Exterior Fall Maintenance - Do it Before the Snow Flies!

While Indy has been experiencing some warmer than normal autumn days these past few weeks, don't be fooled! Colder weather is on the way, and soon we will be buttoned up for the winter months!

While it's easy to get into the mindset that we will have plenty of time before the snow flies to take care of winter maintenance... NOW is the time to get outside and work on any exterior chores that need to be accomplished prior to winter!

PAINT - it's important to make sure any peeling paint or exposed wood is scraped, primed and painted in order to preserve the material as well as prolong the life!  You don't want wood rot, or moisture damage!  Make sure you read the paint can instructions about temperature and drying time for proper adhesion and curing!

GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS - Make sure those gutters are clean and empty of debris!  A clogged gutter along with downspouts not properly directed away from the home can cause big issues!

CRAWL SPACE - We encourage you to inspect your crawl at least twice per year!  Moisture in the crawl can cause issues with organic growth and can prove costly if left unattended.  Many times homeowners have no clue about any crawl space issues until their home is pending and a home inspection is completed!  It's also a good time to take a good look in your attic space!

TREES: Are there any limbs that need to be trimmed back or away from your home?

PATIO FURNITURE - If you have ample storage space... it's a great idea to store your furniture in a shed/mini barn.  It will prolong the life of your furniture and cushions.  If you cannot store the furniture,  investing in some outdoor furniture covers might be beneficial!

CHIMNEY - It's always a good idea to have a professional chimney sweep clean and inspect your chimney.  Also,  make sure you check the flashing and seal as needed

WASH WINDOWS - Not a fun task, but wash those windows and storms windows!

ROOF - Inspect for damaged or missing shingles.  Repair/replace as necessary to prevent further damage or water intrusion. This might be best handled by a professional contractor.

SUMP PUMP - Test that sump pump to make sure it's working properly! Also if able, install a battery backup for any power outages.

LANDSCAPE - Rake leaves, deadhead flowers, clean flower beds and landscaping areas, mulch as needed for winter protection and preservation of plants; work in compost to prepare beds for next spring

LAWN & GARDEN EQUIPMENT - Store hoses & protect outdoor spigots as needed, clean & store garden tools; Have lawn mower serviced & blades sharpened NOW so you don't have to be on a long waiting list in the spring, or be without your mower when your really need it! 

LAWN - November is a GREAT time to put down a winterizer/fertilizer.  Check your local hardware or garden centers!

So pull on your flannel shirt or sweatshirt; throw on your work boots and enjoy being outside taking care of your investment!  Not only are you taking care of your home, but raking leaves is good for you!

Happy Fall!  

Transformation Tuesday & Home Staging "All I Want is a Photograph"

Here is our Transformation Tuesday Home Staging Post!

You have heard it time and time again - take down family photos!  De-personalize your home as much as possible when listing.  

I have my own thoughts on family photos in the home and displaying them when the home is being listed for sale!

1. Some photos NEED/ MUST to come down, but you don't have to take them all down (in my opinion)

 For example - Family Photo Galleries on walls can be a distraction.  The galleries are designed to attract the eye to the gallery!  People will be curious as to who lives in a home, but they don't need to be perusing your wall of photos; they need to be viewing your home.



 While charming, this photo gallery would be a distraction to a potential purchaser




 I have seen some homes where there are over 50 family photos just in ONE ROOM! That's too much (In my humble opinion) even if your home is not on the market.  Make sure you have the paint or a the chip in case you have to paint over areas that have those darling photo galleries.  You can replace the gallery with a few framed pieces of artwork to fill and compliment the space!


A photo or two in a book case, on a chest of drawers or night stand is OK.  After all, you are still "living" in your home while it's listed.   I think if all personal items are removed a home might look too sterile and some buyers might think the home has a "cold" feeling!

2. Another area many times that house a lot of photos - The Refrigerator!
And not only photos, but magnets etc etc - Clean Off that Fridge!

 And while you are at it - if you store items on top of the fridge - clear those off too! 😬















Transform your home into a house that a buyer focuses on the house, the space and the features!  Don't allow them to get distracted by photos that they don't see all your home has to offer!

Here is an example of a living space with just one photo - you see the space and not the family!

We hope this gives you a better prespective that we don't feel you have to completely strip your home of who lives there... but you should remove items/photos if they could/would be a distraction to potential buyers!  If you have any questions, we would be happy to answer them!

And if you are in need of a real estate professional 

that can also offer home staging!  

 The Schwark Team is the Team to choose!

💐 Spring Cleaning 💐

It's a right of passage for me!  I love getting my home ready for spring!  Inside and Out - your home needs some sprucing up no matter how mild the winter might have been!

Attached is a check list we have comprised of Spring Cleaning Tasks! 

 CLICK HERE FOR SPRING MAINTENCE CHECK LIST

I am a list person, so lists like this help keep me organized.  Checking tasks off as they are completed!  You might not want to do each task on the list, or you might add a few!  However, we will share a few items that, in our opinion, are very important when maintaining your home!


Clean Gutters & Downspouts... we cannot express enough the importance of this task.  ALSO, make sure the runoff is adequate and water is not running directly down into the foundation, crawl, basement of your home.  As real estate brokers, many times we see issues with homes in which the homeowner neglects cleaning gutters, downspouts and downspouts must have improper runoff! 

HVAC:  Get that HVAC system serviced and cleaned!  When will the A/C go out?  When it's 100 degrees in the shade.  The fee to have a reputable company to do a twice a year maintenance is minimal to the fee to repair or replace a system!

ALSO:

Furnace Filters: One of the easiest, but a neglected task - CHANGE  YOUR FURNACE FILTER!  And frankly, not just in the spring or fall.  While those big, expensive filters might seem to do a great job, they can reduce the functionality of your HVAC system as the filer collects more debris.  Many licensed HVAC technicians recommend the inexpensive, thin filters and change them monthly!  Change them the first of the month when you make a mortgage payment is a good day!  Write it on your calendar!

Check The Roof!  Any damaged or missing shingles?  Have your roof assessed by a reputable contractor!  It's important to get a good referral!  Spring is storm season and there are many "contractors" out there who either do poor work, or are scamming money from good people.

Spring is also the time I go through my closets and dresser drawers and eliminate any clothing/items we no longer need.  There are plenty of organizations that will take your donations of gently used items!

Again... here is another opportunity for you to click and print our list!

CLICK HERE FOR OUR SPRING MAINTENANCE CHECK LIST

Welcome the warm months and take care of your investment!

Crawl Space and Attic

After many, many years in the real estate business; and many, many, many (did we say many) home inspection processes... two areas we find are the biggest surprise for homeowners is a bad response regarding a crawl space or an attic!

Organic growth, moisture, poor insulation levels etc are just a few items that can be costly items and most homeowners are unaware of these issues until they sell and a buyer has a home inspection performed.

So, what can you as a homeowner do?  Get in that crawl space!  Twice a year!  At least!  Get down there, take a look around!  Do you see standing water?  Is it damp? Does it smell damp? Do you see organic growth?  Is the sump pump working?  Do you have a sump pump?  Do you need a sump pump?  A tiny bit of organic growth left unchecked can become an expensive repair!  It can also deter a buyer and send them packing even if you are willing to mitigate after the inspection!

What can you do?  Get in that attic?  Even if you can't walk the entire area; at least climb up (if possible), use a flash light and take a look around.  Does the insulation seem adequate?  If not, it's a relatively inexpensive fix to add more. You can even do it yourself if you are handy!  It's not a fun task, but it can be done (we did these last spring), and it can save you money on your heating and cooling bills.  Is the attic properly ventilated? If not, it could prove to be a breeding ground for organic growth.

Besides getting down in your crawl space  (and attic) a couple times a year (Spring and Fall are perfect times as you are getting the exterior of your home ready for summer, or putting it to bed for winter); make sure you have proper run off for your down spouts.  Many times the biggest culprit of a wet crawl space is the downspout not being extended.  Water pouring into the ground right at the foundation.

Improper run off can be a big culprit for crawl space issues

There are many downspout solutions out there; both DIY and professional!  But an easy fix is proper splash blocks and extenders.  Keep the rain from running directly into the ground or back into the crawl.  (or basement)

If you take a look at your crawl or attic and determine there might be a problem, give us a call, we can refer a reputable company to come out and evaluate the issue and determine if there is treatment needed.

It's worth the few times a year to get into the crawl!  You don't want any surprises after your home has an accepted offer! 

Dandelions....

It's that time of year!  When those pretty, little yellow flowers weeds are popping up!  Some areas are littered with them!  And after the pretty yellow flowers weeds mature they turn to a fluffy white!  As kids we would pick them, make a wish and blow!  Scattering the fluffy white seeds to the ground. And those fluffy white seeds become little yellow flowers weeds. The cycle would continue! 

The dreaded "dandelion"!  Yards and grassy areas are riddled with them.  Usually it's the neighbor's yard, and the neighbor, courtesy of bad grass cutting and the wind share them with you and your yard! 
 
Don't get us wrong... we know the dandelion receives a bad rap.  There are plenty of uses for dandelions... the leaves can be eaten in salads; they are high in vitamins; dandelions can be used to make root beer, tea etc etc.  But let's get real... How many of us are truly harvesting and eating the dandelions from our yards?  How many of us are making our own root beer?  How many of us are brewing our own tea? Not too many we would guess!  For most, the dandelion is a weed that takes over our yard.

So... how can a homeowner control dandelions and have a healthy lawn at the same time?  There are many Homemade "treatments" we see shared on Facebook and other Social Media Outlets.  Some sound great, but have mostly proven ineffective and kill the surrounding grass.  Dandelions are stubborn and have deep tap roots, so picking them doesn't work.  And a dandelion digger might not get the entire tap root and is a time consumer!  There are plenty of chemicals out there as well as lawn care companies that can help provide seasonal maintenance.  Chemicals and lawn care companies can be costly, and many homeowners do not like adding chemicals to their lawns.   Honestly, we feel the most effective and least expensive way to keep dandelions & weeds under control... let your grass/lawn grow to 3.5 inches!  Yes, the grass will help smother out weeds.  It might take some time, but within a year, your lawn will look much more lush, and have fewer weeds.  While it might be impossible to eradicate each and every pretty yellow flower weed, your lawn will be healthier and happier!!! We've noticed many of neighbors cut their lawn once a week and each time scalp it to almost the ground.  Leaving a bed of opportunity for not only those pretty yellow flowers weeds, but a plethora of other weeds.

You can see here how a lawn cut short becomes a breeding ground for dandelions

While it might seem like a time saver to cut the lawn short, once a week... you aren't doing your lawn any favors.  You are just creating an area for weeds, not grass, to grow!  It can be as simple and raising the lawn mower blade and taking the time to cut twice a week during the spring and maybe once a week when the rains aren't as plentiful in the summer.  And if the lawn doesn't need cut... don't cut it!  3.5 inches of lush green lawn is much better than a yard of weeds!

Taking care of your lawn is not only good for your investment, but will give you great curb appeal when/if you decide to sell!  The first impression of a weed ridden lawn can give the appearance and expectation of an unkempt home as well!  Even if your home is tidy, updated and fabulous inside... that first impression is so important!  Do yourself and your lawn a favor!  Raise the mower blade! 

Preparing Your Home for Cold Temperatures

So far Indiana has had a fairly mild winter.  A bit of snow, a few bitter cold snaps with spring-like temps peppered in between.  This week temps are predicted to dip into the teens, and there are several winter weather precautions you need to take to protect your home and to stay warm when temperatures dip well below freezing.

Here are a Few Tips we Recommend:

1.  Change your furnace filter - this is important to maintain your furnace.  This is an extremely important task that needs to be done frequently to maintain good airflow in furnace

2.  Keep drapes and blinds closed, except when windows are in direct sunlight.  - Those that are open, close around 4pm to retain the warmth

3. Keep you thermostat on a steady, comfortable temperature.  Layer on a sweater or an extra blanket if  you get cold rather than turning up the thermostat. 

4. Make sure the chimney flue is closed when fireplace is not in use

5. Put draft snakes/dodgers on window sills, between window frames and against doors

6. Keep your Garage Door closed

7. Run Ceiling Fans in reverse on a low speed to help circulate warm air

The Red Cross has this advice:
• Avoid frozen pipes - run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Keep the garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage.

• Never use a stove or oven to heat your home.

• If you are using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away - things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs. Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.

• If you are using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.

• Use generators correctly - never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage.

• Don’t hook a generator up to the home’s wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.

There is plenty of information out there... always be prepared!  These are just a few tips we recommend as cold weather approaches.  Our suggestion is to prepare well in advance of cold weather arriving!  Caulking, gutter & downspout cleaning, insulating etc are worth the effort in the warmer months to prevent damage in the winter!

Our Next Post will be Snow and Ice Storm Preparedness!  Both your home and your car!

Stay Warm & Happy New Year!

Quick House Cleaning Tips During the Holiday Season...

The holidays are upon us, which for many of us means lots of company. While spending time with family and friends is one of the great joys of the season, it can also mean great stress when it comes to cleaning! Here are a few tidy tips for coping with the demands of last-minute cleanups for expected (and unexpected) visitors!!!

Make Your Home Shine... In A Hurry!     Start by putting on some energizing music (the TV can be too distracting); this can really motivate you and make the cleaning a fun workout rather than work! (We prefer Christmas music during the Holiday Season!) Use a bucket or tote to hold your cleaning supplies.  Carry from room to room, so you don't waste time running back and forth. Focus on the rooms guests are likely to see: living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom (and if you have a bathroom specifically dedicated to company, focus on that). Don't bother with the tub; just close the shower curtain. Close doors to bedrooms (or any other rooms) you don't have time to clean. Look at each room as a guest might. See where your eyes are drawn first for your starting point. Follow the top-to-bottom, left-to-right rule for cleaning each room; you avoid the "hit-and-miss" risk of spot cleaning. Get the family to help, even the kids. Let little ones clean at their level. Try keeping a basket or container in every room to collect clutter, toys, etc. If you have time, sort through items and put them where they belong; if not, stash in a closet, or behind one of those closed bedroom doors. Or toss a pretty pillowcase, blanket etc over the top to disguise the clutter, and place in a corner of the room.  A pleasant smell can help create the illusion of a spotless house.  A scented plug-in, a scented candle that evokes the smell of the season (Evergreen, Cinnamon etc)  Vacuum slowly, in long straight strokes, to avoid going over the same spots. Do all the vacuuming at once, to avoid bringing dirt from one room to another. Dim lighting and candlelight are intimate and festive, and can disguise a less-than-perfectly clean room!  Tidying up each day (if possible) will help make cleaning much easier and less time consuming!