Declutter Your Home
Posted by irentnc on Mar 11, 2014 in Blog, Home Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized | 0 comments
How many times do you open that single drawer in your kitchen only to find that anything you take out is tangled, smashed, or broken? It is the drawer that holds a variety of small yet frequently used items that have nothing to do with Kitchen activities. This past weekend, I went into my “junk” drawer to grab the mail key and found myself literally digging for it. That was it! I began walking around the downstairs of my house opening drawers and cabinets to see what was in each one. Not only did I find items I had been missing but I also saw lots of items that I know we would never use. This was the moment when I dedicated my day and planned out future days to declutter my home. Here is my process and what I found to be pretty helpful. Plan your process First address areas in your home that a) drive you crazy; b) are used more often; and c) correlate with another area needing a good cleaning. Second, figure out if you are going to need to purchase boxes, plastic drawer dividers, bins, etc. You will want to run out to purchase these items before you get started so you don’t loose momentum by running to the store mid-way through. **If your unsure how to organize certain areas, log onto any of the popular house/home websites to get great ideas. Set a time Limit While you are riffling through all your stuff, it is easy to get caught up in finding random forgotten items. I found myself browsing through old photo albums and college writings. When I looked at the clock, I had spent 20 min reminiscing and was still surrounded by stuff I had taken out of the closet! Give yourself a time limit and set your phone to remind you of when time is running out. Use the 4 box method Take a look around your house and find 3...
Let Your Lifestyle be Your Guide
Posted by irentnc on May 29, 2013 in Blog, Home Tips and Tricks | 0 comments
Whether looking for a vacation rental by owner, a new home, or a resort to enjoy a holiday… look for functionality and style! Do you need warm and intimate? Maybe you need spacious living quarters with lots of bedrooms and bathrooms. Whatever your plans, examine your intent and purpose. Jot down “must haves” and a few “nice-to-haves” to give you direction to your search. Look at your lifestyle and your preferences in maintaining your home or rental. Time is a key factor in your ability to keep a place clean, clutter free, and inviting. Keep in mind the mother nature factor… weather, pests, and vegetation are all things that will take control of your outdoor living spaces and exterior materials of your home if they are not tended to on a regular basis. The thought of lots of land and privacy is always enticing but some people quickly realize that much of your free time will be eaten up by the amount of time and effort it requires to maintain all this space. At the end of the day, your lifestyle should be the guiding factor in your rental, home, or vacation decisions. Price is always a consideration and lets face it, most of us want VALUE. Why pay 10x’s more for all your requirements when you could get a deal and have money left over. If you are not afraid of a little sweat equity then perhaps you can save a little bit of money up front by purchasing a home that needs some work in renovations. If you are looking for a vacation rental, look to a travel site such as Groupon or Costco travel. Sometimes you can get your entire trip rolled into a package which ends up saving some money rather than planning it al a carte. A dwelling speaks volumes about one’s personality! Cozy comfort casual are fine for some… while others enjoy organizing Feng Shui techniques. We all know when we enter a...
Property Management Tip: Disaster Proof Your Home
Posted by irentnc on Aug 27, 2012 in Blog, Home Tips and Tricks | 1 comment
We have a family condo located in Destin FL and as we read these articles about hurricane Issac, there is a little sense of panic due to uncertainty. Being that California and Florida are on opposite coasts of our great nation, we have to make decisions as to how we are going to prepare for such a massive storm being that we live so far away. As I start to do some preliminary research, I came across this article on the FORBES site: http://www.forbes.com/sites/morganbrennan/2012/08/27/as-hurricane-isaac-threatens-the-gulf-coast-last-minute-ways-to-disaster-proof-your-home/ It is a great read and in my opinion, is applicable to any home in any state. Mother nature and human accidents leave you, your home, and all your belongings susceptible to some destruction. The best advice is to ensure that your insurance policies are accurate and up-to-date. This article is an easy read and even includes some photos for an added emphasis. Photo courtesy...
Only YOU Can Prevent House Fires
Posted by irentnc on Apr 5, 2012 in Blog, Home Tips and Tricks | 0 comments
Hi Blog-land! With the nature of our business being Real Estate, we tend to look at monster sites/companies like Zillow® for helpful advice. I was reading through my “Zillow Buzz” e-mail when I stumbled upon an article that hit close to home, too close. Please read on for my story… The Story One EARLY Monday morning my Husband and I woke up at 4:45am to get him ready for an important work function in the Bay Area. I walked downstairs into the kitchen and smelled something strange, burnt, and eerie. My 12 year old cat started to act funny as well with her posture upright and head pointed towards the kitchen. Trying to ignore the strange smell I looked to my 300 gallon in-wall saltwater fish tank and saw my nocturnal shark swimming gracefully. When I went to the front of the tank glass to check this out, the smell got really strong. As I opened the large wood doors for access under the tank I saw water EVERYWHERE! Getting a little closer I noticed the wall bracing the back of the tank was blackened (as in charred) and the surge protector controlling 75% of my tank was sparking. Needless to say my husband had to shut off the breaker and our morning got to be really long and tedious, to say the least. What We Learned Water and electricity do not mix! We should have paid closer attention to the fact that condensation from the sump below the tank was accumulating on all electrical cords causing water to enter the electrical outlet. See the picture above for a look at the burnt and melted the plastic outlet panel. We now have a covered outlet and all cords are either covered or hanging vertically. The really scary thing is that we got lucky. The whole house could have caught on fire while we were sleeping. Ignorance is not bliss in this case so I urge you to read this...
Prepare your home for Spring-Summer
Posted by irentnc on Mar 29, 2012 in Blog, Home Tips and Tricks | 2 comments
Here in the Sacramento area, we have been very fortunate to see rain over the past couple weeks. This is much needed precipitation as it will help to fill our lakes and rivers as well as providing water to all vegetation. As I begin to fantasize about the upcoming beautiful summer sunny days I realize that I need to start thinking about “summerizing” my home. From entertaining in the backyard to opening windows on a perfect spring day there are some maintenance items that we should all consider taking care of a-head-of-time before the seasons change. Besides the usual A/C filter replacements, I have linked articles below that will help you to create our spring-summer preparation checklist. Check them out! Source: Fresh Home Interior Design and Architecture http://freshome.com/2011/03/01/how-to-prepare-your-home-for-the-spring-season/ Source: the Nest...
How to Clean White Kitchen Tile Grout
Posted by irentnc on Mar 16, 2012 in Blog, Home Tips and Tricks | 7 comments
In my opinion, a white tiled counter top can really add to the look of a crisp/clean kitchen. Don’t get me wrong, granite is a very popular material of choice but bright white kitchens leave room for unlimited decor color choices and easy modifications with changes in seasons. In a perfect world this white counter top would always look amazing with a simple daily wipe down with an all-purpose cleaner and a sponge. However, this is not the case… daily use and normal wear and tear can leave the once white tile grout looking dark and dingy. When it is time to clean the grout do not make the same mistake that I did. I went to the local big box hardware store and purchase a “tile grout marker (white)” for $8.00. When I got back to the house and began to draw the paint-like liquid across the grout lines I was only able to reach the second tile when the marker tip was absolutely destroyed and the paint stopped flowing out of the marker. I was able to return this product and resorted to a much cheaper and more effective method. Materials 1 toothbrush 1 spray bottle 1 bottle of Vinegar Directions Dilute the vinegar with water in the spray bottle; spray a generous amount onto the counter; scrub the grout lines with a toothbrush; wipe clean with an all-purpose cleaner (no...
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