Wood Flooring Finishes Explained

The finish of the wood flooring that you choose is extremely important.  It can mean the difference between your floor looking and feeling natural, glossy or even distressed. A wood flooring finish can also slightly alter the texture of the surface of your floor. Read More

Have you got some leftover wood pallets? Don’t throw them out! There are so many creative things you can do with just some simple pallets, in this blog we will give you a few ideas for wood pallets that might motivate you to try it for yourself!

 

When ordering wood flooring, many people keep their leftover planks for spares in the future. They sometimes even find creative uses for them. But what do you do with the pallets your flooring is delivered on? Although they may be conceived as scrap, wooden pallets have the potential to be pretty much anything you want (within reason of course), such as wood pallet furniture-think nightstands, bed frames or benches.

 

Idea 1: Plant holder

A plant holder is a more common option when thinking of wood pallet ideas. A wooden plant holder makes for a very natural and attractive piece in anyone’s back garden. Additionally, you can personalise your creation with any range of our osmo oils!

This will definitely get your neighbours jealous, and you can have the pride of knowing you made it all yourself.

 

Idea 2: Shelving

Pallet shelves provide a rustic look while keeping costs to a bare minimum. If a minimalist aesthetic is what you’re going for, look no further.

If a homemade shelving unit doesn’t quite fit in with your interior, you can always make it shorter and make a coffee table.

 

Idea 3: Table

Using some wooden pallets and a little ingenuity, you can make a beautiful table. Whether it’s being used for decorative purposes, or being used as a dinner table, it will look right at home with the rest of your interior. If you add the correct varnish, you can even make it waterproof and have an outdoor table; perfect for use in the summertime!

 

Idea 4: Outdoor Shelving

Outdoor shelving is one of the more popular choices for most people when thinking of ideas for wood pallets. 

It doesn’t require much work to make, and it results in a very attractive looking piece of shelving for your garden. This is a perfect example of how to make an outdoor storage area for plants.

 

Idea 5: Outdoor Bench 

You may not realise just how much money can be spent on outdoor furniture and other garden features. Wood pallet furniture, more specifically outdoor benches, will look perfect in your garden and could save you money compared to buying outdoor furniture from a store. What’s more, it can add a rustic theme to your garden. 

For an extra bit of comfort, you can always add cushions in nice weather, just remember to take them in if it rains!

 

Idea 6: Outdoor Dining Seats and Tables

If you’re longing for a relaxing place to eat outside on a hot evening, then this is a great option to consider, especially with the price of the assembly being so low. 

To add a little more colour to your wood pallet furniture, there is always the option to paint the pallets to whatever colour you want. a thin coat of paint will give it that worn and rustic look.

 

Idea 7: Headboard 

A simple yet effective way to give your bedroom a natural and farmhouse-style design. We love how this wooden pallet has been re-purposed to create this stylish headboard. You could also separate and stain the separate planks from your wooden pallet, giving the headboard a multi-tone finish.

 

Idea 8: containers

A simple pallet container can save you a lot of room in your house, and puts your pallets to a more practical use. In addition, this adds a natural and raw aesthetic to your home.

Containers like these can be found for upwards of £20 in furniture shops, while you can have yours for nothing!

 

Idea 9: Hand Painted Sign

You can never go wrong with a personalised ornament to hang on your wall, and what better one to have than a handmade one.

This is a great idea if you can’t find the sign you want. The rough look of the wood planks can also add a little character to your home.

This example is one of an endless amount of ideas, you can use to truly make your interior your own.

 

Idea 10: Levitating Bookshelf

Your wooden pallets are more than capable of holding up your books. Using wood stain would be a great idea here, as it can tone the wood to exactly how you like it.

A bookshelf like this would look fantastic in a bedroom or living room; you’ll be sure to get endless compliments!

 

 

Conclusion

With all of these ideas for wood pallets, it may not be as useless as you once thought. You can truly personalise your home or garden to look exactly how you want, and you can do it all using leftover wood! From creative storage solutions to personalised messages, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. If you have any leftover wood flooring, check out these creative uses for herringbone flooring.

 

The post 10 creative Ideas for Wood Pallets appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

Want to ensure a healthy home environment for the people and pets sharing your abode? A consistently clean carpet is a big step in the right direction. It’s not uncommon for a homeowner to put carpet maintenance on the back-burner, but periodic professional carpet cleaning from A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning makes a huge difference.

Why Is It Important To Have Clean Carpets?

Here’s a telling fact: simply vacuuming your carpet at least three times a week significantly benefits anyone in your home with a breathing condition, i.e. asthma or snoring. This information comes straight from the American Lung Association, and it’s proof that even a little bit of carpet maintenance goes a long way. But why stop at a thrice-weekly vacuuming regiment when you can reap the substantial benefits that come with a yearly or twice-yearly professional carpet cleaning? Benefits include:

Mold-Growth Prevention

The dirtier a carpet is, the more susceptible it is to mold growth. This is especially true on rainy days when moisture, dirt, and grime are tracked into a home. Left unattended (in other words, not vacuumed or dried immediately), these particulates waste little time in penetrating deep into the carpet’s fibers, and the more they accumulate, the higher the chances are of mold taking root. Everyone knows just how harmful mold can be to a person’s respiratory system, which is why it’s best to supplement the vacuum-and-dry step with periodic professional carpet cleaning. Our local carpet cleaning company employs state-of-the-art tools that eliminate moisture, even in hard-to-reach spots, and ensure mold is never given a chance to grow.

Pollutant Removal

Another agency that knows a thing or two about the importance of cleanliness is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The average person wouldn’t normally equate the EPA to household carpeting, but believe it or not a dirty carpet often serves as a retention area for several indoor pollutants. These include everyday substances like pet dander and dust, along with more obscure irritants like lead and cockroach allergen. All of these substances harbor toxic gases which can become airborne after being vacuumed or walked over, quickly contaminating the air in your home. Since vacuuming is actually a “trigger” for this problem, a professional carpet cleaning is the answer. Our combination of powerful vacuums and pro-grade carpet shampoo is needed to confirm that all pollutants are removed from the carpet and killed.

Dust Mite Deterrence

Dust mites are microscopic and virtually impossible to detect with the human eye – and for this reason, many homeowners are unaware that their house has a dust mite problem. These diminutive pests enjoy the soft, warm surroundings offered by carpet, and before long they’ll generate a large amount of feces and other detritus that’s bothersome to all residents, especially allergy sufferers. The longer dust mites are allowed to roam freely in your carpet, the more easily their droppings are disturbed and injected into the airstream. A professional carpet cleaning eliminates this problem with a thorough steam-clean, generating high temperatures that kill dust mites on the spot.

Count On Us To Keep Your Carpets Clean

Our carpet cleaning company brings decades of carpet-cleaning experience to homeowners throughout Englewood and Denver. Contact us today for a free quote, and optimize your home’s air and the health of its occupants. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”

The post Three Health Benefits Of Clean Carpets appeared first on A Personal Touch.

One of the hardest parts of having any kind of work done to your floors is figuring out exactly what to do with your furniture to keep it safe and out of the way. While this may not be as much of a hassle when you are just performing a thorough cleaning or even having a few tiles or a section replaced as you can just rearrange it off into a corner and out of the way, it is an entirely different story when you are having completely new flooring laid.

What it mainly comes down to is how much money are you willing to spend on moving and storage, or how much effort are you willing to put into the process yourself? Some flooring companies will move the furniture for you, although it is not a standard service and will usually cost more money. If you prefer, you can pay an outside company to move it to a temporary storage location for you and then back again once the installation is finished, but this too will cost more money.

It also depends on whether this is a one-room or multi-room project. If it’s one room then you and a friend could probably get by with just shifting it to another room. If it’s a multi-room job, a garage or even a covered patio would work fine. Regardless of the scope of the job, all you really need to do is consider what would be the most convenient and least expensive way to deal with your furniture.

So if you are getting ready to redo the flooring in your home or office space and you need the services of helpful experts who can offer high-quality products at competitive prices, give the professionals at flooring.org a call today. You can reach us at Flooring.org at 800-689-9006 or of course you can visit us online at www.flooring.org. Get in touch with us today and learn what we can do for you!

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As a leading provider of professional carpet cleaning services in Englewood, A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning fields plenty of carpet-care questions from customers. One of the most popular is, “What are some things I can do to protect my carpet from furniture?” Here are a few tips from our experts.

Use Furniture Coasters

Sometimes simple objects are the most useful – for example, furniture coasters. These are nothing more than small discs placed under the legs of heavy furniture, everything from beds and armoires to entertainment consoles and couches. It may seem surprising, but coasters actually minimize the chances of furniture making permanent dents in the carpet beneath. The discs absorb and redistribute the furniture’s weight, thus preventing the furniture from pushing directly into the carpet’s pile.

Rotate Your Furniture

While it’s true that using carpet coasters will reduce the frequency at which you should rotate your furniture, we highly recommend continuing a periodic rotation. Doing so goes a long way towards ensuring your living room is free of spots where the furniture has permanently crushed the carpet/pile into the nap. Of course, the fact that carpet manufacturers nowadays can make carpets with different “crush resistance” is something that shouldn’t be discounted – but even if you’ve invested in carpet with a high crush resistance, rotating your furniture still offers plenty of peace of mind.

Rearranging the furniture can seem like a pain, but it’s something you only need to do once every year or two. An annual rotation can extend your carpet’s lifespan by a factor of years, and it’s also a good opportunity to give your room a fresh look.

Choosing The Right Padding

Even though nobody sees a carpet’s padding, it’s still a vital component for reasons such as sound insulation, cleaning, and comfort. The padding also matters in terms of a carpet’s “dent potential” – specifically, a thin, firm pad is better at preventing carpet dents than a thicker, softer pad. On the flipside, the latter type of padding delivers superior noise-reduction and underfoot comfort. So it’s a matter of personal preference, as long as you remember that a thick-padded carpet will require more diligence on your part in terms of furniture coasters and rotating.

Consider Caster Caps

Caster caps serve a function similar to that of furniture coasters, but with a different approach to the dent problem. One side of the cap is a rubber circle that attaches to the feet of the furniture. The other side is comprised of numerous small “spikes” that separate the carpet strands, instead of indenting. Like coasters, very heavy furniture may still leave dents in the carpet, but vacuuming over the dents will restore the carpet to its original look.

All Of Your Carpet Questions, Answered

Whether you have questions about carpet cleaning, carpet repair, or new carpet installation, A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning has the answers. And along with helping you get the most out of your carpet, we also assist with upholstery cleaning, spot removal, and much more. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”

The post Protecting Your Home’s Carpet From Furniture appeared first on A Personal Touch.

The latest trend in flooring is bamboo. Bamboo flooring is on the rise. This type of flooring is so trendy because it’s eye-catching, sustainable, and versatile. Learn more about bamboo flooring by reading on.

When you think of bamboo flooring, you may be thinking of a tropical bungalow. However, bamboo flooring can actually look almost identical to regular hardwood flooring. In fact, many people can’t tell the difference between bamboo and hardwood.

Bamboo is an environmentally sustainable material. Most hardwood is made from trees. Trees can take as much as 50 years to grow and mature. Meanwhile, bamboo only takes 5 years to grow. Plus, bamboo can regenerate itself after cutting, while trees cannot. Because bamboo is easier to grow, it is also more affordable. Those shopping for flooring can find bamboo flooring in an incredible variety of colors, types, and finishes, making it an excellent flooring option for any room in your home.

Bamboo can vary in durability and appearance. Strand-woven bamboo is the most durable option you can find. It also looks the least like traditional bamboo. If you want bamboo flooring that looks like hardwood, strand-woven is for you. Meanwhile, engineered bamboo is a type of flooring that most closely resembles natural bamboo. If you are looking for something more traditional and tropical, consider engineered bamboo. However, know that this type is the least durable.

Are you interested in bamboo flooring for your home? If so, visit flooring.org. Bamboo flooring is perfect for every room in your home, including your bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen. At flooring.org, we offer an incredible selection of bamboo flooring for you to shop from. As you browse our inventory, feel free to give us a call at 800-689-9006 if you have any questions. You can also reach us by email at [email protected]. We hope to hear from you soon!

Bamboo Flooring on the Rise | Discount Hardwood Flooring for Sale

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Being able to care for wood flooring is an essential part of your cleaning routine. By taking proper care of your flooring, you ensure it lasts as long as possible. One of the key benefits of hard flooring is how simple wood floor cleaning really is. Our handy guide walks you through the steps on how to properly maintain wood flooring. 

 

There are a few small steps involved, in this blog, we’ll highlight the do’s and don’ts of wood floor cleaning as well as advice that you should take on board when caring for and maintaining your wooden flooring.

 

Included in this blog will be cleaning and maintenance products to use, as well as the proper method of cleaning. We’ll also cover the definite things that you should avoid, and preventative measures to look out for when you plan to maintain wood flooring.

 

Quick Top Tips

• Mop up wet spills as soon as possible to prevent colour changes or warping of the floor
• Sweep away any dirt or dust regularly
• For the best cleaning results, we recommend a flat-headed spray mop for ease, as well as minimising the chance of damage
• Do not use abrasive cleaning equipment to clean your floor
• Do not use polish or cleaning products designed for other furniture, such as furniture polish
• Take off dirty footwear before walking on your floor
• Use protector pads on the bottom of your furniture to prevent them from scuffing and scratching your floor
• Maintain the look by sanding and refinishing your wood flooring

 

Cleaning your wooden floor

When caring for your wooden floor, the best solution comes from using a spray mop with a specially formulated cleaner. Our Complete Clean, Care & Revive Kit comes from the Impero Elite range of wood floor care products.

The Complete clean, care and revive kit comes with:

•         1 x Spray Mop
•         4 x Microfibre Cloths
•         1 x Universal Floor Cleaner: 1L
•         1 x Reviving Wax for Wood Flooring: 1L
•         1 x Graduated Measuring Cap
•         1 x Detachable Cleansing Brush
•         1 x Instructions & Assembly Guide
•         1 x Wood Flooring Care & Maintenance Guide

The complete cleaning kit contains an easy glide Spray Mop featuring an advanced spray handle and additional grip design, allowing you to get a firm hold on stubborn marks. The refillable liquid compartment takes the effort out of cleaning; eliminating the need to carry additional equipment.

For your quick clean, simply fill the liquid compartment with your Universal Floor Cleaner and squeeze the trigger to release. The integrated spray system evenly distributes the cleaner for the perfect coverage, whilst the machine-washable microfibre cloth makes easy work of capturing any surface dirt.

This all in one package will help you save a lot of time and money, with everything you need included in one easy-to-use product.

 

Removing Dust

The first step to wood floor cleaning is to remove any dust, crumbs or litter.

 

This is something that should be done every week as it keeps the quality of your home and the floor to a higher standard. By removing debris from your floor’s surface you minimise the chances of it causing scratches to the surface.

 

Use a soft sweeping brush to get rid of most of the dirt, while making sure that you do not damage the wood in the process. With our Elite Wood Flooring Care Kit, You can use the white microfibre dust cloth and attach it to your mop. Simply run this over your floor to pick up and loose dust and prepare your floor for cleaning. 

 

A rough or brittle sweeping brush could potentially scuff and scratch the wood permanently. The same outcome is possible with a vacuum, remember to care for wood flooring effectively and patiently.

 

Cleaning

Every week or so, clean the wood with a  very slightly damp mop. Too much water is bad for the wood and can cause permanent damage. Even better, you should use a flat-headed spray mop. This means the cleaning liquid is instantly soaked up, preventing any moisture from soaking into the floor.

 

 

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Wood flooring needs a little moisture from time to time, so cleaning the floor weekly is a great way to keep it in good shape. If a section of flooring is walked on or used less often, then this may require less regular cleaning.

 

What to avoid

Leaving spills on the wood will give the wood time to absorb whatever liquid was on the floor, such as grease, alcohol, or sauce.

 

Any kind of liquids have a chance of permanently staining or damaging your flooring if left long enough. We suggest you clean the floor immediately after.

 

Cleaning the floor rarely or without proper care greatly reduces the quality of the wood. Stains and other spillages have the chance to absorb through the wood and leave marks or tone difference, as well as long-term structural damage such as curling or buckling.

 

Moisture from wet mops or steam mops absorb into the wood and cause permanent damage. Remember that the mop can only be very slightly damp in order to use it to clean and care for wooden floors, with flat-headed spray mops being the preferred option. To maintain wood flooring long-term, ensure all moisture is dealt with immediately. 

Vacuuming can turn out to be very bad for your wood floor, especially if you are using a beater bar and bristle bar setting. This scratches the surface to leave unsightly marks across the flooring. 

 

Many people who use home remedies or harsh detergent to care for wooden flooring end up with marks and stains dotted around their wood. Only ever use a certified wood floor cleaner.

 

Abrasive cleaning equipment has a massive potential to cause long-term damage to your flooring. Forget scouring pads or rough sponges, as these will cause more harm than good.

 

Did you know? Preventable damage accounts for 20% of wood flooring repairs.

Preventing Floor Damage

A key aspect if you want to maintain wood flooring is prevention. Preventing your floor from getting damaged can be something as simple as taking your shoes off before you walk on the floor. If you feel awkward asking people, a small sign at the entrance to your home is a great way to give a gentle reminder that your home is a shoe-free zone. 

 

Mud stains and wet shoes can easily stain your wood and produce permanent marks, Of course, they will happen from time to time – just be sure to clean them up immediately.

 

Protecting your floor from heavy objects such as furniture is vitally important. Self-adhesive floor protectors prevent scratches and scuffs by household items such as chairs, couches and tables.

 

Your pet’s claws can often be a hidden culprit. If you don’t know where those odd scratch marks are coming from, trim your pet’s claws on a regular basis.

 

Moving doormats can also scuff your floor; be sure to keep them in place using grip tape or other similar products.

 

 

Maintaining Wood Flooring

To maintain the look of your wooden flooring, our Impero Elite Reviving Wax protects it against everyday wear and tear, while reducing the appearance of scratches.

 

Reviving Wax is a water-based, natural solution which will not leave smear marks. Available on its own or as part of our Complete Clean, Care & Revive Kit, easily apply the wax with your Spray Mop by adding 20 ml of the solution, then fill the tank with water. The advanced drying process means in just 1 hour your flooring will be ready to polish off and admire.

 

The wax rejuvenates the look of your wood flooring, restoring it back to its former beauty with a beautiful semi-gloss finish. It’s the perfect hassle-free way your maintain your wooden floor.

 

Wood repair kits can also come in handy if there is major damage to your flooring. These work by filling in deep scratches, with a wax that matches the colour of your flooring. 

 

Sanding and refinishing your wood can bring even the most tired-looking wooden floors back to life. By sanding down the top layer, you’re left with a new surface that can be re-finished to create a new-looking floor. If you have laminate flooring, you won’t be able to sand and re-finish, as the top layer is a printed image, and will therefore cause irreversible damage. 

 

Our Osmo oil range provides the necessary protection for wood flooring. With unfinished flooring, you can use the oil to give the flooring a new colour and extra protection.

 

Wrap-Up

Weekly

• Clean off any dust or dirt that accumulates on the wood. For best results, use a microfibre cloth.

Monthly

• Use a flat-headed spray mop to clean your flooring. Only ever use certified wood floor cleaners – never any home remedies

Every six months

• Use Impero Elite Reviving Wax to keep the wood as fresh as possible.

Every 5 years

• Apply a maintenance coat of oil to replenish the finish.
• You may also want to sand and refinish your flooring.

 

Being able to maintain wood flooring is simple. If you follow the advice in this guide, your floor has the potential to last decades. Remember that overuse of liquid is wood flooring’s worst enemy, and using it sparingly keeps your floor looking great without causing lasting damage.

 

If you have any questions or queries on this topic be sure to give us a call on 03308 088 777.  

The post Caring for wooden flooring: the do’s and don’ts appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

You’ve started on your lists of small repairs, you’ve contacted a real estate agent, and now you’re in the final steps of getting ready to sell your house. But before you put your home up for sale, and certainly before having your first open house, here are 11 things to consider that most home sellers forget to think about and could cost you a sale.

1. Declutter and Organize Your Closets and Cabinets

Sure, you went through your entire house and reduced the clutter in each room, organized your desk and other surfaces, and arranged your collection of antique ceramic kitty figurines to be facing perpendicular to the window. However, did you tackle your closets and cabinets?

One thing you should definitely expect during an open house or individual home tours is that potential homebuyers will be looking in your closets, kitchen drawers and cabinets. Will your walk-in closet fit all of his shoes and her summer dresses? Is there enough storage space in your kitchen for their cookware, bakeware, and all the kitchen gadgets that they seem to collect each year? These are all questions homebuyers will be asking themselves as they walk through your home.

Of course, you as a home seller will have no idea what the needs are of a potential homebuyer, but you can definitely showcase what your house has to offer in terms of storage. Start by decluttering your closets, cabinets, and drawers, and then keeping only enough belongings in each to really show off the potential that space has to offer. Think of it as an extension of staging your home, but for your storage areas.

2. Clean Stains and Eliminate Odors

We should all consider small stains, marks, and other imperfections as badges of honor for a house that has been lived in for years. Nonetheless, these slight bumps and bruises your home has encountered over time will stick out to potential homebuyers, so tackle them head-on.

Begin by trying to put yourself in the shoes of a potential homebuyer and look at your house objectively. Start by going outside and then re-entering your house as if you didn’t actually own it but were an interested homebuyer looking at it for the first time. What do you see? Walk through every room and take note of all the imperfections you notice. You might surprise yourself with how quickly your list grows. You can then add them to your list of repairs so you can make your house truly be at its best before your first open house.

Also, if you have pets there is a strong possibility that your home has an odor which you can no longer smell. Deep cleaning your house is a sure fire way to help eliminate these odors, but also think about using an odor eliminating spray every day for about a week before your first open house. You can also place plugin room fresheners that offer a great crisp smell, like cucumber, to help infuse a sense of cleanliness throughout your house.

3. Replace Light Bulbs 

Walk through each room in your house and look at every light bulb to see if it’s working. As homeowners, we sometimes forget to immediately replace a lightbulb when it goes out. You want your house to be at its brightest when new homebuyers are touring your home and replacing old burnt out light bulbs is one of the easiest ways to do it.

Also, don’t forget to walk around the outside of your house to make sure all the lights of your home’s exterior are working as well. Depending on the time of year, your open house or home tours could happen when the sun is going down or when it’s already dark. So be sure to make your house shine inside and out!

Pro tip: Make sure all your light bulbs are the same color temperature inside your house as well as outside. A soft-white light LED bulb can create a bright but welcoming environment for new homebuyers.

4. Think About the Small Details: Plants, Mirrors, Rugs

Consider each room’s individual characteristics, so you can really showcase the potential every room in your house can offer. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind while you start prepping every space for an exceptional open house experience.

Add a little green to your spaces

Nothing breathes life into a room more than a little greenery. A potted tree can work wonders in a living room, but for smaller areas think smaller plants such as a small potted herb garden in the kitchen or a miniature cactus on the mantel.

Open up even the smallest rooms

Mirrors can make small spaces seem large because they create the illusion of depth. Mirrors also work wonders in darker rooms as they reflect light deep into areas of a room that may not receive an abundance of natural light.

Add character to an otherwise unimpressive space

While staging your home, think about adding character to various spaces with rugs. However, keep in mind that you want to use rugs to enhance a space, not be the focal point of it. Also, if you have a strange space that you never really figured out a good use for, a rug could at least offer a little personality while leaving the space and its potential to the imaginations of homebuyers.

5. Enhance Your Outdoor Space 

You’re probably already aware that enhancing your curb appeal is one of the most impactful things you can do to create a great first impression. However, you don’t want to forget about your other outdoor areas, such as your front porch or entrance, your back entrance, side yard, and backyard. You want to enhance your outdoor spaces around the house so potential buyers can see themselves living as much outside your house as inside.

Simple enhancements like placing potted plants to your front entrance or adding fresh beauty bark around the base of your hedges and trees can go a long way. If you don’t already have a designated outdoor space for entertaining, think about building a DIY fire pit and adding four Adirondack chairs to create the idea of outdoor fun. Ultimately, your outdoor space can be just as important of a space as what your home has to offer on the inside.

6. Get Professional (Aerial) Photography

By now your research has probably shown you that homes with professional photos sell for more and spend less time on the market on average. What you may not have considered is adding aerial photography to your listing photos.

Aerial photography can show off your entire property, a scenic view, and the surrounding area.  If you have a lot of property, an aerial shot can easily put into perspective the full scope all your land has to offer to potential homebuyers.

Furthermore, aerial photography has come a long way thanks to the rapid development of drone technology, resulting in reasonable pricing that is accessible for many homeowners today.

7. Don’t Forget About Your Gutters

Imagine that you’re having your first open house and despite the rain, foot traffic has been steadily increasing all morning. Your house looks immaculate, like one of those home’s off of an HGTV show, and your real estate agent has been messaging you updates every hour about how great it’s going. But then the unexpected happens. A small stream of water starts coming down right in front of your large bay window in the living room. The stream is outside the house, but your would-be buyers watch on as it grows into a miniature waterfall.

Red flags go up for the homebuyers touring your house as the foot traffic thins then disappears altogether. What they didn’t see was that the spillage was the result of a clogged gutter, nothing more, causing water to spill over in a very inopportune place and at the worst time.

Depending on where you live, you may not see as much rain in locations like Phoenix, AZ, but in many locations where rainfall is a common occurrence, such as Seattle, WA, this situation is more likely to happen. If you don’t have time to clean your gutters yourself—because you have a house to sell and a million other little things to do—there are professional services that can clean your gutters for you so this little oversight doesn’t drown out your hopes of selling your home quickly.

8. Paint Your Baseboards and Crown Molding

It’s pretty common knowledge that you should paint the interior of your home a neutral color to appeal to more buyers. Homebuyers want to imagine themselves and their stuff in your space, so your red accent wall will need to be painted over with a more neutral hue. But what a lot of home sellers forget to do is pay attention to their baseboards and crown molding.

Where crown molding may just need some cleaning and touch-ups, your baseboards most likely have seen a lot more traffic, especially if you have kids. It may be a toy truck that has repeatedly crashed into your white baseboards, crayons that went rogue, or the black rubber wheels from bikes racing down the hallway, most likely your baseboards have been marked with years of life experiences.

To correct these homely blemishes, you can try cleaning your baseboards with simple dish soap and water. But if it has been years of wear and abuse, you most likely will need to paint. Use a paint with a semi-gloss finish that will offer a light sheen but not glossy enough to distract attention away from your floors. You can also match your crown molding using the same paint, making every room pop to potential homebuyers. Of course, if you end up hiring painters to repaint that accent wall of yours, you might as well have them paint your baseboards while they’re there.

9. Focus on Your Floors

Your hardwood floors were once beautiful and one of the initial reasons you bought your home, but after years of traffic your hardwoods have since dulled to a shadow of their former glory. Likewise, your once plush carpet has also now matted down into obvious paths that lead from room to room.

One of the first things potential homebuyers look at when entering a new home is the floors, so make yours a statement.

If your carpet is approaching that 10-year mark, it is most likely looking pretty worn. Think about recarpeting your house to make it look fresh and ready for new homeowners. Such as you did with your walls, you’ll want to go more neutral in color to appeal to the majority of homebuyers. If your carpet is only a few years old, however, getting it professionally cleaned can go a long way in bringing your carpet back to life.

A Personal Touch can alleviate your worries about stretching the wrinkles out of your carpet and cleaning it to look like new. This will save Thousands of dollars in having to offer a carpet allowance.

If you have hardwood floors bring them back to their former glory by refinishing them. Refinishing hardwood floors typically includes sanding down the floors to eliminate the original finish and stain, then restaining with the desired color followed by a coat or two of sealer. Your floors will look brand new and really stand out during the open house.

10. Gather Your Documents

You might not be aware of this but you’ll want to gather all the documents you have in regards to warranties, manuals, service records, and repairs done to your house. These documents are hugely important for several reasons and certain ones are needed by different parties before you sell your house.

Your agent is your best friend during the home selling process. They are also your homes’ first line of marketing and the more information they have about your house, the better they can promote it. They will write out the specific details of your home as well as an enticing description that will highlight key features that homebuyers want. So, if you’ve made recent updates like a new deck, new roof, updated HVAC, or if your home has hot water on demand make sure your agent knows it and you have the paperwork to back it up.

During the home inspection process, home inspectors are going to go over your house with a fine-toothed comb. If your furnace or water heater hasn’t been serviced in years, they’ll let you know. Take a proactive approach by gathering all your service records so you’ll know ahead of time if something needs to be serviced before listing your home.

However, beyond the paperwork your agent and the home inspector would like to see, title companies require very specific documentation in order for you to even sell your home, including:

• Mortgage loan information, which will show any outstanding mortgage balance and pay-off balance (if there is any)
• Final purchase and sale agreement
• Deed
• Title report
• Property tax information, including most recent tax statement
• Homeowners insurance information
• Lease agreement, if you’re currently renting the property
• Any reports or documentation that relates to the property
  • Warranty paperwork, permits, service documentation, instruction manuals, dates of home improvement projects, and age of the roof, furnace, hot water heater, HVAC, and all the other major appliances.

11. Pre-Sale Home Inspection

The last thing most people don’t think about before they sell their home is getting a pre-sale home inspection. Though it is not mandatory, a pre-sale home inspection is a proactive approach to understanding your home’s condition at that point in time, and if there are any repairs that need attention, you can address them now versus trying to do it during the home selling process.

Homebuyers will most likely get a home inspection of their own, right? So, why would you get one as a seller?

A home inspection report will most likely turn up a list of repairs that will need to be fixed. Would you prefer to fix these issues now before you list your home, or after you’re in negotiations with a potential buyer? If you wait, you may push back the sale date of your house as repairs are being made. Or, homebuyers may ask for concessions on your asking price in order to cover the repairs and the time it takes to make them. Ultimately, getting a pre-sale home inspection will leave you in a better position when it comes time to negotiate with potential buyers.

You may feel like spending a lot of time and money on your house is pointless because you’re just going to sell it anyway, right? Just consider that the more you appeal to the majority of homebuyers the more bids you’ll likely see and ultimately help you sell your house quicker and for more money.

Originally published on Redfin

The post Getting Ready to Sell Your House? Here are 11 Things Most People Forget to Do appeared first on A Personal Touch.

Natural wood, including oak, makes for a perfect building and finishing material, in both homes and offices. Wood finishing has a natural ambiance that promotes comfort, warmth, and coziness. There are many ways to use wood to finish a home, and one popular way is to use wood flooring. Using oak is an excellent choice, as it has a number of attractive features.

Natural Beauty

Oak has a naturally warm and attractive appearance, enhanced by the wood’s oils. The texture and grain of oak are appealing to the eye. And with white oak, many kinds of techniques for coloring the woodwork well. So, you can finish your home with oak as is, or change its appearance to your liking.

Maintenance

Oak is more moisture-resistant than most kinds of wood used for finishing rooms. That makes it less prone to decay and rot. It also tends to warp and twist less than other types of wood. Because oak has a prominent grain, small amounts of damage tend to blend with the wood’s pattern.

Finishes

Oak lends itself well to making engineered wood flooring; it is a thin layer of oak bound to good quality plywood. That makes for advantages in cost, installation, and choices. Engineered wood is less expensive than solid hardwood, easier to install, and is offered in more shades and hues than natural wood colors. So, if you have a specific, and hard to match, requirement for the wood flooring in your home, you may want to try engineered wood.

Walls

With oak floors, you have attractive options for the wall colors in the rooms. For red oak, yellow or apricot walls add to the warmth of oak floors. You can also use blue or even pastels. With white oak floors, especially with a bleached finish, walls can be painted charcoal, or conversely, painted to match the floor color. The goal is to either add warmth to the room, or an attractive degree of contrast to the appearance of the warmth from the oak floor.

If you would like more information, please reach out to flooring.org today by calling 800-689-9006. We look forward to working with you!

This post appeared first on http://www.flooring.org

A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning always brings its “A game” to every project we’re involved with. Our carpet cleaning services satisfy a variety of needs for homeowners in Denver and Littleton, and they’re of particular use to those of our customers who are preparing to sell their house.

Make Your Home Move-In Ready

While there’s no chance a potential buyer will move into your home the day of your first open house, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make your home move-in ready. This is especially true for your carpet, which in most homes occupies a sizable chunk of floor space and is thus readily visible to eager buyers. A dirty, dusty, smelly carpet is a big turn-off, not just aesthetically but also because a buyer will likely have concerns regarding the cost to clean or replace it before moving in. Remedy this potential pitfall by having your carpets professionally cleaned and looking brand-new.

Eliminate Odors

Unlike stains, which are readily visible to the eye, odors are trickier because we tend to get used to them over time. The two biggest culprits here are odors related to cigarette smoke and pets, both of which can be a significant red flag for potential buyers – especially those who don’t smoke or have pets. A professional carpet cleaner can evaluate the “odor level” in your home and apply the right cleaning techniques so that your home smells fresh again.

Enhance Your Home’s Appearance

Some years back, there was a deodorant ad with the slogan, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” It’s a memorable line because it applies to many things in life, including the carpet of a house that’s for sale. A clean carpet further boosts the appeal of the various rooms in a home, and shows a buyer that the current homeowner is diligent about upkeep. If you really want to make a good first impression and wow potential buyers with your home’s appearance, don’t settle for a simple vacuuming and/or shampooing, as these implements only clean the carpet’s surface. Instead, hire a professional carpet cleaner with the equipment and know-how to eliminate even the most ground-in stains and restore your carpet’s color and vibrancy.

Strive For a “Healthy Home”

Nowadays it seems like allergy sufferers and people with respiratory issues have it worse than ever. Pollen, dust, dirt, and other particulates are ever-present, and so too dander, mold, and the various contributors to hay fever. The last thing a homebuyer wants is to step into a house in which these substances are even partially problematic – especially when children or elderly people will reside in the home. A professional carpet cleaner utilizes a healthy, non-toxic approach for remove these allergens and materials from your home, allowing everyone to breathe easier.

For a Quicker Home Sale, Leverage Our Expertise

When you’re ready to sell your home, count on A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning to deliver first-class cleaning services that will help your house shine. Also, bear in mind that carpet cleaning is just one of the many services we offer. Our team is also proficient at carpet repair, upholstery cleaning, and much more.  Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”

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