FEBRUARY 13, 2017

Countertop Cleaning: Using the Right Products to Retain Their Beauty

By Suzanne Whitenight Pilcher, Marketing Coordinator, Long & Foster Companies.

                                         Custom countertop materials have become a popular choice for homeowners. But with so many options on the market—from granite to glass—the cleaning methods are as varied as the materials themselves.

While it’s best to follow the care instructions provided by your supplier, here’s a list of popular countertop materials and some dos and don’ts to keep them clean and maintain their beauty.

Granite, Marble & Concrete

• Use: Water and dishwashing liquid with a soft cloth or sponge. For stubborn stains, mix dishwashing liquid with a small amount of rubbing alcohol, which also has antiseptic qualities.
• Avoid: Bleach or any products containing ammonia, vinegar or lemon; they are too acidic and will erode the sealant.

Wood

• Use: A wood cleaner to maintain shine and an all-purpose cleaner to remove bacteria. Lemon juice removes stains; add salt to the lemon juice for more abrasion. Warm mineral oil prevents warping and cracking.
• Avoid: Vinegar unless the wood has been sealed; it can dissolve the glue that binds the wood and cause splintering.

Stainless Steel

• Use: A stainless steel cleaner for smudges. Remove rust stains with a mild abrasive cleaner or baking soda mixed with lemon juice.
• Avoid: Water, which causes spots and damage if left long enough.

Glass 

• Use: Soap and water to clean up stains and spills. Glass cleaners will keep it looking its best.
• Avoid: Harsh cleaners, especially those with high acid content because they can damage the surface.

Quartzite & Quartz

• Use: Water and dishwashing liquid with a soft cloth or sponge.
• Avoid: Bleach or any products that contain bleach

Even the kitchen counters of professional chefs can show wear and tear over time.  But proper care and maintenance will help keep them looking like new for years to come.

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Steps to Prepare for Buying a First Home

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

Things to Do Before Buying Your First Home: Part 2

                                      We previously shared with you the first five steps to get ready to buy your first home. From checking your credit profile to attending a home buyer seminar, these tasks are critical to complete before starting your home search.

After you’ve completed those steps, here’s what you need to do next.

Interview real estate agents. Your most important partner when buying a home is a trusted real estate agent who can help you find a home, evaluate the pros and cons of different properties, negotiate for you and protect your interests. Talk to a few real estate agents to find someone with whom you are comfortable and who is knowledgeable about your local market.

Explore neighborhoods. While some buyers know exactly where they want to live, you don’t always find the perfect home in your preferred neighborhood. Look online to find neighborhoods similar to what you want and check them out on the weekends to see what you think about local amenities, commuting distances, schools and the homes. You can alsoexplore communities on the Long & Foster website.

Visit open houses. While it’s best to visit places within your preferred price range, you can look at places above and below your price to get a sense of what’s available and what it costs. Exploring open houses costs nothing but a little time, yet you can learn a lot. Try looking at different types of homes, such as a townhouse or a condo, as well as single family homes, and check out both new construction and resale properties. The more neighborhoods and homes you visit, the more you will be able to recognize property values and to establish your personal preferences.

Make a wish list and a must-have list. In an ideal world, everyone could find everything they want in a home that matches their budget and their preferred location. Realistically, nearly everyone must compromise on something. Creating a list of what matters most will make your decision much easier. If you’ve done your research and know what’s available in your price range, it’s easier to decide which features matter most to you. If you’re buying a home with someone else, you can each make a list of preferences, compare them and begin to discuss where you are each willing to compromise.

Decide if you want to renovate or not. Many buyers realize they can find a property with a lower price if it needs work, but they decide they don’t have the time or experience to renovate. Take the time to think about how much work you would be willing to do or whether you are willing to live with an older kitchen or bathroom for a year or two, since these decisions could be an important piece of your ultimate choice of a home. Keep in mind there are financing options for you to wrap renovations into your mortgage and that it could be easier to do some things, such as replacing or refinishing floors, before you settle into your new home.

Once you’ve got your finances in order, have explored your market and narrowed your priorities, you’ll have a better understanding of your next steps toward homeownership. Throughout the process, your agent should also be there to help you move forward on journey home.

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Downsizing? Ways to Squeeze Storage into a Small Space

10 Ways to Squeeze Storage into your Small Space

Written on February 16, 2017 at 8:00 am , by Chelsey Andrews,

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I’ve mentioned this many times before, but I live in a pretty small home and I LOVE gathering small-space organizing ideas. Today I found even more smart ideas, and below you will find 10 ways to squeeze storage into your small space.

1) I have a ton of craft supplies and they get messy. Set up a little crafting space with a pegboard and rolling cart, and you’re all set. Found onThe 36th Avenue.

2) This is so clever. A corner rod creates a little extra hanging storage in an unused corner! Found on Radical Possibility.

3) There is unused space under your sink! Organize it with these ideas on the Mrs. Meyers blog.

4) This is actually a problem we are dealing with in my home. We need a little table space behind the sofa, but we don’t have the space to put any store-bought tables behind it. Maybe we should make this! Found on Always Never Done.

5) I don’t like how many boxes I have in my small storage space. We would save a little room with this garbage bag dispenser idea. Found onMartha Stewart.

6) I love this little bar table by the window. It’s like having a little cafe in your home. Found on Offbeat and Inspired.

7) Most of us have that little space right behind the door that is not used for anything. Why not use it? This is a clever way to organize kid books in a small space. Found on Yellow Bliss Road.

8) In my home, we REALLY needed more room to store food in the kitchen, so we squeezed a little pantry into the smallest of spaces! See how I did it on the Home Depot blog.

9) Magnetize a cutting board and you can hide it under a kitchen cabinet. Plus, this makes it easy to get to when you need it. Found onFamily Handyman.

10) I know I’m not the only person that has purchased drawer organizers only to find out they don’t fit or they are flimsy and fall apart. This blogger made a drawer organizer on a small budget that fits perfectly into her drawer! Found on Organized Mom.

http://www.bhg.com/blogs/better-homes-and-gardens-style-blog/

Housing Projections - Better or Worse under Trump?

Will Housing Become Better under Trump? Half of Americans Think So

RISMEDIA, Tuesday, February 07, 2017— Americans are "cautiously optimistic" about the housing market, with 69 percent recently surveyed by ValueInsured believing 2017 will be a better year for real estate than 2016, and 52 percent believing housing will become more favorable under the Trump Administration.

The outlook is primarily felt among millennials who are not homeowners. According to the survey, 62 percent of millennials believe the housing market will turn in their favor this year, while the level of confidence held by millennial non-homeowners has gone up the most in the past quarter, to a score of 61.3 in the ValueInsured Housing Confidence Index. (The Index is based on a 100-point scale.) The Index overall, however, has trended downward to 68.0 since September 2016—the first decline since March 2016, driven largely by homeowners.

The sentiment comes in contrast to the drop in share of first-time homebuyers who plan to purchase a home during the spring real estate season this year. A recent report by realtor.com® reveals the percentage of first-time homebuyers who plan to enter the housing market this spring has gone down 10 percent since October 2016—before the presidential election—due to concerns over higher mortgage rates. Mortgage rates rose for the first time in 2017 last week, after falling since the start of the year.

Forty-four percent of millennial non-homeowners in the survey are also confident they can afford a down payment, and 41 percent are expecting it to be easier to buy a home. Research out of Freddie Mac bears out a related trend, showing 40 percent of millennial non-homeowners are making saving for a down payment a priority. (Affording the ideal 20 percent—which ensures better mortgage loan terms—remains elusive.)

Attitudes toward home value, as well, have shifted, with homeowners feeling less confident home prices in their market will rise and their homes are worth what they paid for them, according to the survey. Zillow reports home values grew at an annual rate of 6.8 percent in December 2016.

Still, with the new administration, more than three-quarters of those surveyed believe owning a home is essential to the American Dream, and buying a home, ultimately, is better than renting one.

Source: ValueInsured 

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Furniture That Grows With Your Children

Convertible Furniture: A Boon for Growing Kids

         

RISMEDIA, Tuesday, February 07, 2017— Active kids require bedroom and playroom furniture that is tough enough, and adaptable enough, to offer years of fun and flexibility throughout a child's toddler and early school years—and manufacturers are meeting those needs with a growing number of choices.

Children's room furniture designs previewed at a recent show included pieces new or improved for 2017:

DaVinci-Kalani 4-Way Bed – This flexible bed with a $199 price tag converts from full-sized crib to toddler bed and then daybed, or, with the aid of an optional conversion kit, to a full-sized bed your child can sleep in until he goes off to college. It's made of solid wood that wipes clean with soap and water.

Million-Dollar Baby 4-Way Bed – With its carved posts and classic arches, this $399 model made of New Zealand pine adds plenty of style and flair as it converts from crib to toddler and/or full-sized bed. It's available in Espresso or Grey and is carried at Target stores. Conversion kits are sold separately.

Chicco Urban 6-in-1 Modular Stroller – While the $399 price tag may seem daunting, this versatile product is a stylish and complete solution for baby's changing needs. Comes with a click-in car seat adapter for Chicco's top-rated Keyfit infant car seat, and converts to an infant carriage, toddler stroller, and more.

Crayola Wooden Table and Chair Set – Budding young artists deserve a workspace as bright and colorful as their artwork. At a cost of about $90, the set features chair backs shaped like Crayola crayons, and each table corner has a fabric pocket to hold art supplies. Flip over the erasable whiteboard top and a black chalkboard surface awaits.

Little Tykes Picnic Style Set with Umbrella – This indoor-outdoor polystyrene set features bench seating and an umbrella to shield your kiddos from the sun. Bonus: It's inexpensive at under $50, lightweight enough to move easily, and folds flat for storage when not in use.

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