Home Improvement – The Condo Shoppe

Should You Update Your House Before Selling?

Chad — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 08:24:48 +0000

Should You Update Your House Before Selling? Ask a Real Estate Professional.

Some Highlights

If you’re deciding whether you should make updates before you sell your house, lean on your trusted real estate advisor to be your guide.
In today’s sellers’ market, buyers have limited options and may be more willing to take on repairs themselves.
If you’re thinking about selling your house, let’s connect so you have expert advice that’s customized to your home and our local area.

4 Must-Do Tasks For Homeowners in March

Chad — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 06:26:19 +0000

4 Must-Do Tasks For Homeowners in March

It’s that time of year when homeowners who’ve been through a few winters know that to be at the top of their game, they have to be proactive. Here are four things they always do:

March madness is here — not the basketball kind, but the home kind.

#1 Patch Up the Bare Spots in the Lawn

That’ll keep both mud and water out of your house as snow and ice continue to melt and spring rains arrive.

#2 Inspect the Roof and Siding (Using Binoculars!)

Your home’s outer coat — its roof and siding — takes a major beating during severe cold weather. March’s slightly warmer temps make it an ideal time to look for early signs of roof problems — before they become money-gobblers. Grab some binoculars (it’s safer than climbing on the roof and a time-saver) and start looking for signs of damage: Loose or curling shingles Damaged gutters Peeling paint Cracks in the foundation And start scheduling repairs before the damage gets more extensive.

#3 Put Up Window Screens

They last longer if you remove and store them for the winter (plus windows without screens will let in more warming rays of sunshine). But regardless of whether you removed them last fall, now’s the time to repair any holes, frames, or loose screens so you can open your windows for a fresh, clean breeze that’s bug-free.

#4 Replace Batteries in Smoke Detectors

They should be changed once a year. And if you’re pressing the “test” button to see if it works, know this: That button tests the alarm sound — not whether the device actually detects smoke. (To see if it can detect smoke, light a match, then blow it out holding the stream of smoke near the device. If it goes off, it works.)

#1 Patch Up the Bare Spots in the Lawn

That’ll keep both mud and water out of your house as snow and ice continue to melt and spring rains arrive.

#2 Inspect the Roof and Siding (Using Binoculars!)

Grab some binoculars (it’s safer than climbing on the roof and a time-saver) and start looking for signs of damage:

Loose or curling shingles
Damaged gutters
Peeling paint
Cracks in the foundation

And start scheduling repairs before the damage gets more extensive.

#3 Put Up Window Screens

They last longer if you remove and store them for the winter (plus windows without screens will let in more warming rays of sunshine).

But regardless of whether you removed them last fall, now’s the time to repair any holes, frames, or loose screens so you can open your windows for a fresh, clean breeze that’s bug-free.

#4 Replace Batteries in Smoke Detectors

They should be changed once a year.

And if you’re pressing the “test” button to see if it works, know this: That button tests the alarm sound — not whether the device actually detects smoke. (To see if it can detect smoke, light a match, then blow it out holding the stream of smoke near the device. If it goes off, it works.)

7 Home Organization Ideas to Reclaim Unused Space

Chad — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 04:55:35 +0000

7 Home Organization Ideas to Reclaim Unused Space

You can fit an entire closet where?

It’s hard to enjoy your home when it feels cramped. But before you start thinking, “Time to move!” you may just need to make your house more clever — one with organization solutions built into surprising places.

#1 A Wall Turned Jewelry Closet

You’ll get out the door faster in the morning if you can grab the right necklace without spending 10 minutes untangling it from a knot of beads.

This is one of the best home organization ideas because it leverages the silver bullet for storage woes: between-the-studs shelves. For maximum jewelry-friendliness, pair pegs with shelves and hang a tidy little door.

#2 Reach New Organizing Heights with Library Ladders

Conventional wisdom for organizing your home says to maximize storage space by putting shelves from floor to ceiling.

This is great if you’re closer to seven feet tall than six, but the rest of us can’t reach the stuff on the top shelves. Here’s a clever storage idea: Install a library ladder.

Even better, there’s no engineering required: You can find rolling ladder kits online.

#3 Try Pegboards

Here’s a smart home-organization idea: Turn a kitchen wall into storage space by covering it in pegboard and hanging pots, pans, and kitchen utensils. You get storage without losing square footage to cabinets or an island.

Add a shelf at the top, and you’ve put a storage hack on top of a storage hack. Literally.

#4 Turn an Angled Wall into a Closet

If you’ve got an upper-story room built into the roof line, maximize that cramped space by making a built-in closet. You can do this in an attic, bonus room, bedroom, or any place where the roof line creates dead space.

And it has a little secret: The center section of this closet is on wheels and pulls out to reveal even more storage behind it.

#5 Add a Shelf for Folding Clothes in the Laundry Room

This one is so simple and smart, you’ll wish you’d thought of it. Put a countertop over your front-loading washer and dryer to create a place to fold clothes.

Add under-counter shelves on one side for storing ever-ready laundry baskets.

Be sure to mount the counter high enough above the washer and dryer so you can easily pull them out for maintenance and repairs.

#6 Turn a Stairway Into Pull-Out Storage

Turn the dead space under the stairs into pull-out storage compartments. Cut into the drywall between the studs, and make bins, shelves, or even hanging storage to hold whatever items you need in the vicinity of the stairs.

To make the best of the space, think through exactly what you’ll store before customizing. Tote bags and coats? Pegs could do it. Shoes? Go for shelves.

#7 Take Garage Storage Up a Notch with Motorized Pulleys

Put the overhead space in your garage to work by installing a motorized pulley system that lets you store ice chests, camping gear, and other bulky items overhead. Forget those ceiling hooks and high garage shelves that are a pain to access; with this system, hit a button and your stuff is valeted right to you.

A Fall Checklist of 10 Things You Should Do Before Winter Sets In

Chad — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 04:04:56 +0000

Have you changed your furnace filter? Of course you have! But here are a few more items you may not have thought about:

#1 Clean and Stow Your Mower

If you’re not familiar with fuel stabilizer, get to know it. If your mower sits for months with gas in its tank, the gas will slowly deteriorate, which can damage internal engine parts. Fuel stabilizer ($10 for a 10-ounce bottle) prevents gas from degrading.Add stabilizer to your gasoline can to keep spare gas in good condition over the winter, and top off your mower tank with stabilized gas before you put it away for the winter. Run the mower for five minutes to make sure the stabilizer reaches the carburetor.

Another lawn mower care method is to run your mower dry before stowing it.

When the mower is cool, remove the spark plug and pour a capful of engine oil into the spark plug hole.
Pull the starter cord a couple of times to distribute the oil, which keeps pistons lubricated and ensures an easy start come spring.
Turn the mower on its side and clean out accumulated grass and gunk from the mower deck.

#2 Remove Garden Hoses From Faucets

Remove garden hoses from outdoor faucets. Leaving hoses attached can cause water to back up in the faucets and in the plumbing pipes just inside your exterior walls. If freezing temps hit, that water could freeze, expand, and crack the faucet or pipes. Make this an early fall priority so a sudden cold snap doesn’t sneak up and cause damage.

Turn off any shutoff valves on water supply lines that lead to exterior faucets. That way, you’ll guard against minor leaks that may let water enter the faucet.

While you’re at it, drain garden hoses and store them in a shed or garage.

#3 Drain Your Sprinkler System

Time to drain your irrigation system. Even buried irrigation lines can freeze, leading to busted pipes and broken sprinkler heads.

Turn off the water to the system at the main valve.
Shut off the automatic controller.
Open drain valves to remove water from the system.
Remove any above-ground sprinkler heads and shake the water out of them, then replace.

If you don’t have drain valves, then hire an irrigation pro to blow out the systems pipes with compressed air. A pro is worth the $75 to $150 charge to make sure the job is done right, and to ensure you don’t have busted pipes and sprinkler head repairs to make in the spring.

#4 Seal Air Leaks

Grab a couple of tubes of color-matched exterior caulk ($5 for a 12-ounce tube) and make a journey around your home’s exterior, sealing up cracks between trim and siding, around window and door frames, and where pipes and wires enter your house. Preventing moisture from getting inside your walls is one of the least expensive — and most important — of your fall maintenance jobs. You’ll also seal air leaks that waste energy.

Pick a nice day when temps are above 50 degrees so caulk flows easily.

#5 De-Gunk Your Gutters

Clogged rain gutters can cause ice dams, which can lead to expensive repairs. After the leaves have fallen, clean your gutters to remove leaves, twigs, and gunk. Make sure gutters aren’t sagging and trapping water; tighten gutter hangers and downspout brackets. Replace any worn or damaged gutters and downspouts.

If you find colored grit from asphalt roof shingles in your gutters, beware. That sand-like grit helps protect shingles from the damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun. Look closely for other signs of roof damage (#5, below); it may be time for a roofing replacement.

Your downspouts should extend at least 5 feet away from your house to prevent foundation problems. If they don’t, add downspout extensions; $10 to $20 each.

#6 Eyeball Your Roof

If you have a steep roof or a multistory house, stay safe and use binoculars to inspect your roof from the ground.

Look for warning signs: Shingles that are buckled, cracked, or missing; rust spots on flashing. Any loose, damaged, or missing shingles should be replaced immediately.

Black algae stains are just cosmetic, but masses of moss and lichen could signal roofing that’s decayed underneath. Call in a pro roofer for a $50 to $100 eval.

A plumbing vent stack usually is flashed with a rubber collar — called a boot — that may crack or loosen over time. They’ll wear out before your roof does, so make sure they’re in good shape. A pro roofer will charge $75 to $150 to replace a boot, depending on how steep your roof is.

#7 Direct Your Drainage

Take a close look at the soil around your foundation and make sure it slopes away from your house at least 6 vertical inches over 10 feet. That way, you’ll keep water from soaking the soils around your foundation, which could lead to cracks and leaks.

Be sure soil doesn’t touch your siding.

#8 Check Your Furnace

Schedule an appointment with a heating and cooling pro to get your heating system checked and tuned up for the coming heating season. You’ll pay $50 to $100 for a checkup.

An annual maintenance contract ensures you’re at the top of the list for checks and shaves 20% off the cost of a single visit.

Change your furnace filters, too. This is a job you should do every two months anyway, but if you haven’t, now’s the time. If your HVAC includes a built-in humidifier, make sure the contractor replaces that filter.

#9 Prune Plants

Late fall is the best time to prune plants and trees — when the summer growth cycle is over. Your goal is to keep limbs and branches at least 3 feet from your house so moisture won’t drip onto roofing and siding, and to prevent damage to your house exterior during high winds.

For advice on pruning specific plants in your region, check with your state extension service.

#10 Give Your Fireplace a Once-Over

To make sure your fireplace is safe, grab a flashlight and look up inside your fireplace flue to make sure the damper opens and closes properly. Open the damper and look up into the flue to make sure it’s free of birds’ nests, branches and leaves, or other obstructions. You should see daylight at the top of the chimney.

Check the firebox for cracked or missing bricks and mortar. If you spot any damage, order a professional fireplace and chimney inspection. An inspection costs $79 to $500.

Your fireplace flue should be cleaned of creosote buildup every other year. A professional chimney sweep will charge $150 to $250 for the service.

19 of the Most Gorgeous Half Bath Ideas We’ve Ever Seen

Chad — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 14:59:11 +0000

Apartment Therapy | Adrienne Breau

The half bath, if you’re lucky enough to have one, is one of the best rooms in a home to decorate, for a number of reasons. Sometimes called a powder room, they’re defined as a bathroom without the “bath” part—they typically only have a toilet and a sink. Usually on the small size, they don’t add a lot of square feet to your home, but they do add a lot of function. Not only are they great for using as a bathroom for guests, you can usually renovate them more affordably (since they are smaller and have fewer fixtures), and there’s less to clean when they’re in use. But most of all, half baths are the best room in the home to decorate because they’re a perfect canvas to experiment with bold decor ideas!

Because the half bathroom is a space not used by everyone or seen every day, it’s ideal for getting creative and trying out wild design ideas you’ve always dreamed of playing with, whether that’s in the form of paint, wallpaper, or something else entirely! Another reason this is a great spot to experiment in is these rooms are usually so small you can splurge on expensive or luxurious materials and elements without actually spending a ton of money. Small spaces = less wall to cover with wallpaper and paint, and you can get away with buying smaller (and sometimes more affordable) versions of things. Petite half baths also means there’s less to cover up if you end up not liking your bold design choices… and you can just switch it up again without spending a lot of money or time!

1. Get wild with wallpaper

This interior designer’s ambitious DIY remodel has fun wallpaper design in a few different rooms, but the half bath’s hot pink oversized flamingo wallpaper steals the show. You can immediately see how a fun, energetic wallpaper pattern in a small space—like a powder room—can be a great way to inject personality into a small space.

2. Upgrade the mirror

Since powder rooms are pretty limited in the amount of elements in the space—there’s likely a toilet, a sink, and maybe a mirror and hand towel rack—any changes you make to any of those elements will offer a huge visual impact. Even small updates, like choosing an elegant, oversized round mirror as seen in this classic-rock inspired home, can completely change the look of your half bath.

3. Add one pop of color in a surprising spot

Remember, a half bath is a small space, so you don’t need a ton of decor elements to make a big impact. If you want to create a bold look with color, consider adding just one delightful hue in a surprising spot. The power room in Leslie Sumner’s St. Louis house has a bright green mirror, for example.

4. Go for gold (or some other pricier finish)

If you crave upgrading the finishes of the fixtures in your half bath, update them to your dream finish! Chances are it’ll be in your budget because you won’t have to replace the finishes in a large room. And because the powder room is really a space apart from the rest of your home, you don’t have to try to “match” the finishes in say, your kitchen. The finishes in this remodeled Charleston home’s half bath all feature a sleek gold vibe.

5. Corner the market on your half bath’s decor

Don’t be discouraged if the amount of square footage you have available in your half bath is on the diminutive side. Limitations breed creativity, and you can get adventurous with your fixture layouts in order to make it all work. In the powder room above, the sink and medicine cabinet are placed in the corner, creating not only a functional space but a unique one, too!

6. Go to the dark side

You may have heard some folks say you should avoid dark colors in small spaces, but that’s just not true in all cases. In this teeny powder room in this UK home, a dark paint color on the walls and the door—as well as in the floor tiles—creates a cozy little hug of a room.

7. Splurge on a modern or high-design faucet

If you’ve ever had your eyes on a really uniquely designed modern faucet, here’s your chance to incorporate one. Even if it is a stretch on your budget, the bold visual statement of one could be the only decor you really need in your half bath to make an impressive room. Let the sleek modern room in this ocean-inspired Maine home be your inspiration.

8. Go graphic

Patterns that might be too busy in larger rooms can fit in just perfectly in a small half bath, like the black and white graphic wallpaper in this Atlanta house. But you don’t have to just get graphic on the walls; consider contrasting patterns on hand towels, art, the counters, and more.

9. Hang art wall-to-wall

Half baths are one of the most fun places to play around with gallery wall ideas because you can create an impressive wall-to-wall look with fewer art pieces than you might imagine. Remember, this is a small room and a small amount of wall space that you have to fill—so play around with different art layout ideas to create a maximalist powder room.

10. Try DIY

Have you had a DIY idea kicking around in your head but you have been too afraid to try? A small half bath is the perfect place to just go for it! Whether it’s a hand-painted wall mural, an art idea, or something as simple as a polka dot wall pattern like in this charming, eclectic farmhouse, use this small room as your canvas.

11. Try tiles or marble

Just like the earlier suggestion of fancy finishes, you should consider splurging on materials that are normally out of budget. Love marble but could never afford marble countertops in your kitchen? See if you can swing it in your power room. Love the look of floor-to-ceiling tiled walls but can’t see yourself plunking down that kind of money for your master bathroom? Try it in the half bath! The powder room in this super organized NYC home can be inspiration.

12. Go wild for wall molding

In case it’s not clear already, the smaller the room, the less work you have to do to incorporate your wild design ideas. So why not add some wall molding to the room? Why not add really interesting wall molding to the room?

13. Buy double-duty furnishings

Many of the suggestions in this post have so far been of the aesthetic variety. But you can focus on function in these tiny spaces, too. I love when you can find furniture pieces that can pull double duty and perform two different functions at once, like the mirror shelf combo in the above half bath. You’ll save space with this smart and stylish idea.

14. Embrace vintage

When the amount of space that you’re working with in your half bath is small, it means the details of the elements can get more attention. This can be particularly charming in rooms with charming Creole cottage displays a great example.

15. Upgrade existing furniture pieces

You don’t have to buy all new things when you’re updating your half bath. In fact, many of the elements like the vanity, mirror, and other furniture pieces can all be painted to add a lot of personality to a small space. In the above before and after, you can see how a tired vanity got a new lease on life.

16. Don’t forget about lighting

In a room as small as a half bath, choosing a dramatic light piece can be one of the only things you need to add pizzaz. The hanging pendant light in this New Orleans house has strong Art Deco vibes, setting the tone for the rest of the space. But you don’t have to focus on just hanging pendant lights, consider wall sconces or a vanity light upgrade above the mirror.

17. Get a little quirky with a theme

While I often suggest that you try to embrace a similar design style in most of your rooms to bring a sense of cohesiveness to your home, rules go right out of the window when it comes to a half bath. So conceive of a quirky theme (like say, vintage tennis racquets as seen in the Australia house above) and really go for it.

18. Don’t be afraid of going oversized

While it makes sense to put small sized things in a small room, you don’t always have to stick to that rule. From oversized patterns in wallpaper to oversized fixtures, like the larger-than-it-needs-to-be sink in the renovated New Orleans house above, going intentionally large with a decor element can be a way to add drama to a small room.

19. Keep it simple and chic

Lest you think you HAVE to go wild with wallpaper, color, or bold elements in your small powder room, this lovely little half bath in a cute New England house shows that you can create just as beautiful of a guest bathroom experience by keeping it simple with color, pattern, and decor.

The 6 Biggest Pet Peeves Home Stagers Have About Your Bathroom

Chad — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 21:16:53 +0000

If you’re planning to sell your house soon, don’t fall into these outdated bathroom traps.

Apartment Therapy | Jennifer Billock

When I was growing up, my bathroom was absolutely stellar. It was split into two rooms—one for the sink and another for the toilet and tub. And I got to pick the theme! Thirteen-year-old me was more than thrilled to pick a dark safari theme. Black and gold, tiger print, furry fringed curtains. It was a new teenager’s dream.

Of course, only as an adult have I come to discover how very uninformed some of my design choices were. When I visit my parents’ house now, I still love it, of course—secretly I’m still obsessed with moody animal print—but I know if they were ever going to sell, that now-outdated bathroom would need to be completely overhauled.

If you’re planning to sell your house soon, or are even just trying to increase the value for the time being, don’t fall into these typical outdated bathroom traps.

Themes

Sorry, 13-year-old me, but themes are out. Eclectic looks are much more appealing for the current market—so stay away from “coordinating your flip-flop-shaped soap pump to a starfish shower curtain to hand towels with a beach picture on it,” say Amy Monroe and Katie Knitter, co-owners of staging company Becoming Home.

Putting unnecessary items on display

If you’re not going to actually use something, don’t put it on display in your bathroom. That means decorative towels, those seashell-shaped soaps everyone leaves on the countertop, and fake plants. Instead, put out some nice trays and top them with jars full of things you get use out of, like cotton balls and bath salts. That being said, if you’re selling your house, Monroe and Knitter urge people to put away the things they use all the time, like cleaning products, tools, and personal items. “No one wants to see things like a toothbrush or an electric razor plugged into the wall,” they say.

Window treatments

If you don’t need privacy in the bathroom from an unfortunately placed window, you don’t need window treatments, according to the pros. And if you do need that privacy, opt for something less obtrusive than a curtain and valance, like blinds or a frosted window film. Letting light in is key during a showing.

Rugs

Rugs and rug-like items (like fuzzy toilet seat covers) should only serve a practical purpose. If you’re worried about slipping when you get out of the tub, then get a bathmat—but only one. “People love to have four rugs in their bathroom, one at each bowl of the sink, one in front of the toilet, one in front of the door, one in front of the shower,” Monroe and Knitter say. “Use one larger bath mat by the tub or shower that runs the length of it, not multiple rugs everywhere. The more you break up that floor space, the smaller the room appears. When we’re staging, we won’t put any rugs in a bathroom.”

Medicine cabinets

Knitter and Monroe note that almost no house currently on the market is selling with a medicine cabinet. People are pulling them out and not replacing them—which is a good thing. “Even if you’re not redoing your bathroom and you’re just trying to increase the look and value of your home to sell, replace that old fashioned medicine cabinet with a nice updated mirror,” they say. “An oval mirror allows you to put side light fixtures next to it, which provide nice lighting. You really look best when light isn’t shining down over your head.”

Towel bars

Towels hung on a bar almost always look messy, say the experts. Instead, install some hooks, which are a little more practical. Towels you don’t hang can be displayed folded into thirds and stacked in a little pyramid.