5 tips to Increase the VALUE of your home

Let's get right to it.  Here are 5 all too often overlooked ideas to quickly increase the living value and sale value of a home:

1. Kitchen countertops-- Anytime someone walks into a house, you don't want them to think about what they'll have to do, but what's already done.  It doesn't cost too much to replace old or cracked vinyl surfaces.  Make sure to stay neutral in color to impress a wider variety of people at sale time...if you'd like some ideas, click here for more information.

2. Carpet--Home buyers will automatically take off $5,000 if it looks like they need to put in new carpet.  If you want to get what you're asking for your home, invest in good carpet and see the payoff later.  SmartStrand carpet will not stain and is both pet and children friendly (don't believe me? Click here to see the proof).

3. Bathrooms and kitchens are the standard investments the real estate world looks for, but surprising as it may be, a poorly put together basement living room can make or break a sale.  Use carpet to add another "room" for sale.  Dingy, put together basements are all too common, but a nice carpet in the basement adds value and makes it seem like it is a family room.

4. Replace that stained sagging sofa with a nice new sofa.  We carry Lane, SmithBrothers, Marshfield, Best, and Southern Motion.  Don't forget our SmithBrothers Annual Sale is coming soon!

5. Paint and Accessorize--It's amazing what a fresh coat of neutral paint can do for a home. A nice neutral will go a long ways for a sale, but don't stop there.  Don't forget to accessorize with pieces that you'll be able to move from one house to another--they'll add value to the sale and make  your house a home in the meantime.

Or...throw us a line and we'll take care of everything for you!

Until Next Time,

Annette

3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use a Rug Doctor

I understand that it’s tempting to pick up the ole Rug Doctor as your grabbing groceries for the big family gathering this weekend.  In your mind, it will alleviate the Johnny’s muddy shoe prints from yesterday’s “science experiment” and take care of the grape juice that Hannah just HAD to have.  

While this may come as a shock, here are three very good reasons NOT to rent the Rug Doctor:

1. The majority of carpet warranties require the carpet is professionally cleaned every 12-18 months—the Rug Doctor doesn’t qualify.
2. The Rug Doctor doesn’t have the drying power needed to pick up all of the water after cleaning.  Most people don’t allow the carpet to fully dry and create more of a mess than they started with! 
3. Because of point 2, the moisture remaining in the carpet attracts dirt and oils.  The moisture can also cause the metal on the bottom of furniture to rust and leave stains.

Regular professional cleaning is just as important to your carpet as having a trained mechanic perform routine tune-ups on your car.  So sit back, relax, and allow the professionals to take care of the deep cleaning or contact me today for other ideas!

Keep It Clean!

Loren

Making Flooring Last

I have the privilege working with customers who are thrilled to see their new flooring put in and looking forward to a lifetime of enjoyment.  We pride ourselves on our quality products and friendly service and more than anything else; we want to provide you with a product that you are proud to claim as your own.  However, just like a car eventually loses its new car smell, flooring can lose a bit of its luster if not cared for properly.  The first step to proper floor care actually comes before the flooring is installed during the flooring selection process.

High traffic areas demand a high quality product that will stand the test of time.  In many of these areas I recommend using either a hard surface or a carpet such as the Mohawk SmartStrand that is built to endure.  Ceramic still continues to be the most durable flooring option the industry has to offer.

There are a few tried and true tips that are spot on in most situations and should be carefully considered before purchasing any type of flooring.  Pets are very hard on all types of flooring.  Mohawk offers a warranty against pet stains, but you still have to be very careful of your pet’s claws.  Young children are also very capable of doing a number on your flooring, so be sure to ask about our kid-friendly options that are known for durability and stain resistance.  Generally speaking, rugs and walk off mats remove 80 percent of the dirt off of shoes, but taking it one step further and removing shoes is even better.  Bare feet are hard on carpets as the oils from your skin get into the carpet and latch onto any dirt making it more difficult to remove and slowly untwisting the carpet fibers.

There is a remedy for all of your carpet care needs: professional hot water extraction cleaning every 12-18 months.  This cleaning will put the twist back in the carpet and is very effective for carpets looking drab and weathered.  Many people find rental carpet cleaners such as the RugDoctor work well, but our experience has shown they often do more harm than good as most homeowners don’t remove all of the water or allow proper drying time.  It is recommended to vacuum your house as many times per week as the people living in your house.

Stop by today and talk with our flooring professionals about all of the new options for your home.

Until Next Time,

Loren