Author: Platinum Team

Everyone wants to know what their home's value is. Whether you are preparing to sell your home, shopping around for homeowners insurance, or are just curious, home value is an ever fluctuating thing that can be a bit tricky to nail down. Of course, you can always hire a certified professional to estimate your home's value but if you are just looking to get a general idea, hiring a professional is not completely necessary. You can estimate your home's value by examining a few things and taking a few basic steps.
One simple place to start is with comparables. Take a look at your neighborhood, check out homes that have recently sold near your home and see what they have sold for. It is important to not only look at nearby sales, but to look at nearby sales of similar homes to your home. Homes that have similar square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, yards, and upgrades. There may be a home that recently sold on your street that is the same size but that is completely remodeled and upgraded. If your home has the same square footage and bedrooms, but is 20 years old and has never been remodeled, your home likely has a lower value. Also, keep in mind that you need to compare recent sales because the market is continuously fluctuating and the same house could sell for a completely different price from one year to the next. Take into account your location, school district, distance to area attractions, crime rate and more. All of these factors will influence your home value. If you have made significant upgrades to your home like high end flooring or a pool in the yard, these things will also influence your home's value. For this reason, simply comparing homes in the area by square footage is unreliable.
Additionally, there are websites such as Zillow or Redfin that have home value calculators in which you can input your home's information and they will give you a rough estimate. But, most real estate agents warn that these estimators are often inaccurate. Once you have formulated a general idea of how much your home is worth, if you still need a more specific number, you can hire a professional to come and assess your home's value. Bigger Pockets points out why this is the most reliable method of determining value, especially if you are going to list your home for sale, "Appraisals are generally considered the most reliable home valuation tool. An appraisal is nothing more than one person’s opinion of a property’s value but that person has been formally trained and certified in rendering opinions on home values. The best appraisals are those performed by appraisers who do most or all of their business in the subject property’s neighborhood. We all know how a few blocks can make a huge difference in location, especially in large cities, and thus value. Apples to apples getting a property appraised will generally give you the most accurate value of the home." With your home value determined, you can plan to sell your home, determine what kind of homeowners insurance you need or see how well your investment is paying off.

In the long list of "to-do's" that many of us face day in and day out, it can be easy to let maintaining our home fall behind. Our kitchen appliances works hard every day for us and our families, storing food, cooking food and cleaning our dishes. Kitchen appliances get used often, but how often are we really taking care of them? With some regular maintenance, we can keep our kitchen appliances running properly and extend the life of the appliances significantly.
The refrigerator is an essential appliance for any household. It does not matter if it is constantly packed to the brim or spends most of its time somewhat bare, it needs regular maintenance. The first and most simple way to maintain your refrigerator is to immediately clean up any spills that occur inside of the refrigerator with warm, soapy water. Next, vacuum the bottom rear of your refrigerator where the condenser coils are to prevent debris accumulation from blocking air flow and diminishing energy efficiency.
When your microwave starts to look a little grungy and you see little pieces of food all over the inside, it is probably time to clean your microwave. Clean out the inside of your microwave with warm, soapy water and get rid of any food pieces. If things still seem stuck on, it still appears dirty or has a bad odor, you can microwave one cup of water for about three minutes and let it sit in the microwave for a few minutes longer. This will help steam off anything that is particularly stuck on and should be able to be removed easily with a cloth.
Most everyone relies on a dishwasher to clean their dishes these days. Dishwashers get used regularly and go through a lot to keep our dishes looking nice. Just because the dishwasher is in charge of washing things, does not mean it is constantly clean. First, check the seals to make sure you do not see any cracks. If they look ok, just wipe them down with some warm, soapy water. Next, check the drain for any debris or food particles and clean it out if any has built up. Additionally, you can pour some white vinegar in your empty dishwasher and run it. It will help remove any buildup inside your dishwasher and help remove any odors.
For your oven, range or stovetop, it is important to follow manufacturer instructions as there is a large range of products with different methods of cleaning. Some may be self cleaning and others may not be. A basic rule of thumb to always follow is to clean up your oven, stovetop or range after each use and immediately remove any spills (as soon as it is safe to do so) to prevent hard-to-clean buildup. For almost all of the kitchen appliances, cleaning with warm soapy water will go a long way and when extra help is needed, basic household items such as vinegar and baking soda will help remove any tough spills.

Everyone knows that when those temperatures start rising, so do the energy bills. Cooling a home during the summer months can be very expensive but it beats the alternative....sweating it out. Rising temperatures do not have to mean choosing between paying an arm and leg and living in a hot box. There are many great solutions to keeping the house cool while still keeping energy bills down.
• Tip #1: Start Outside
o No, we do not mean that you have to spend your day sunbathing. That will not solve any heat problems. Plant leafy trees that are preferably large in scale or will grow to be. Leafy trees will help diffuse light and keep that hot sun from directly heating up your home.
• Tip #2: Set The Thermostat
o You do not have to have your thermostat set to 85 degrees when you are home to generate some savings. If you have a programmable thermostat, program it for a warmer temperature setting when you are away from home. Your air conditioner will have to work less hard to cool your home and the good news is you will not even be there to feel the difference. If you do not mind it, you can also set the thermostat for one or two degrees warmer at night where you are unlikely to notice the difference. Also, if you tend to like keeping your home fairly cool, consider raising the temperature by two degrees. Even changing your general thermostat setting from 76 to 78 degrees will yield a savings when it comes to energy bills.
• Tip #3: Use Your Fans
o Make sure your fans are set to spin in the correct direction to push cool air through the room. And, if your ceiling fan is not getting it done, consider adding a floor fan to keep rooms cooler and you more comfortable.
• Tip #4: Reduce Your Stove & Oven Use
o Your stove and oven will heat up a room quickly. If you can avoid it, try to use other methods of preparing food when temperatures are particularly warm. Break out the crock pot, prepare a lovely summer salad or utilize a grill to reduce the heat int he home and keep cool.
• Tip #5: Turn Off Electronics
o When you are not using electronics such as your computer or television system, turn them off. Not only does keeping them on use energy even when you are not using them, but it also puts off heat in the room. Turning them off will help keep a room cooler and energy bills down.

Often, when people think of home decor and design, they imagine the types of cabinets and flooring they might install, or the faucets and light fixtures, or even the style of furniture they might choose.  Certainly, you will spend a lot of time inside your home and should enjoy the decor and design of the interior.   But, just because you spend time designing the interior does not mean you should forget the importance of curb appeal.  When you or your guests pull up to your home, you want your home and its exterior to be beautiful and inviting.  Whether your home's exterior needs a lot of work or a little, there are some simple ways to improve curb appeal and make your home stand out on the street.
The first way to improve your home's curb appeal is to simply clean up the yard.  Do not let weeds grow in or the lawn get overgrown.  When overgrowth occurs, it looks like you have stopped taking care of your home.  Next, if your home's exterior needs a fresh coat of paint, now is the time to do so.  Choose a color that fits in with the neighborhood and the style of home you have but that you love.  If you are looking to add a pop of color or something a little more unique, consider painting our front door.  What is more fun or shows more personality than a bright and inviting red door, or a lovely and sunny yellow front door.  Choose a color that coordinates with your house but that adds that special pop of color you are looking for.  Additionally, house numbers may seem like a boring but necessary adornment on any home.  Yes, they are important because they help people find your home but that does not mean they have to be the standard house numbers you see on everyone's home.  Add some new house numbers to show a flair of personality.  There are many fonts and styles available to match any type of architectural design.  Do you have a modern home but traditional house numbers?  Change them out for some large, bold and sleek house numbers that  will add visual interest to your home's exterior.
Next, it is time to dress up your porch a little.  Have you had the same tired, faded old chair sitting on your porch for as long as you can remember?  Add some new furniture to your porch to show your design sense before anyone even steps foot in your home.  And speaking of decorating your porch, add some fresh flowers in a pot or an interesting plant near the front door to add a little life and vibrancy to your entry.  And, if you have a path leading to your house, clean it up and make any necessary repairs and then consider adding some lighting to the path.  The lighting will add ambiance and safety for anyone who is visiting your home.
When you follow these tips, you will be sure to boost the curb appeal of your home and make any guest excited to come inside.

Once you have decided to sell your home, there are a few steps to take to ensure your home is ready to be sold.  It may seem simple to post a "For Sale" sign out front, or even put your real estate listing online, but if your home is not prepared, it will not be in ideal condition to attract buyers and get top dollar.  Take proper steps to ensure your home is ready to be seen by potential buyers so that you can make a quick sale and get the most for your house.
First thing is first, before you can truly prepare your home for sale, you have to organize and de-clutter.  As much as you might love that wall to wall display of antique plates you have collected, you have to prepare yourself that it may not be everyone's taste.  And, as you live in a house, it is easy for clutter to accumulate or rooms to start to feel overcrowded.  Clear out anything that is non-essential for decor and home staging and keep things un-cluttered so that potential buyers can really see the home they are considering purchasing.
Next, it is time to take that newly un-cluttered and organized home and make it neutral.  If you have a bold choice of paint that may not be everyone's style, consider repainting to a more neutral and universally appealing paint color.  Remove personal photos so that when someone walks into your home to think about making a purchase, they do not constantly see your face everywhere they look and feel like they are intruding. With a neutral space, potential buyers will begin to make themselves feel at home and start picturing putting their own possessions inside the home.
Now is the time to make any necessary repairs.  Anything that is obvious to the eye or that you know needs to be repaired should be repaired.  It may be tempting to ignore some things that need to be repaired but a home inspector will find any problems and recommend that they be repaired anyway and if it looks like you are trying to hide something it could scare off an interested buyer.
Once you have made all of the necessary repairs and created a neutral space, it is important to thoroughly clean your home.  This does not mean just dusting, it means deep cleaning.  If deep cleaning is not your forte, consider hiring professional cleaners who can come in and get your home "open house" ready.  Additionally, it is important to address the outside of your home and landscaping as well.
Curb appeal cannot be underestimated.  When someone pulls up to your home, you want the exterior of your home to make them excited to come inside and see more.  This means any weeds should be pulled, overgrown grass should be mowed, new flowers should be planted and any plants or shrubs should be trimmed.  Consider repainting your front door and putting a new welcome mat out to make the exterior of your home that much more inviting.
Lastly, one important way to prepare your home for sale is to purchase a home warranty if you do not already have one.  A home warranty will show to buyers that your home is a good purchase and will be protected if anything should happen.  It will entice a potential buyer to put in an offer and feel comfortable purchasing your home.  When you have done these things to prepare you home for sale, you can rest assured your home is ready to attract buyers and get the best offer possible.
 
 

 
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