1. Lighting
No matter how small or ordinary your house may seem, the right lighting will create mounds of atmosphere and immediately elevate your home into the ‘wow’ category. Use bulbs that are the right temperature to create a warm, glowing effect as opposed to a glaring, harsh experience. Then place your lighting strategically to highlight the most unique features of your home, such as two sconces or lanterns by your front door, or ground lights shining up into beautiful trees. Pathway lights help create a welcoming feel and string lights on a porch or patio instantly up the entertainment factor.

2. Paint
The right paint color will completely change the feel of your home, both inside and out. While neutrals are both attractive and safe, being a little daring with on-trend shades will really evoke the ‘wow.’ Try one of the many popular shades of gray, go bold with a jewel tone, or create a moody tone with a muted shade of blue. Also think outside the box when it comes to how you paint—for example, instead of bright white, paint the ceiling an eye-popping color; or create a patterned effect with painted stripes in a powder room. Go for a dramatic look in the kitchen by painting upper cabinets white and lower cabinets deep navy or charcoal.

3. Materials
Using interesting building materials in surprising places is a great way to spark interest. Try framing the interior of your front door in stone or using tongue-and-groove wood planks for a bay windowsill. Flooring is available in many unique options, such as ceramic tiles or laminates that mimic beautifully shaded wood.

4. Decoratives
The easiest way to instantly create a ‘wow’ moment is by showcasing your most prized decorative pieces. Show off a painting or photograph with a bold matting and frame, and add a picture light if appropriate. Incorporate special antique furnishings into the mainstream mix of your home, as opposed to hiding them in out-of-the way places. Fill your sparkling crystal vases with fresh blooms or greenery and place them in the center of your dining and coffee table to be admired by all rather than letting them go unnoticed in the china cabinet.

5. Gardens
If you’ve got a green thumb, your biggest ‘wow’ factor may be your home’s landscaping. A beautifully planted, well-maintained garden is a sight to behold no matter how small it may be or how large your yard. Help showcase your garden with carefully placed decoratives, such as a bird bath, trellis, slate path or stone bench. This will add a welcoming, artistic feel to your patch of landscape.

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“A lot of our clients are worried about what they can and cannot put down their drains,” says Max Rose, owner of Four Seasons Plumbing. “The truth is—excluding grease, oils and chemicals—a properly designed and installed system will take just about anything you can fit down the drain. If you are experiencing issues with normal use, I recommend having a plumbing professional do an inspection, but in the meantime here are some dos and don’ts you can follow.”

Do use a drain guard.

Whether it’s in the kitchen sink or the bathtub, a drain guard can catch the bigger pieces of debris that tend to cause clogs.

Don’t flush everything.

Body waste and toilet paper are the only things that should be flushed. Paper towels, cotton balls and even “flushable” wipes should not be disposed of in the toilet.

Do use a bacteria waste eliminator
for preventative maintenance.

Bacteria and enzyme drain additives are safe, effective and great for septic systems.

Don’t pour grease or fat down drains.

It may go down the drain as a liquid, but once it cools off, these fats solidify, causing blockages in pipes. It’s best to wait until the grease or oil has cooled into a solid and then dispose of it in the trash.

Do flush with hot water.

Periodically fill the tub and/or kitchen sink about halfway with hot water and pull the plug. This will move the hot water down the plumbing and help clear lingering debris.

Don’t use commercial drain cleaners.

Store-bought drain cleaners contain caustic chemicals that can be harmful to both your health and your plumbing. These cleaners may help remedy a clogged or slow-draining sink or tub, but it can erode pipes in the process.

Following these tips can help keep your drain and pipes clear and working well. But should you need drain repair, or even a check up on them, contact your trusted plumber today!

The post The Dos & Don’ts of Drain Maintenance appeared first on The Real Estate Book.

Top benefits of taking the tankless plunge include:

Saving Money on Your Energy Bill

If you’re going to shell out money for a new water heater, you better be getting some back, right? Well, a tankless heater will save you from constantly heating and reheating water.

With a conventional water heater, the hot water is stored inside the tank. In theory, this keeps a ready supply of hot water on hand for immediate use, but in fact the hot water just sits around when not being used. After some time, the heat will dissipate, and the water heater will need to reheat the water all over again. And guess where this waste of energy shows up? On your utility bill.

No Leakage

Leakage is one of the biggest problems with conventional water heaters. No matter the model, they will begin to leak eventually, as they are being constantly filled and drained of water every day for years. Because the tankless heater doesn’t store water, it won’t have any to leak.

You Won’t Run Out of Hot Water

A tankless water heater doesn’t store hot water for later use. Instead, a tankless water heater only produces as much hot water as a person needs. In other words, when the hot water faucet is turned on, the tankless unit provides the exact amount of hot water dispensed until the faucet is turned off. You can leave the hot water faucet on for hours and the tankless water heater will continue providing hot water. So, you’ll never need to worry about running out during a shower or conserving so someone else in your home can take a hot shower after you.

Smaller Footprint

One of the best things about a tankless water heater is how little space they take up. A tank water heater can take up an entire utility closet or feet of space in your garage. On the other hand, standard tankless water heaters are generally no larger than a computer tower.

When it comes time to replace your water heater, tankless ones are your best option.
If you’re tired of running out of hot water, having higher bills and dealing with messes, contact your plumber to install one today.

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Lots of homeowners have good intentions when it comes to scheduling maintenance, but it’s easy to forget things like tune-ups when your equipment is still operating correctly. It only becomes an issue when something breaks or fails. The last thing anyone wants however, is to be without heat when the temperatures are below freezing.

So, while its on your mind now, schedule a tune-up for your furnace or boiler. You’ll also beat the crowd in getting it done now, as opposed to waiting until the weather cools. Additionally, there’s many other reasons to tune up your system:

Prevent frozen pipes. It’s not unusual for homeowners to lower the thermostat while they’re away from home. However, residents should maintain a regular temperature in their home—around 65 degrees—to avoid bursting or frozen pipes.

It prolongs the life of your furnace. Regular maintenance can keep your furnace working at maximum efficiency and actually lengthen the life of the equipment. And you might not know this but skipping annual maintenance can often void a manufacturer’s warranty. So not only are you hurting the system, you’re potentially hurting your wallet.

It helps you stay safe. Most furnaces are gas-burning, which produces carbon monoxide. A leak could prove dangerous or even fatal. During routine maintenance, a technician will take preventative measures to ensure this can’t happen, such as changing the filter and giving the furnace a thorough cleaning. Install a carbon monoxide detector as well if you don’t have one already.

So, before the cold weather comes in the coming months, contact your local heating
company to come perform a furnace or boiler check-up. You’ll thank yourself later.

The post Don’t Wait for Winter: Service Your Furnace or Boiler Now appeared first on The Real Estate Book.

Using innovative wall-mount door hardware, you can unlock your kitchen’s potential by freeing up the “real estate” traditional swinging doors take up. Due to their unique space-saving possibilities, versatility and aesthetics, wall-mount sliding doors can make your kitchen more open and inviting.

A standard hinged door consumes 10-14 square feet of floor space to swing open and shut, putting kitchen space at a premium. Single or converging wall-mount sliding doors allow you to utilize this floor space for kitchen furnishings, storage, extra mingling room for guests and more. They also give kitchens a more spacious look and can enhance your home’s design flow, making it more welcoming and facilitating movement between rooms, which is essential for gatherings and larger families with children.

To maximize your kitchen’s footprint and optimize functionality, an option like wall-mount door hardware from Johnson Hardware can provide a new world of architectural possibilities for your kitchen, regardless of size or layout. Ideal for wider kitchen entryways, converging wall-mount door hardware allows doors to glide smoothly as they open whenever you want a free flow for entertaining, or close for privacy during meal preparation.

Converging doors can add sophistication or create a cozy feel, depending on the hardware configuration and door style you choose. Available with or without fascia in either clear satin or bronze anodized aluminum, the U.S.-made hardware and track exceed ANSI safety standards and can successfully complete 100,000 opening and closing cycles. You can also add your own valance to match the door material and trim.

Wall-mounted sliding doors also work well for kitchen pantries and large recessed shelving areas where you want to conceal clutter and ensure clean, streamlined spaces. With Johnson’s array of hardware configurations, you can create personalized looks that integrate the door designs and materials you desire with options for doors up to 125 pounds, which are equipped with wall-mounted jump-proof aluminum box tracks and adjustable door hangers for easy installation, as well as options up to 400 pounds, featuring wall-mounted, heavy-gauge I-beam tracks and smooth-rolling, ball-bearing four-wheel hangers.

Installing wall-mount sliding door hardware in your kitchen – and beyond – can be an easy yet high-impact improvement that reduces space constraints while adding warmth, functionality and appeal to your home. So contact your contractor or home remodeler today to have one installed.

The post Expand Your Kitchen: Try a Sliding Door appeared first on The Real Estate Book.

Get softer lights. Shorter days and colder weather mean we’ll be spending a lot more time indoors. Switch to light bulbs that have softer light that is easier on the eyes. Poor quality or bright light can cause unneeded eye strain. Use this time to make the switch to LED bulbs if you haven’t already – they last longer and are cheaper than ever.

Refresh. Give rooms a facelift by switching out the old carpeting or area rugs. Opt for a hypoallergenic option to help you enjoy the comfort of the carpet, while not worrying about its allergens, microbes and odors. Give your bedroom linens a refresh as well, by making the switch to warmer flannel sheets and blankets that will keep you warm and cozy in the night.

Safety first. October is Fire Prevention Month, and it is the perfect time to take stock of your home’s fire safety by testing alarms to ensure that the devices and batteries are functioning properly. Replace any alarms that are outdated and install new alarms in your home. One should be located on every level and in every bedroom of the home. Fire deaths are often caused by dead or missing batteries or no alarms at all – so keep your family safe. And if you don’t have any, it is now the time to install carbon monoxide detectors as well.

Speaking of cozy – keep that way during the long, cold months ahead with a basket in the living room and den filled with comfy throws and blankets. You’ll want to reach for one on those colder nights when all you want to do is curl up with a book or a movie.

The post Fall Home Considerations to Make Before Winter appeared first on The Real Estate Book.

Summer and early fall are a great time to pull the trigger on repainting your home. Ideally, you want warm, dry days. While there’s always a chance of thunderstorms in the summer, a simple check of the weekly forecast will alleviate any risk there.

Summer is also a good time because there aren’t big temperature fluctuations from day to night. If you’ve got perfect temperatures during the day, but then a big drop after the sun goes down, the paint will react and won’t cure properly.

Once you choose your painter, the next step is to start choosing your colors.

First, choose the main body color of your home. This color is what most of your home will be painted, and it will set the tone for the rest of the home. Normally, you would choose something neutral like white, cream, gray, etc. If you have a change in material, such as an entry feature or second roofline, or any other secondary main material feature, include a second main color to complement the first.

Then, choose a complementary accent color that will highlight smaller details, such as doors and shutters. For example, if you paint your home an off-white color, such as cream, choose a blue hue such as navy or a red hue like burgundy to complement it. Finally, tie everything together with a trim color around the windows and eaves.

If you’re not ready for an entire exterior paint job, you can still give your house a facelift with some practical touch-ups on accent pieces. Fresh, bright paint on the front door, stair rails, balconies, shutters or window sashes can vastly improve the look of your house. Plus, it’s easy to change the color on these smaller details every year or two so you can constantly update and boost that curb appeal.

If you’re putting your house on the market, look into a fresh coat of paint or doing some touch ups. It’ll go a long way towards a great first impression when it comes time to show your home.

The post Boost Your Curb Appeal by Painting Your Exterior appeared first on The Real Estate Book.

But flippers will tell you that it’s the upgrades that make the biggest difference. Trading linoleum for tile can make an outdated bathroom chic again. Painting cabinets and adding a backsplash can make a run-down kitchen feel like a chef’s dream. Even investing thousands of dollars to replace outdated appliances can be a worthwhile investment, helping a house with old bones compete with the newly built property just down the road.

In addition to those upgrades, adding the right smart home technology to your next flip can make a massive difference with certain home buyers. The best part is that these upgrades are both inexpensive and easy to pull off. Here are three upgrades to consider:

Install Smart Thermostats

You might not think that a thermostat would be a big deal, but the thermostats say a lot about the property. An old, outdated thermostat can be an eyesore and a reminder of a home’s advanced age, but a smart thermostat tells potential buyers that the HVAC system is up to modern standards and has been evaluated as part of a renovation. Plus, the fact that homeowners can easily manage and control the system on their smartphone is an attractive feature. Environmentally-conscious buyers are impressed by the smart thermostat’s energy efficiency.

Smart Lighting Can Change the Feel of a Space

Another key upgrade to consider is perhaps one of the easiest ones to make: the installation of a few smart bulbs or a smart lighting system. Lighting can completely change the feel of a room, and today’s smart lighting systems offer a nearly limitless array of colors, dimness settings and light fixtures.

Security Systems Provide a Sense of Safety

Modern homebuyers are concerned about security, so adding a smart security system to your property is another great upgrade that will cater directly to your buyers’ needs. Many older security systems require yearly contracts and extensive wiring. Today’s WiFi-enabled cameras and battery-powered security products are both affordable
and easy to install. All you need is a few cameras and motion sensors to get started, and they’re easily demonstratable to potential buyers.

It doesn’t take much to convert an older home into a modern one. Smart upgrades like these may seem like a small investment, but they can make a massive impact on the decision-making of potential buyers.

The post Get “Smart” When Flipping a Home appeared first on The Real Estate Book.

1. Have your furnace inspected.

While the thought of heating your house in August probably isn’t at the top of your list, August is a great month to have an HVAC pro come in (before they get much busier in the fall and winter) and check for leaks, heating inefficiencies, and change your furnace filter.

2. Seal drafts.

Check around windows and doors to see where leaks may be occurring. Now is a great time to take care of patching holes and caulking around windows while the weather is still warm – you’ll be able to feel some warm air coming through any holes.

3. Inspect trees and fertilize your lawn.

The end of the summer is a great time to do yard related tasks. Inspect the trees on your property and get rid of any dead limbs before storms hit. Also, take the time to fertilize your lawn now to help guard against winter damage.

4. Inspect your roof.

Before fall leaves and winter snow wear your roof down, take the time to have loose shingles replaced and any patches made.

5. Test home safety devices.

Use this time to test all your smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors or fire extinguishers. Replace batteries or install new ones so you’re ready to go once it’s time to fire up the fireplace. 

And, speaking of the fireplace:

6. Clean your fireplace.

Chimney sweeps get very busy once the fall season is in full swing, so make an appointment to have your fireplace professionally cleaned during this off-season.

So, while you take a break from relaxing and soaking up the last bit of summer, give your home that TLC to make sure it’s ready to take on the changes fall will bring. Consider hiring a home services contractor or handyman service that can help you tackle multiple tasks like those above, or reach out to a specific provider like a roofer or chimney sweep. Getting some of these things taken care of now will let you enjoy more of your fall.

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