it’s usually not a good price. On the other hand, a neat, clean lawn puts the buyer’s mind at ease.”

In today’s hot real estate market, even a 10% price decrease means a seller could be leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table if they don’t bring their lawns up to snuff before putting their home on the market.

Hardscaping, which refers to all of the non-living aspects of an outdoor design, such as structural or decorative elements, is also important. Forty percent of real estate agents say poor hardscaping has a very negative impact on a home’s value, while 38% say it has a somewhat negative impact.

According to Chicago-based real estate investor and developer Bill Samuel, a well-designed outdoor space is even more important now due to how much time families are spending at home.

“Today’s homebuyer expects the home they purchase to be move-in ready and prefers not to have to do any work,” Samuel says. “Exterior hardscape upgrades that allow for outdoor entertaining are becoming even more desirable as most homeowners prefer to entertain at home and outdoors during the pandemic.”

Trees, grass and flower top list of landscaping elements that add value to a home

The landscaping elements that add the most value to a home include grass (64%), trees (59%), and flowers (52%).

Meanwhile, as far as hardscaping goes, real estate agents recommend adding or improving decks (58%), driveways (54%), and an outdoor kitchen (47%) to add the most value.

Adding one healthy tree will raise property value

Ninety-one percent of real estate agents say adding even one healthy tree to your landscape will increase property values.

According to 20% of real estate agents, the presence of one healthy tree in the front yard of a property increases the home’s value by 30% or more. Nineteen percent of real estate agents estimate a single healthy tree increases a property’s value by 20%; the same number of agents say it raises the value by 10%.

One reason trees can increase property values is the aesthetic charm they add to a home.

“A tree is one of the most natural and interesting ways to add color, texture and contrast to any home’s yard,” says David North, a real estate broker in Redmond, WA. “The natural beauty of a tree can be especially powerful when it distinguishes one property from others, whether by different shape, color, or size.”

Location is key, North says, encouraging homeowners to plant trees where they will provide needed shade, privacy, and noise protection.

There are also the practical benefits of having trees on a property.

“Big, healthy trees help improve the home environment and make it more sustainable,” Quance says. “Trees contribute to a functioning home ecosystem by helping with stormwater management, pollution filtering, and soil fertilization. During warmer months, trees are a natural cooling system, providing shade. Then, in colder months, trees that lose their leaves let sunlight filter through to warm the home.”

Those who are selling their homes shouldn’t forget about having greenery inside, either. Fifty-four percent of real estate agents say it’s very important to have indoor plants when showing a home for sale, while 28% say it is somewhat important.

Effects of landscaping vary by region

Home prices vary widely by location, and the impact of poor landscaping does as well.

Real estate agents in the Midwest are most likely to say that poor landscaping will have a very negative impact on home value (51%). By comparison, 44% of real estate agents in the Northeast say poor landscaping has a very negative impact on what a home is worth.

Having indoor plants during a home showing is most important in the South (67%) and the West (65%). Only 57% of real estate agents in both the Midwest and the Northeast think it is very important to have indoor plants for home showings.

While the majority of real estate agents in the Northeast say having a healthy tree in the front yard will increase property values, 10% say that it won’t. Comparatively, only 6% of real estate agents in the West and Midwest, and 5% of real estate agents in the South think having a healthy tree won’t increase a home’s value at all.

Methodology
All data found within this report derives from a survey commissioned by Trees.com and conducted online by survey platform Pollfish. In total, 1,250 currently licensed U.S. real estate agents were surveyed. Appropriate respondents were found via a screening question. This survey was conducted on September 17, 2021. All respondents were asked to answer all questions truthfully and to the best of their abilities. For full survey data, please email Julia Morrissey at julia@trees.com.

By Wendy Helfenbaum | Realtor.com | Oct 23, 2021

You love your home, but spacewise, you’re bursting at the seams. Building an extension seems daunting, but moving out of your fabulous neighborhood is off the table. Hmm … you do have that two-car garage; perhaps you should convert it into a kids’ playroom, an office or gym for you, or even an in-law suite.

A recent American Housing Survey showed that 80% of Americans have a garage or carport, yet only a fraction use it for parking. Let’s be honest: Most garages are packed floor-to-ceiling with sporting equipment, gardening tools, kids’ toys, and more.

Does converting a garage add value?

But before you transform this area, think about how a garage conversion will affect resale down the road. Nearly 30% of shoppers rate a garage as one of the most important home features, just ahead of an updated kitchen and open floor plan, according to a recent realtor.com® survey.

Don’t despair—we’re here to help you determine when converting your garage makes sense, and when it’s a definite no-go.

Converting a garage is often more affordable than adding on

If you add on to your house, you’re going to incur some major costs. Think of all the cash you’ll pour into a new foundation, or what you’ll pay to retrofit a second story on top of your home.

“Typically, it’s more cost-effective to convert a garage or storage space,” says Derald Norton, president of BMF Construction in San Bruno, CA.

Indeed, depending on where you live, building an addition could run you anywhere from $20,000 to over $65,000. A garage renovation, on the other hand, comes in at $11,000 on average.

One caveat: If you want to go beyond the basics and add a kitchen or bathroom, your costs will inflate exponentially, cautions Alex Tsalagas, president of A D Construction in Boston.

“Most garages are made from concrete or cinder blocks, so you have to do some drilling to get pipes through, and then insulate to protect those pipes from freezing,” he says.

Converting a garage can boost your property value…

When it comes time to put your home on the market, buyers don’t want to see your stuff jammed into every available inch. So if a garage conversion means extra psychological space to spread out, that’s a win, Norton says.

“In every case I can think of, converting from parking to living space has had a very significant positive effect on property value,” says Norton (whose business is in the burgeoning San Francisco Bay Area market, where space is at a premium).

But to reap the rewards, you’ll need to convert with finesse. In fact, a “well-done” garage conversion to living space can give you up to an 80% ROI, HomeAdvisor reports.

“The greatest increase in value and satisfaction will come from good design: building a space that flows naturally from the upstairs and looks like it’s part of the home,” Norton says.

That means making sure brickwork, windows, flooring, and lighting match the rest of the house.

… but buyers might prefer the parking space

However, when parking is at a premium, such as in urban areas, you might actually decrease the value of your home if you swap out your garage, Tsalagas says.

In certain parts of Boston, “parking is worth a lot more money than the square footage of the living space, unless it’s high-luxury,” he says. For example, a single-car garage can easily be sold for $300,000 to $400,000, he says, “so it’s definitely not a smart decision to convert when you have a parking space that will give you that much of a return.”

In rural areas, buyers prioritize garages

And keep in mind that in rural areas, or places where outdoor enthusiasts flock, garages are sacred spaces that are hard to replace, warns Dave Kimbrough, a Realtor® and team leader with the Kimbrough Team Re/Max in Grand Junction, CO.

“In places like western Colorado, outdoor lifestyle is king, so a garage is extremely important,” Kimbrough says. “Whether you kayak, paddleboard, river raft, mountain bike, ski, hike, hunt, or fish—all of that comes with equipment and everybody needs somewhere to put it. A garage in our marketplace is an expectation.”

Converting a garage can be a lengthy process

In certain areas, local zoning departments can slow down the process of converting your garage—it can take up to a year to get the proper permits. If you’re part of a neighborhood association or have a heritage property, it can take even longer.

And that’s before you can even start building! Remember: If the work is complex and extensive (i.e., you’ll need to raise the house to convert the garage), you could be looking at months or more of construction.

Your garage might not lend itself to conversion

Depending on how your garage was built, it might not be well-suited to become living space.

You’ll want to check if your garage is below, at, or above the adjacent grade, Norton says.

“Should the garage be below-grade, it becomes more complex and costly, because you may have drainage and waterproofing requirements, and might need a more involved insulating system,” he says.

Also ensure you have at least 8 feet of ceiling height, which is required for a habitable room. And if you need to excavate the garage floor to meet height restrictions, you’re looking at major bucks.

Want to forge ahead? Make sure the space can easily be converted back into a garage, Kimbrough advises, by keeping as much of the original structure as possible.

By Ana Durrani | Realtor.com | Sep 13, 2021

Small spaces have the potential to be cozy and charming, but if you’re not careful, they can turn into a total bummer. Over time, your collection of household items can start to resemble mountains of clutter—and before you know it, cramming it all into one tiny space can make your home feel downright uncomfortable.

Of course, curbing the clutter in your pad is just one of the ways to be proactive in making your home look and feel bigger. In fact, experts are seeing homeowners and renters prioritizing this now more than ever.

“People are more dedicated and interested in ensuring that every space in a home is functional,” says Eilyn Jimenez, founder and creative director of Sire Design. “I am seeing a more ‘quality over quantity’ attitude with homeowners when it comes to their spaces.”

Don’t let your walls close in on you! Whether you’re decorating your living room or bedroom, make sure to avoid these common mistakes that are sure to cramp your home (and style).

1. Painting walls a dark color

“Dark colors draw the eye inward, making a small space seem confined,” says Pramiti Bhargava, interior design and staging expert at BlueGrape in San Diego.

Trick the eye into making your rooms look bigger and wider by painting all walls neutral, light, or earthy tones so they seamlessly blend and look as spacious as possible.

2. Using large or out-of-scale furniture

Bulky furniture can make a space feel smaller and cluttered and may have visitors heading for the door.

“A common mistake people often make while decorating is cramming too many pieces of furniture into a small room,” says Challie Stillman, vice president of sales and design at Resource Furniture. “Small spaces need to perform multiple functions, like sleeping, lounging, working, and dining, but adding a piece of furniture for each task can quickly overwhelm a room and make it feel much smaller than it actually is.”

Another mistake is overfilling a room with oversized or dark furniture.

“If you’re working with a small space, keep it light and simple,” says Jimenez.

Also, keep enough space between furniture pieces so you and your guests can move about comfortably.

“Make sure there’s fluidity around the room,” says Jimenez.

3. Cluttering the walls

We’ve all been in homes that do double duty as a museum—and not always in a good way.

“While the gallery wall trend can look elegant, it definitely works better in a larger space,” says Bhargava. “When a home has lower ceilings, too many things on the walls can make a room feel cramped.”

Adding a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf can make the room appear bigger and create extra storage for all your favorite prints and photographs.

4. Having too many colors and patterns

Bringing color into your living space can make it appear more happy and lived in, but don’t go overboard.

“Multiple loud or dark colors and patterns can make any space seem even smaller,” says Bhargava. “It’s vital to have soothing and neutral colors to make small spaces seem bigger.”

Of course, we’re not suggesting you live in a house of beige. But experts do suggest incorporating colors and patterns sparingly if you want the room to feel more spacious.

5. Using loud-patterned rugs or too many rugs

Rugs are an essential design element in any room, but they should be chosen carefully and used sparingly to get the right effect.

“Bright, patterned rugs can make small rooms appear even smaller, whereas simpler, neutral rugs can create a visual feel of spaciousness in a room,” says Bhargava.

If you have your heart set on keeping a bright, patterned rug in a room, “then go simpler and neutral with artwork, furniture, or other elements within the room.”

Also, avoid placing multiple rugs of various sizes and floor runners in a room.

“Defining the space with a rug or two max is all that’s needed,” says Bhargava.

6. Using too many tile patterns

Experimenting with tile can be a fun design move, but going overboard with patterns can overwhelm the space.

“Not only can it automatically downsize the room, but some patterns risk being somewhat dizzying for anyone who enters,” says Jimenez. “Keep it simple, and select a maximum of two to three options for tile as to not detract from the overall design.”

Choose your favorite tile, and then work your design around it so that the other tiles complement rather than compete with it.

Halloween Hazards: Are Homeowners Liable for Injury to a Trick-or-Treater?

By Ana Durrani | Realtor.com | Oct 28, 2019

Part of the fun of Halloween is dressing up your home with the spookiest decor and doling out candy for eager trick-or-treaters. But what happens if someone walks through your yard on Halloween night and gets injured? It’s an unfortunate but realistic scenario that can have a number of consequences for homeowners. Worst-case—and scariest—scenario? Someone brings a lawsuit claiming that a trick-or treater got injured on your property. Would you be liable for this claim?

Under the law, if a porch light is on, trick-or-treaters are considered to be invited visitors, and it is a homeowner’s responsibility to have a property free of hazards. If anyone who enters your property on Halloween night gets injured, most homeowners insurance policies will cover minor injuries.

However, homeowners could be liable if trick-or-treaters are injured on their property if it can be proven that they were negligent in causing or contributing to that injury, says Jared B. Staver of Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, in Chicago.

For example, he says, a large crack in your walkway would be hard for someone to see in the dark. If a person tripped and broke a bone, he may claim you were negligent for not posting a warning sign and bringing attention to the crack.

“There is a reasonable expectation that you will receive visitors on Halloween. As a result, taking a few precautions will help guarantee the safety of trick-or-treaters and protect the homeowner,” says Christopher Layton of the Layton Law Firm, in Charlotte, NC.

To ensure a happy—and hazard-free—Halloween for all, here are some important questions homeowners should ask themselves before the trick-or-treaters come around.

Is the outdoors well-lit?

Make sure outdoor lights are bright and your yard is well-lit for little ghosts and goblins. Motion sensors are a good way to illuminate the house.

“Walkways should have lighting, and porches should be illuminated. If there are any danger zones, they should be well-marked and indicated with lighting as well,” says Staver.

Glow-in-the-dark or solar lighting is often not enough for late-night Halloween adventures, he cautions. Homeowners should instead invest in high-powered wattage.

Also, avoid using real candles in carved pumpkins or paper lanterns, since they are a fire hazard. Instead, opt for faux candles with LED bulbs.

Are there any tripping hazards?

It’s a good idea for homeowners to consider how children will enter and exit their property, says attorney Robert Fisher Jr., a partner at Edgar Snyder & Associates, in Pittsburgh.

“There’s a good chance that kids won’t always use your walkway, come to the door, grab the candy, go back down the walkway, and then enter the sidewalk in a direct path. It is more likely they will cut through the yard and use shortcuts. Keep your yard clear, and mark any potential hazards,” he advises.

This means fixing loose bricks and or cracks on pathways, or at least pointing them out with a sign, so kids won’t trip on them.

Scott Holeman, a spokesman for the Insurance Information Institute in New York, also recommends removing any leaves or branches from the path to your home.

More elaborate decorations like inflatables may require electricity, which means you will have to run an extension cord through your yard. It’s best to keep these tripping hazards as far away from walkways as possible and make it clear that trick-or-treaters should stay on the walkways. You can do this with a makeshift fence or luminary bags with LED lights.

To eliminate the need for trick-or-treaters to even walk through your yard, Layton suggests setting up a table at the end of your driveway and handing out candy from there.

“This saves the eager kids a long walk up to the front door, and helps the homeowner by reducing the potential for injuries on the property,” says Layton.

Are my decorations intended to scare people or make them jump?

We don’t blame you for wanting to go all-out when decorating for Halloween, but to minimize the potential for injury, it’s probably wise to go easy on the scary special effects. These can cause jump scares and could result in someone tripping and falling. Strobe lights and fog machines, two popular features used in elaborate Halloween decorations, also have the potential to cause problems like seizures and asthma attacks.

Are the steps to my home unobstructed and slip-resistant?

Remove plants and other objects from your steps. If the weather report says it could be a rainy night, apply friction tape to the steps to make them less slippery. And if you experience an early freeze, make sure to have ice-melt on hand to de-ice your steps.

Are pets secured out of the way?

Even the most well-behaved pets can be unpredictable and react to harmless trick-or-treaters. That’s why it’s best to keep your pets indoors.

“If you have pets, you should keep them in a separate room from the entry. With heavy activity, they could become frightened. To avoid potential bites or pet escapes, it is recommended that they be confined to another area in your home,” says Holeman.

It’s worth noting that if a dog bites a visitor, the homeowner is generally liable for the incident, according to Staver.

“Many homeowners insurance policies have dog bite clauses and cover these situations as long as the homeowner revealed that they owned a dog when obtaining the policy,” he says.

Should I skip the homemade treats?

If you are giving out homemade candies, cookies, or other treats, you may be liable for injuries due to illnesses such as allergic reactions to peanuts.

Layton says despite the loving care that goes into homemade treats, Halloween is not the right time for them.

“Kids will go home with so much candy, and if they are injured by any of it, you, the homeowner, want to be able to simply point to the manufacturer of the treat, rather than be singled out as the person who gave out the handmade treats,” says Layton.

Although your homeowners policy covers injuries on your property such as slip and fall, it likely won’t cover a food-related illness. Bottom line: Stick to store-bought candy.