Expert Advice

Summer is almost here which means it about to get H-O-T!  Here is a short To-Do List that will help you prepare for the warm summer months.

1. Now is the time to replace air filters on  cooling unit(s), this will save money during the summer months because they will run more efficiently.

2.  Clean any/all debris from gutters and blow any leaves or pine needles off of the roof.  Also, pour a little bleach into the gutters , dilute by running water through the gutter with a garden hose. The bleach will keep mosquitos from breeding in the moist gutters during the hot summer months.

3. Homes with crawl spaces– make sure all grates/vents are securely in place. Tempature vents work well, they automatically open and close to regulate the tempature beneath the house.  Also make sure to have a vapor barrier in place beneath the house.  This is basically a large sheet of plastic that serves as a barrier between the moist ground beneath the house and the floor of the home.  It is generally put in place by the Pest Control service when they service a home.

How many of you have a garage? How many of you have a garage where the car is never “front and center?” How many of you have a garage that resembles an obstacle course/storage closet?  If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you need to clean/clear out the clutter in your garage.

If your garage looks like this storage closet, you need to clean it out…QUICKLY!!:-0

Start by figuring out how much room your car needs to fit into the garage allowing drivers and passengers to enter and exit the vehicle comfortably. 

Once you figure out how much room you need for the car, then you will know how much room you have to work with on the perimeter of the garage.    Also, remember the garage should not be a storage area for junk.  If you don’t use it throw it away.    Wall mounted bike racks are a great way to find additional room in the garage.  Shelving, hooks, baskets and bins are all perfect storage options that maximize space usage.

Make garage clean up a family project.  And most importantly once you have the garage organized just remember the “put it back” principle.  If you use something, “put it back” in its designated space. If all family members practice the “put it back” principle, your garage should stay clean, clear and clutter-free.

Watching the housing market right now is painful if you are a seller who really needs to sell because it is a “buyers buffet”. Sellers, you can still come out ahead in this challenging market. Make your home stand out from others by accenting its unique features. Make sure you are priced correctly and definitely make sure you have made any necessary repairs. Minor repairs left undone can result in major price concessions, especially in the current soft market.  Be proactive, complete repairs before placing your home on the market. 

 Pete & Emily pictured below are examples of ‘Happy Home Sellers’.  Pete’s home was the first home featured on “Designed to Sell” Atlanta edition.  Their home was on the market but wasn’t selling.  After the “Designed to Sell”  makeover and a few touch-ups their home immediately SOLD, and you can see how happy they are in the pic!

Hi Everyone….what time is it?!! It’s “T” Time…which means it’s time for another Tonya Tip–

DO NOT ENTER-is today’s phrase…Sellers if you are not rearing and ready to sell...DO NOT ENTER the Market…there is a backlog of inventory at present… if you don’t have the three P’s (Pricing, Perks & Patience)you may want to wait a while.

 When selling a home, Sellers need to make sure the house is priced correctly upon entering the market. Sellers have the best chance of selling a home in the first 20-28 days of entering the market. During this time qualified buyers–within your price range– who have been searching for homes and have possibly exhausted the majority of the available inventory that was/is available will view your home as “the new listing on the block”. These first 20-28 days are the window of opportunity for sellers to generate maximum “foot traffic/showings” of the home by Realtors and their potential buyers. A correctly priced home will sell…

Sellers, patience is important; the housing market is saturated with inventory and very competetive at present. Sellers everywhere are noticing the amount of volume and congestion(inventory) on the market. Don’t be discouraged, just make sure that your expectations are in line with the market conditions and that you have done everything in your power to prepare your home to sell in a tough market.

Hi Everyone!  Well, the Dog Days of summer are here…and we are just about to really get barking with the AUGUST Heat!!!  A unique hobby that I have is taking pictures of cute pets (usually dogs) whenever I am out-and-about. Atlanta is a ”pet friendly” city so I always run into great 4-legged photo subjects.   Here are a few tips for you, accompanied by photos of two of the cutest dogs you have ever seen…

DO–Make sure your pets have plenty of fresh cool water available to drink

DO–Make sure you pet(s) have a cool/shady place to seek shelter from the sun/heat if they are going to be outdoors

DO–Check your HVAC Filter to make sure it is clean and inserted properly (since you will probably be using the HVAC system quite a bit over the next 60 days)

DO–Use your ceiling fans–this can save you at lot$ of money on those costly electric bills during the hot summer months

DO–Drink plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated

These are all tips that can help you get through the Dog Days of summer effortlessly!