Does Your Carpet Need Help?

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 03:27:56 +0000

Below are some tips for tuning up your carpet before selling your home.

Quick Fixes for new-looking carpets

• First, to really get it clean, sweep the carpet with a brook, which will make the nap stand up and loosen embedded dirt. Next, vaccum the carpet. Your carpet should show a noticeable improvement just from taking these two steps.
• If you have pets and need help neutralizing strong odors, mix one cup Borax with two cups cornmeal. Sprinkle the carpet with this mixture. Let stand one hour, then vaccum. To freshen the carpet, combine three-quarters of a cup baking soda, two tablespoons cornstarch, and one-quarter cup perfumed talcum powder. Sprinkle on dry carpet, let stand five to 15 minutes, then vacuum.

Spot-cleaning tips

DO
• Use a clean white, absorbent terry towel
• Blot or tamp the spot
• Pretest the carpet in an inconspicuous area
• Clean the stain from the edge to the center
• Apply cleaner to the towel
• Clean with modest amounts of cleaning solution
• Adhere to product safety guidelines and general instructions
• Remove the stain as soon as it is noticed
• Remove the dirt excess before cleaning
• Use cleaning compounds at lukewarm temperature

DON’T
• Saturate the carpet with cleaning compounds
• Apply heat or vigorously scrub the stain
• Leave the stain until later
• Fail to remove dried excess stain prior to cleaning
• Forget to pre-test the carpet or stain

Follow these tips, and your carpet will look good as new again in no time.

"Does Your Carpet Need Help?" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on July 24, 2010.

Landscaping Touches that Help SELL Homes

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 02:48:57 +0000

The right landscape design can make all the difference to a prospective buyer, especially when it’s beautifully and carefully executed. In fact, Realtors and landscape professionals estimate that a well-landscaped yard can add 5% to 15% to the selling value of a house. Houses that look good from the road carry higher price tags – a fact that turns landscape investments into money in the bank when selling a house. Here are a few ideas on how to improve your landscape:

TREES
• One of the best investments you can make is a glorious stand of healthy trees as part of a well-landscaped yard. Realtors across Texas and the rest of the country know that healthy trees can increase the property value of a home, as well as provide years of aesthetic benefits to owners. Trees also cut down on energy costs. When Kiplinger published the 25 best ways to invest $1,000, buying a big tree was at the top of the list. If your selling timetable doesn’t allow for planting and nurturing a tree to maturity, remember this advice for your next home.
• Since a tree is a long-term investment, it’s important to start with a high-quality plant. In the case of trees, money definitely buyer quality. Trees that are 8-10 feet tall-either balled or wrapped in burlap or established and growing in containers-are usually the best buy. Homeowners can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $1,000 for a quality tree.

PLANTS
• Add a few plants around the foundation of the house and in “curb appeal” areas such as near the front door. Or, consider using more permanent bushes, especially those that flower in the summer and have colorful buds in the winter.
• Gardeners on a budget can buy a few plants, then, add more as your budget allows.
• For an especially inexpensive jolt for your yard, flowers are a homeowner’s best friend. Bright splashes of color add visual appea. Though they’re usually temporary. For this reason, they’re great if you suddenly need to put your house on the market and need a quick landscaping fix. At that point, it’s best to stick to the basics, leaving more costly and permanent landscaping to the new owners.

"Landscaping Touches that Help SELL Homes" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on June 26, 2010.

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Does Your Carpet Need Help?

Landscaping Touches that Help SELL Homes