Preparing Your Home for Vacation Season

It’s vacation season and while you may have thought of everything – sunscreen, road trip games and plenty of snacks, did you think about what you left behind? Your home and yard? They will need some TLC before you leave to make sure all is well when you return.

Here are a few things to do before you leave town.

-        Unplug everything – all electronics and appliances. This will protect against power surges and keep them from using unnecessary power

-        Stop your mail service to keep mail from piling up. This can be down online weeks ahead of time.  Do the same for newspapers if you get them.

-        Pay bills online or in advance if any will be due while you are away.

-        If you have pets make arrangements at a kennel or with a trusted friend who will check in and care for the pet.

-        Clean out the refrigerator of any expired food or leftovers

Day Before or Day Of

-        Close all blinds and curtains

-        Set thermostat to upper 70’s

-        Water all house plants

-        Turn out all lights and turn off ceiling fans

Follow this list and you’ll enjoy a little more peace of mind on your vacation.  Bon Voyage!

http://paradimeconstruction.com

Should you buy new? We think so.

You hear these comments all the time:

“It’s a buyers market.” “A sellers market.” “Buy new.” “Buy used.” “Don’t buy now.” “Now’s the time!”

How do you make sense of it all?

Buying a new home is a big decision. One that should come with a lot of research, thought and planning. 

And believe it or not it should be fun!

You’re buying a new home! A new place for your family to grow in. For memories to be made and for life to be lived.  Enjoy the process!

Educate yourself and then look for the best possible option for your family.

Begin with your budget and overall financial picture.  Think about what your family needs and what your family wants.

Should you buy new?  We think so.

Here are just a few reasons why buying a new home may be the right option for you.

-        Your home your way.  You don’t have to paint over the previous owners neon bedroom colors or pull up their checkered bathroom tile.

-        No need to spend the weekends covering up nail holes from where pictures used to hang or scrubbing the bathtub trying to get it the original white again.

-        A new home is more energy efficient with the latest appliances, heating and air systems and insulation. Save yourself time and money.

-        Enjoy the latest in home design, layout and style.  Open floorplans, neutral colors and plenty of closet space! Today’s homes have been designed for today’s lifestyle.

These are just a handful of reasons to buy a new home over used.  What is your family looking for?

http://paradimeconstruction.com

Inexpensive Ways to Improve Your Home’s Environmental Footprint

These days we are much more aware of the impacts our lives can have on the environment now and for future generations.  Owning a home is no different.  There are small, inexpensive changes you can make to improve your home’s environmental impact and live healthier at the same time.  Read on to learn more.

1.     Reduce waste.  Bring your own bags to the grocery store instead of collecting hundreds of plastic ones.  Buy reusable water bottles and go paperless when possible.

2.     Unplug appliances when they are not in use. Turn off lights when not in the room.

3.     Replace your shower head with a water saving option.

4.     As your traditional light bulbs need to be replaced, change them with CFLs or LEDs

5.     Use non-toxic cleaning products and sprays.

6.     Grown your own vegetables and herbs. Start a compost pile.

7.     Install a smart thermostat to save on energy use and cost.

8.     Decorate with air purifying house plants. Examples include: English Ivy, Chrysanthemums and Aloe Vera.

9.     Start recycling with help from your local waste disposal service.

10.  Help your home run more efficiently by replacing your air filters and keeping your appliances clean and running properly. Vacuum the coils of your refrigerator.

What do you do to keep your home running efficiently and environmentally friendly?

http://paradimeconstruction.com

Selling Your Home in Summer

Trying to sell your current home so you can get into your brand new dream home? Summer is a great time to put your house on the market. Follow these tips and you’ll be that much closer to moving on and moving out!

1.     When staging highlight your outdoor spaces where people can see themselves spending summer afternoons and evenings. Add some pots of flowers or veggies.

2.     Make sure your A/C is on and the home is comfortable – especially important on hot summer days house hunting.

3.     Have refreshments such as cool tea or lemonade with cookies.  Leave a note saying “Thank you for considering our home”.  Leave bottled water in the fridge.

4.     Keep your lawn green during the summer heat to make a good first impression when prospective buyers pull up. Make sure to run the sprinklers to keep the grass lush.

5.     Don’t forget the basics of de-cluttering, de-personalizing and deep cleaning!  Open your blinds and let the summer light shine in.

No matter the season it’s important to make sure your home is in its best condition. Take care of any minor issues and make sure your home is bright and ready to show off it’s potential!

http://paradimeconstruction.com