Making Your Home Safe For Kids And Pets
We all want our homes to be a safe place for children and pets. Here’s my list of the top things you can do to avoid accidents or harm:1. Install safety gates. These gates are easy to install (and later remove). They keep little kids from falling down the stairs or entering rooms where they could eat something harmful: laundry detergent or cat litter, for example. And they keep pets out of areas where you have food items or things that could tip over.2. Secure unstable furniture. This is a BIG one, particularly for the safety of children....
read morePreparing Your Home for Winter
Like it or not, winter is here! These tips for getting your home ready for the cold can save you heating costs and avoid costly structural damage. Seal the air leaksCaulking window or foundation cracks and updating the weather stripping on doors can make your house less drafty and reduce home heating costs by as much as 10%.Test smoke and CO detectorsChanging batteries is cheap and easy, but essential as winter approaches. With your furnace blasting and an increased use of fireplaces, your winterized home can build up dangerous...
read moreFinding That Perfect Home Handyman
A good, all-around repair or “fix-it” person can be a lifesaver for any homeowner. Finding the right one can be difficult, because they are in demand. I’ll give you some suggestions of how to locate your handyman, but I’ll begin by suggesting that you call me. I often hear of recommendations from my clients. I’d be happy to pass them on to you. That way you’ll be considering someone who is “tried and true.” That said, if you want to look on your own, here are some tips: Go online: Increasingly, there are lots of online lists of handymen. You...
read moreFirst-Time Homebuyers Can Tap Financial Help
Buying your first home can be a financial challenge. You might need cash for a down-payment, closing costs, mortgage insurance and all the typical moving costs and repairs. Here are some of the many programs that help first-time buyers afford their first home: Fast Fact A RealtyTrac survey in 2016 found that homebuyers using down-payment assistance loans saved an average of $17,776 over the life of their first home mortgage. Down Payment and Closing Cost AssistanceUsually, you’ll have to come up with cash for a down-payment on your first...
read moreWant Home Energy Savings? Space-Age Devices Are Here NOW!
Thanks to smart technology, you can cut energy costs through a bunch of new whiz-bang devices. Some of these gizmos are so cheap, they pay for themselves in months. Here’s a list of some of my favorites, but new ones crop up every day. Many can be voice-controlled by Alexa or Google Home, or adjusted by your smartphone from anywhere in the world. Smart power strips. Not only do they prevent surges, but they cut off items in standby mode (like TVs and charging ports) that are constantly draining power. This “plug load” is nothing to ignore....
read moreIs it time to refinance?
With mortgage rates at or near all-time lows, homeowners are thinking of refinancing. A lower rate means a lower monthly payment, right?Refinancing decisions are never that simple. Sometimes refinancing is a smart choice, sometimes not. I can help connect you with someone who will look at the numbers and help you to make the best decision.Here are just a few considerations, and why you should consult with the right professional before moving ahead:How long do you plan to stay in your home?Often a refi at a lower mortgage rate, while...
read moreInexpensive Upgrades That Help Sell Your Home!
Quick, simple and cheap do-it-yourself upgrades can help sell your home faster. To make these changes, you don’t have to be a master carpenter or electrician either. Upgrade your light fixtures. Old chandeliers in the dining room, dated bathroom vanity lights or old-fashioned light fixtures on ceiling fans can be swapped quickly and inexpensively for a more modern look. Spruce up front yard plants. Remove overgrown or dead bushes and plants in the front of your house and replace them with native plants that give a fresh and colorful look to...
read moreSeven Home Features that Sell!
In-demand home features change over time. Years ago, people would give anything to buy a home with push-button light switches! Not so much in 2021.In addition to the list below, Denver homebuyers are looking for spaces that can be converted to work-from-home areas, like kitchen islands or even bedrooms with space for tables and desks.Why spruce up your home with the right updates just before listing? The right improvements may increase demand, which means less time on the market, which saves you mortgage payments, staging costs and...
read moreWant to Reduce Your Home Maintenance?
We all want to keep our homes in top shape. After all, for most of us, our homes are our largest investment. Good maintenance protects that investment, as well as keeps our homes safe. But all of us want to enjoy life, too, and not spend our entire free time on home maintenance. While no house is maintenance-free, there are some easy things you can do to reduce the probability of major, time-consuming, and costly repairs. Here’s my top 5 list of preventative maintenance that is inexpensive and quick: Keep gutters and downspouts clean. If...
read moreNow Is the Time to Prepare Your Home for Summer
Now is is a great time to spruce up your home and do annual maintenance that will improve longevity and energy savings, plus increase enjoyment of your home all summer long. Here’s my short list: Clear out the guttersWater is the biggest culprit of home deterioration, and nowhere is your home more susceptible to water damage than from your roof and gutters. If gutters and downspouts are clogged with debris, that forces water over the edges and onto the sides of your home and into the foundation and basement. While cleaning the gutters,...
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