Sussex County Real Estate Matters – Affecting Seaford, Georgetown, Lauel, Milton, Delmar, Bridgevil
In politics… never retreat, never retract… never admit a mistake.” Napoleon Bonaparte “It is unfortunate that our Congress has this emblazoned in their creed.” (Fred)
Today is Election Day. This is a very important election. Your duty as a citizen is to VOTE–many lives were given so that you can VOTE. Only if you VOTE can you complain about the outcome. On a Partisan note—vote the incumbents out—they have done nothing for us and think only of themselves, it is time to start anew!
With Hurricane Sandy in our midst I just wanted to take a moment to link up some great sites for emergency preparedness. All families should have an emergency plan in place, including a disaster kit for each family member. It’s too late to go out now, but check out these ideas and put together what you can using things you have lying around. Do it now before the worst of the storm gets here!
With Hurricane Sandy in our midst I just wanted to take a moment to link up some great sites for emergency preparedness. All families should have an emergency plan in place, including a disaster kit for each family member. It’s too late to go out now, but check out these ideas and put together what you can using things you have lying around. Do it now before the worst of the storm gets here!
Be Read Cross Ready – a list of the minimum basic supplies you should have put together by the American Red Cross. This site includes links on the left hand side to help you navigate through a wealth of information on emergency preparedness, including special sections on children, people with disabilities, seniors, and pets.
Basic Disaster Supplies – This list is put together by FEMA, which is the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There are a lot of helpful tips too.
Survival Checklist – This printable checklist published by Popular Mechanics is 107 emergency supplies everyone should have divided up by what should be kept in your home, your car, and a backpack ready to-go at any time.
And finally, this link will take you directly to FEMA’s Hurricane Safety information. As we weather this storm we just want to remind you to stay safe!
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.
It’s the time of year when lots of people have fires burning in their fireplaces, so here are five tips for dealing with firewood:
It’s the time of year when lots of people have fires burning in their fireplaces, so here are five tips for dealing with firewood:
1. Know what a cord looks like. A cord should be 4 feet high, 4 feet deep, and 8 feet long. If you purchase your firewood by the cord, do your best to make sure that you are getting everything you pay for.
2. Know the difference between “seasoned” and “green.” Seasoned wood is dry and has been out in the open air for a while after its been cut. Green wood still has a lot of moisture content so it burns cooler and is therefore not as efficient.
3. Consider long term storage. You should never store firewood against your house, but it should be kept in an area where it can be kept dry but still have access to the wind and sun. The best option is a shed with open sides for air circulation but a roof and raised floor to protect the wood from absorbing rain and snow.
4. Think about indoor storage. Keeping a small amount of wood indoors makes it more convenient, especially if you are using your fireplace as an alternate heat source. It is best to store about a weeks’ worth of wood indoors, if possible. The basement or garage is an excellent option for indoor storage. Just be sure that wherever you store your wood it is far from the fireplace or anywhere else where it could combust.
5. Keep safe. Of course you will want to store a very small amount of wood directly at your fireplace. There are many options for storing this wood (some more attractive than others!), so you just have to find one that fits your style and needs. However, do be sure to keep the wood far enough away that it won’t catch fire if sparks fly. And never, ever, ever store kindling or other combustible materials near your fireplace. Although it may be convenient it is not safe. A home with a fireplace is lovely. A home that catches fire because of the fireplace is just unsafe.
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.
3 Ways to Cut the Cost of Homeowner’s Insurance
1. Raise Your Deductible
Your deductible is the amount you agree to pay before insurance kicks in to cover any claim. Raising your deductible from $100 to $1,000 can save you up to 25% on your insurance premium.
2. Bundle Your Policies
By combining your homeowners insurance with your auto insurance policy you can qualify for a discount of up to 10%.
3. Get Rid of Coverage You Don’t Need
If you don’t live in an earthquake zone, then earthquake coverage is just costing you more money. Same thing goes for flood insurance, jewelry policies, and more. Comb over your coverage and dump the unnecessary parts to lower your premium.
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.
Buying a foreclosed property can be a great deal, but it can also be confusing and stressful. Here are five things you should know to make the process easier.
Buying a foreclosed property can be a great deal, but it can also be confusing and stressful. Here are five things you should know to make the process easier.
Take it or leave it. Foreclosures are sold “as is.” In a normal home sale the sellers are required by law to make all kind of disclosures about issues that the home has had in the past, repairs made to the home, repairs that need to be made to the home, etc. In the foreclosure process the banks make it clear that they don’t live in the home, have never lived in the home, and have no idea about the home’s history, so you won’t be getting disclosures of any kind. The home is yours to take or leave just as it is.
Check out the neighborhood. The neighborhood that the home is in can tell you a lot about the potential value of the home. Are there lots of homes for sale in the neighborhood? Are the homes primarily rental properties or are they owner occupied? Are the homes and yards nicely kept or is the neighborhood falling into disrepair? The answers to all of these questions can give you a good clue about whether or not you will be getting a good deal if you are to purchase the foreclosed property.
Forget contingencies. In a normal sale there are all kinds of contingencies that you can write into your contract without worrying about potentially losing the deal. One of the most common is to make your offer contingent on the sale of your own home, but there are many others as well. In a foreclosure sale no contingencies are the way to go. The less reason you give the bank to reject your offer, the more likely you are to get the home.
Use cash. Or at the very least have all of your financing secured. Pre-approval does not necessarily mean that the financing will come through quickly enough in the foreclosure process. The less hassle you have to go through to get the money, the better it is. Cash is always the best option.
It’s all on you. Depending on the laws in the area of the foreclosure you may have a short window of time to have an inspection done before committing to closing. In this case, everything is riding on you. It is up to you to know what work needs to be done to the home and how much it is going to cost. Again, this goes back to the fact that there are no seller disclosures when dealing with a foreclosure. Hire a trusted inspector (consider having two inspectors look at the property) and follow-up by hiring any necessary specialty inspectors and/or contractors to give you as much information as possible before closing because uncovering potential problems is your responsibility alone when buying a foreclosed property.
Cooper Realty Associates are REO specialists in Sussex County. If you’re thinking of buying a foreclosed property, give us a call and put our expertise to work for you – 302-856-6434.
If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market and you aren’t going the “for sale by owner” route, you need a listing agent. There are many choices when it comes to real estate agents, so here are a few tips to help you evaluate the agents you are considering.
If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market and you aren’t going the “for sale by owner” route, you need a listing agent. There are many choices when it comes to real estate agents, so here are a few tips to help you evaluate the agents you are considering. First, considering asking the agent’s for their data. Looking at the sale-to-list ratio (how much the homes your agent has listed have sold for as compared to what they were listed for) as well as how long their homes have been on the market will give you a good idea of how well they know the local market. Just remember that there is no absolute rule here since everything is relative so there is no “magic number” you are looking for when you look at these statistics, but if you are comparing several local agents this information can help you.
At Cooper Realty Associates we would be happy to share our experience and local stats with you. Feel free to give us a call and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.
If you want to sell your home federal, state, and local laws require you to disclose any information that affects the value or desirability of your property to potential buyers from the get-go. Here are three pieces of information you must disclose:
If you want to sell your home federal, state, and local laws require you to disclose any information that affects the value or desirability of your property to potential buyers from the get-go. Here are three pieces of information you must disclose:
1. Physical condition: This refers to the overall structure of the home and includes the foundation, roof, electrical system, plumbing, insulation, sewage, etc.
2. Health & safety hazards: This includes environmental hazards and disclosures about past damage from natural disasters as well and includes disclosers about lead-based paint, asbestos, radon.
3. Legal concerns: This includes disclosing any pending lawsuits and compliance with local building and zoning codes.
As always, your agent can guide you through this process, so you want to be sure you have a great one… give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-856-6434.
Escrow basically means to place something important in the custody of an impartial third party. In real estate, an escrow account is utilized after an offer has been accepted and while the buyer and seller are working to meet the conditions of the contract. This is the state of being “in escrow.” The escrow officer could be an attorney, title company, specific escrow firm, or other qualified and impartial third party. The escrow officer orders a title search, requests payoff information for the existing mortgage and any other liens on the property, prepares all documents including the grant deed to transfer ownership, prepares the closing documents, and takes charge of all funds involved in the transaction, such as paying off the existing mortgage.
Escrow basically means to place something important in the custody of an impartial third party. In real estate, an escrow account is utilized after an offer has been accepted and while the buyer and seller are working to meet the conditions of the contract. This is the state of being “in escrow.” The escrow officer could be an attorney, title company, specific escrow firm, or other qualified and impartial third party. The escrow officer orders a title search, requests payoff information for the existing mortgage and any other liens on the property, prepares all documents including the grant deed to transfer ownership, prepares the closing documents, and takes charge of all funds involved in the transaction, such as paying off the existing mortgage.
Of course, like all things confusing things, the term escrow also has a second meaning in the real estate world. It can also mean an account that your mortgage company requires you to keep a certain balance in to cover the cost of property taxes and insurance when they come due.
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County, give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.
Whether you are a buyer or a seller, you want to be sure that when you buy (or sell) a home your contract is definitive when it comes to what comes with the house and what doesn’t.
Whether you are a buyer or a seller, you want to be sure that when you buy (or sell) a home your contract is definitive when it comes to what comes with the house and what doesn’t. Even if there is a spoken agreement about what comes with the house, be sure to get everything you care about in writing, otherwise it is not binding. For example, if you are a buyer who desires the washer and dryer that were in the house during the showing, ask for it in writing. Typically, items that are permanently attached such as flooring, light fixtures, built in bookcases are included unless they are specifically excluded in writing. If, for example, a seller excludes the fireplace mantel because it’s a family heirloom that would need to be in writing. Be sure to ask in writing for the buyer to replace the fixture before closing. Likewise, if the house is equipped with a wall mount for a flat screen television that you don’t want, write it into the contract for the sellers to remove it and make any necessary repairs to the walls, etc.
If you’re a buyer don’t make the mistake of thinking that everything you saw when you viewed the house is coming with it just because it “goes with the home.” For example a fountain, potted plants, custom bar stools, or a table that fits so perfectly in the breakfast nook that it seems like a built-in may or may not come with the home. So, what’s the moral of the story? If you’re a buyer and you want it, you need to ask for it. And if the buyers agree, be sure to write it into the contract! If you’re a seller and you’re planning to take your items with you, making that clear to the buyers from the get-go can make your life easier, but whatever you do, be sure to write everything that you care about into your contract.
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County, give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.
Yesterday I wrote about tips for finding a contractor. Today, I am following up with tips for getting the best bid. When you’re planning an addition or remodel, knowing the average costs of the job you hope to do is helpful. One helpful guide for figuring average costs is to judge by the square footage of your space. Generally speaking, for a gut remodel,
Yesterday I wrote about tips for finding a contractor. Today, I am following up with tips for getting the best bid. When you’re planning an addition or remodel, knowing the average costs of the job you hope to do is helpful. One helpful guide for figuring average costs is to judge by the square footage of your space. Generally speaking, for a gut remodel, a kitchen remodel falls between $170-180 per square foot, a powder room averages around $130-140 per square foot, a full bathroom averages around $155-170 per square foot, and a family or living room runs about $85-$100 per square foot. Once you factor the average range for your space, adjust for labor costs in your location (whether they are higher or lower than the average in the nation). In the Sussex County area, increasing the general estimate by about 30-40% is probably a good average. Once you’ve done that, you can adjust your estimated cost up or down based on the finishes you desire. These averages assume mid-range fixtures, but if you’re going for upgrades such as granite countertops or stainless steel appliances in a kitchen or stone tile, heated floors, and soaking tubs in the bathroom, you need to raise your number again, by at least 30-50% depending on the number of upgrades you want. Once you have a very general idea of the kind of estimate you are looking at, you can adjust your project to fit your budget (consider less updates or skip the gut remodel and replace or refinish what you’ve got instead!). Then, go out there and get your (minimum of 3!) estimates. Finally, be upfront with the contractors you choose about your bottom line and they will be able to help you get the most bang for your buck!
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associate and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266!
If you’re thinking of building or remodeling and you need to hire a contractor, consider these tips from the Contractor State License Board (CSLB). The CSLB is a state organization in California that licenses and regulates the state’s construction industry and protects consumers. Although we are several time zones away from California, the suggestions they offer are an excellent take away for consumers in any state.
If you’re thinking of building or remodeling and you need to hire a contractor, consider these tips from the Contractor State License Board (CSLB). The CSLB is a state organization in California that licenses and regulates the state’s construction industry and protects consumers. Although we are several time zones away from California, the suggestions they offer are an excellent take away for consumers in any state.
If you’re thinking of remodeling, keep these tips in mind! If you’re thinking of buying or selling, give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.
Here at Cooper Realty we are taking a break from our usual Wednesday Weekend Update to wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July!
We are thankful for the freedom of living in the U.S.A! On this, the celebration of the anniversary our nation’s birth we would like to send a special, huge THANK YOU to all the men and women in the armed forces and the families that support them. We thank you for all you have and will sacrifice to keep our country safe and free.
Here at Cooper Realty we are taking a break from our usual Wednesday Weekend Update to wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July!
We are thankful for the freedom of living in the U.S.A! On this, the celebration of the anniversary our nation’s birth we would like to send a special, huge THANK YOU to all the men and women in the armed forces and the families that support them. We thank you for all you have and will sacrifice to keep our country safe and free.
We hope that everyone enjoys their 4th of July celebrations and remind everyone to keep safe! If you’re looking for something special to do today, check out this list of local events!
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the past couple of days have been H-O-T!!! With weather this hot, cooling bills can be astronomical. In fact, the EPA estimates that the average household spends over $1,000 a year on heating & cooling costs annually. In our region, heating and cooling costs are pretty much split evenly since we enjoy all four seasons and that means that the cooling costs can really add up, but if you’re willing to put in a little bit of effort, there are ways to reduce your cooling costs.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the past couple of days have been H-O-T!!! With weather this hot, cooling bills can be astronomical. In fact, the EPA estimates that the average household spends over $1,000 a year on heating & cooling costs annually. In our region, heating and cooling costs are pretty much split evenly since we enjoy all four seasons and that means that the cooling costs can really add up, but if you’re willing to put in a little bit of effort, there are ways to reduce your cooling costs. First, and most obviously, you can up the temperature you set your thermostat to by 1 or 2 degrees. If you normally keep the temperature at 70, try it at 72. Even if you run a fan to adjust to a warmer temperature, the savings can still equal over 10% of your heating bill. If everyone is out of your house during the day, programming the thermostat to be even higher during the day and kick in the a/c about an hour before you come home. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, get one! Older thermostats alone can cost you $150 or more in energy costs. I just had the thermostat in my home replaced, and I can already tell you I’ve seen an increase in savings in the past month! Cleaning you’re a/c will also save you money. Be sure to change the filter monthly for even greater savings. Seal any air leaks in your home to help save more – check windows, door frames, and seals around attics and crawl spaces especially. Lastly, if you’re able to prevent your home from heating up you will need to run your a/c much less often. Try tips like closing curtains during the day and avoid using hot appliances such as ovens and dryers as much as possible. When you do need to use them, try to use them during the early morning or evening when it isn’t as hot. Replacing an old a/c unit with a new energy efficient model can add up to significant savings too, but with the cost of a new system it could take a season or two for the savings to kick-in. Still, it might be something you want to consider. Happy savings and good luck keeping cool in this summer weather!
This gorgeous home in Millsboro, DE which is currently operating as a popular bed & breakfast has been nominated for the 2012 HGVT Doory Awards. A couple of weeks ago it won first place in its category – best hidden potential, and now its in the final round! Please help Cooper Realty win national recognition… click this link and vote for the home with BEST HIDDEN POTENTIAL! You can vote up to 5x a day, and even register to win a $5,000 prize if you’d like! Voting runs from now until May 11th! In the meantime, get to know this beautiful home…
This gorgeous home in Millsboro, DE which is currently operating as a popular bed & breakfast has been nominated for the 2012 HGVT Doory Awards. A couple of weeks ago it won first place in its category – best hidden potential, and now its in the final round! Please help Cooper Realty win national recognition… click this link and vote for the home with BEST HIDDEN POTENTIAL! You can vote up to 5x a day, and even register to win a $5,000 prize if you’d like! Voting runs from now until May 11th! In the meantime, get to know this beautiful home:
25001 Cannon Road in Millsboro, DE (MLS #592722)
This huge home is set on over 5 acres of beautifully landscaped property. This unique home has over 6,000 square feet of living space, with the main home occupying approximately 4,000 square feet and the converted garage offering over 2,000 square feet of living space divided into two different apartments. This custom built home has 4 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths as well as two apartments that are 1 bed/1 bath each. Walk-in closets, a conference/game room, pond, beautiful salt water pool, and high-end features including Heartland appliances and hardwood floors are some of the awesome amenities offered by this property! This home offers plenty of living space in the Indian River school district and is listed at $699,900.
Interested in this spacious home with gorgeous features and dual apartments? Give us a call at Cooper Realty – 302-644-2266!
I realize that nobody really has “extra storage” in their house, but if you’re able to reorganize in such a way that you can free up some closet space, there are lots of great ways that you can turn it into viable living space. Here are three of my favorites…
I realize that nobody really has “extra storage” in their house, but if you’re able to reorganize in such a way that you can free up some closet space, there are lots of great ways that you can turn it into viable living space. Here are three of my favorites:
In the Kitchen: Baking Zone
A moveable island or butcher block counter on wheels can slide in and out of the closet to add both storage and workspace. High shelves allow storage for baking pans, tins, cookie cutters, etc. Vertical slats offer convenient space for storing cookie sheets, cooling racks, and more. Hang hooks on the back of the door for measuring cups and spoons, potholders, towels, and other miscellaneous odds and ends.
In the Bathroom: First Aid Center
By storing items that are only used occasionally (humidifiers, heating pads, etc.) on high shelves, that leaves the rest of the space available to store items in bins separated by family member or item type. Another great way to store first aid products is on shelf that turns so that it’s easier to see everything at once – don’t forget to regularly purge expired products!
Any Room: Home Office
By painting the interior of the closet a colorful shade and hanging a light fixture, a closet can be turned into a lovely and functional office with just the addition of a work surface. Adding table legs, wall brackets, and a solid surface to a prefinished shelf creates a perfect desk and by adding some bookshelves, filing cabinets, bulletin boards, and other office accessories you’ve got yourself a nice home office that can easily be closed off when you’re not using it.
There are lots of things you can do with a closet, an afternoon, and a bit of creativity! Which one is your favorite?
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266!
With the housing market in its current state, many people are opting to rent rather than buy. They feel that renting gives them more flexibility and won’t leave them possibly unable to keep their house should they lose their job or have another hardship befall them. However, there couldn’t be a better time to buy! In fact, in 98% of today’s top housing markets, buying a home is actually more affordable than renting!
With the housing market in its current state, many people are opting to rent rather than buy. They feel that renting gives them more flexibility and won’t leave them possibly unable to keep their house should they lose their job or have another hardship befall them. However, there couldn’t be a better time to buy! In fact, in 98% of today’s top housing markets, buying a home is actually more affordable than renting!
There are several reasons that buying is almost universally more affordable than renting. First, home prices are at record lows throughout the country. Second, mortgage rates are at historic lows. And third, landlords acknowledge that they have control in a market flooded which results in high rent prices.
So, if you’re in a position to save for a down-payment now is the time to buy! Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and let us help you get out of your rental and into your own home – 302-629-6693.
Green home improvements continue to be a trendy topic when talking about real estate. Since yesterday was Earth Day I thought I’d highlight a few easy ways you can go green on the cheap….
Green home improvements continue to be a trendy topic when talking about real estate. Since yesterday was Earth Day I thought I’d highlight a few easy ways you can go green on the cheap.
Cleaning Products
With a little white vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, liquid soap, tea tree oil, glycerin, and empty bottles you can make your own green, non-toxic cleaning products. These products are better for your home, the environment, and your wallet!
Insulation
Improving the insulation in your home means less drafts, which in turn means less money spent to heat or cool your home. There are simple, inexpensive ways to add insulation to your home too, such as plugging your outlets with outlet protectors, using rope caulk around the perimeter of windows, and using foam insulating pads to plug air leaks elsewhere.
Dust Your Light Bulbs
Clean bulbs emit more light than dirty ones, plus dirty bulbs burn up faster and need to be replaced more often.
Be Aware Of Your Energy Output
If you are going to do laundry, make sure you’ve got a full load. If you are planning to turn on the oven, do your baking for whole week at the same time. Don’t run the dishwasher half empty. Use your appliances wisely, and if it doesn’t need to stay plugged in (like a fridge or freezer), unplug it when it’s not in use. To make it easier, plug electronics like a tv, dvd player, gaming system, etc. into one power strip and turn the power strip on and off as needed.
Of course, if you really want to go green you can always upgrade to eco-friendly appliances or add solar panels to your home, but these are not exactly easy on the wallet!
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266!
Delaware has its own geocaching trail that includes 75 locations statewide, with many in Sussex County, including a couple in Cape Henlopen State Park! If you love being outdoors, surrounded by the beauty of nature then you should try geocaching.
Have you heard of geocaching? Geocaching is basically a big outdoor treasure hunt! Participants use a GPS or other navigational techniques to locate small boxes called “caches” and hide other caches. Currently there are over 5 million geocachers in the world with caches in over 100 countries and on all seven continents. Delaware has its own geocaching trail that includes 75 locations statewide, with many in Sussex County, including a couple in Cape Henlopen State Park! If you love being outdoors, surrounded by the beauty of nature then you should try geocaching. It’s fun whether you just try it once or make it a regular day of it!
Interested in buying your selling a home in Southern Delaware? Give us a call at Cooper Realty and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266!
Delaware Today recently published an article on why Kent and Sussex Counties are great places to retire. After reading it, I began to think of the many reasons that retiring to the Delaware beaches is ideal for many people. Here are my top five reasons…
Delaware Today recently published an article on why Kent and Sussex Counties are great places to retire. After reading it, I began to think of the many reasons that retiring to the Delaware beaches is ideal for many people. Here are my top five reasons:
Thinking of retiring to Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associate and let us help you find the ideal home – 302-644-2266!
For some people, spring cleaning is not a big deal because they keep their home meticulously clean all year round, but for others (like me!) spring is the perfect time to do a little deep cleaning to make your home sparkle! If you’re like me, here are some tips to help you take this huge undertaking and break it down into manageable pieces. Trust me, at the end, when your home is shining, it is totally worth it!
Spring is well under way, and though we’ve had several weeks of awesome weather already, we can expect it to start warming up more permanently in the coming days. If you haven’t already done so, now is the perfect time to get a little spring cleaning done! For some people, spring cleaning is not a big deal because they keep their home meticulously clean all year round, but for others (like me!) spring is the perfect time to do a little deep cleaning to make your home sparkle! If you’re like me, here are some tips to help you take this huge undertaking and break it down into manageable pieces. Trust me, at the end, when your home is shining, it is totally worth it!
Step 1: Room by Room
For each room in your house, pick up clutter. Throw away any trash and irreparable objects and separate anything that you want to sell or donate. Make sure everything you own has a “home” and keep them there! Dust and vacuum each room, pulling out and moving furniture to clean around it. Here are some room by room tips:
Step 2: Wash Windows
Using a traditional or homemade window washing solution, clean windows both inside and out. Black and white print newspaper is best for cleaning windows because it doesn’t leave any residue behind, but don’t use any colored newsprint or your windows will look like bad stained glass! It is also best to clean windows on a cloudy day because washing windows when its sunny can cause streaks.
Step 3: Clean Window Treatments
There’s no sense in having clean windows with dirty window treatments! If your curtains or drapes are really dirty you can put them through the washing machine or have them dry cleaned (read your care instructions!), but most of the time your curtains can probably be cleaned by using the proper attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
Step 4: Check for Safety
Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test them to make sure they’re working. If you own a fire extinguisher, make sure its not expired and if you don’t own one, purchase one and learn how to use it!
Step 5: Deep Clean Carpets
Rent a professional grade carpet cleaner and deep clean all the carpets in your house, or hire professionals to do it for you. It’s best to do this after all your other cleaning is done, so that your fresh carpets don’t get covered with residue from all your other cleaning jobs.
Step 6: Clean Your Exterior
Spring is the perfect time to clean the outside of your home – rent a power washer and wash the exterior of your home as well as driveways and sidewalks. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, you can always hire a professional.
Don’t forget:
Interested in buying or selling a home in Southern Delaware? Give us a call at Cooper Real Estate Associates and put us to work for you — 302-856-6434!