Sprinkling Systems: How to Get the Job Done Yourself

Just bought a house with a beautiful yard? Getting a sprinkler system installed is step number one to keep your yard looking great. When you have a sprinkler system, you don’t have to worry about remembering to water your lawn, watering too much, or watering too little. The automated system will take care of everything for you. Having a system professionally installed can be costly. You can save big by using these tips to install your new sprinkler system yourself.

Develop Your Plan

You need to know exactly where you will be installing your system and sprinkler heads before you start digging in your yard. Make sure that your design gives a proper amount of water to each area of your yard. For instance, the section of your yard that is in direct sunlight probably needs more watering than the shady area underneath an oak tree.

Gather Your Equipment

Your installation job will go much more smoothly if you gather all of the necessary equipment and supplies before you begin. It is frustrating to have to stop in the middle of the job to purchase a tool, so take a few minutes to ensure that you have everything you need. Along with the sprinkler system, you will likely need pipes and fittings, shovels, trench tools, wrenches and screwdrivers, work gloves, safety goggles, and a pipe-cutting saw.

Remove Old Equipment

If there is an old sprinkler system currently installed in your yard, remove all of the pieces before adding anything new. Instead of just throwing everything away, check to see if any of the parts are still useful. If any of the non-working parts are made of copper or other metals, you can sell them as scrap metal to make a few extra dollars to add to your project’s budget.

Follow Instructions and Work Carefully

Once you have completed all of your prep work, you are ready to begin installing your new system. First, you will need to install the controller and valve box, and then you can start placing the sprinkler heads. Work in one zone of your yard at a time, and check the water pressure for each section before you move on to another area.

After your system is installed, it is a good idea to test it several times to ensure that it is working properly. Thanks to your hard work, your yard will be lush and well-watered year-round with minimal effort.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

5 Smart Moving Tips for The Big Family Move

Planning a move is an exciting time to celebrate the purchase or rental of a new home, however, it can also become quite overwhelming and stressful when you have an entire family to relocate. Whether you are planning to move to the next neighborhood over or if you are even considering moving out of state, there are a few smart moving tips for the family move that can ensure you are capable of reducing the amount of stress the big day causes.

Switch Your Utilities Ahead of Time

Before moving out of your home, call all of your current utility providers to set the date you will have them switched to your new home. By calling utility providers ahead of time, you can skip the process of waiting a day or two for your electricity, cable, and Internet services to be installed once you have arrived. This layover period can be uncomfortable and totally unnecessary with proper planning.

Print Labels for Your Boxes

When you are packing your decor, furniture, and personal belongings, print labels to keep track of where each box belongs and where its contents originated from in your previous house. This may seem like a simple task but it is one that is often overlooked. When you have boxes that have labels, unpacking is often less stressful and less time-consuming altogether.

Create an Inventory List

Create an inventory list of each box you have labeled to keep even better track of all of your items. This is ideal if you want to keep track of specific documents or items you may need immediately upon arriving at your new home, such as kitchen appliances or silverware.

Hire a Moving Company

Hire a moving company to help with packing, loading and even unpacking and rebuilding furniture to smooth the overall moving process. You can find moving companies with local business directories and also by comparing businesses that are affordable and available near you right from home, online. These businesses will often help with storage needs. For example, if you are moving to a new location and in of need storage, they can have the contact info for an affordable and convenient location to store your extra items.

Get Moving Insurance

If you choose to work together with a moving company, consider opting for moving insurance to keep all of your household items, furniture and personal belongings safe throughout the entire loading, packing, and even unpacking process of the move. Expect things to get dinged up no matter how careful you are.

Knowing a few smart moving tips for the big family moving day not only reduces stress, but they can help with saving time and reducing the amount of money you spend on moving yourself. The more time you spend preparing your family for the move, the more likely you are to experience an overall smooth moving process.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Getting an Estimate: 5 Things that Will Determine the Value of Your Home

While some home buyers rely on love, at first sight, that kind of chemistry is hard to quantify. Luckily, there are some objective criteria most realtors – and most buyers – use when measuring the value of a home. If you aren’t sure about the value of your home, there are a few elements that will go into pricing strategies. Typically, these elements will vary on a case-by-case basis, but there are a few common characteristics that will contribute to the value of a home across the board. Below are five major elements that will help determine to price when listing a home for sale.

Location, Location, Location

Unfortunately, this is one component of pricing sellers won’t be able to easily influence. Location is based on several factors. Walk-ability, for example, is a measure of whether or not stores and restaurants are within easy walking distance. Having good schools in the area is another factor. Then there are crime statistics, the average commute to the nearest metro area, and the cost of comparable homes in the neighborhood. While you can’t change the location of your home, it’s important to be aware that the location can be a great selling point in and of itself. When pricing the home, consider the surrounding amenities that could make the property more valuable.

Square Footage

This is another characteristic that you might not have much control over, but unlike location, there are some tweaks homeowners can make in this department. One way to add to a home’s square footage, and therefore its value, is finishing the basement. Another way to increase square footage would be to build an addition—this is an expensive update, but can also add long-term value. After you examine the physical location, you can assess the value of the home based on the actual home size, number of bedrooms, and yard space.

Updates and Upgrades

Here is the element that homeowners have quite a bit of control over. If your home is outdated either in style or function, that will lower the value of the home overall. Any updates made to the home will help to justify a higher price. Kitchen and bathroom upgrades in particular tend to add the most value to a home. However, they are also the most expensive rooms in the house to renovate, so prospective sellers need to walk a fine line between having an appealing, modern home and spending more than they will recoup in upgrades. According to the home professionals of A Plus Quality, who offer air conditioning service in Toronto, modest upgrades, such as new cabinet doors, energy-efficient appliances, and updated counter-tops and fixtures, as well as a new coat of paint, will provide the biggest bang for the buck.

Curb Appeal and Landscaping

First impressions are important. Studies have shown that a well-landscaped home sells for a higher price, and that yard upgrades can easily pay for themselves. New sod, well-maintained flowerbeds, and an appealing walkway can all add to a yard’s appeal. It is also important to trim existing overgrown bushes and trees. While a well-manicured yard will add to the home’s value, you must be careful not to overdo it. If the yard is too elaborate and will require a lot of intensive work for the homeowner, that can be a deterrent to a potential buyer. Finding the right balance of a nicely groomed yard that won’t require extensive labor for the homeowner will help drive up the value of the home.

Overall Soundness

If your home is overall “sound,” it means that major, expensive fixes won’t become the buyer’s responsibility. This includes a roof and windows that won’t need replacing within a couple of years. It also includes making sure that the HVAC, the water boiler, the plumbing, and the electricity are all in good working order. Buyers don’t want a lemon, and responsible sellers will make sure their home is in good repair before putting it on the market. This is why little updates here and there over the years will really pay off if you are planning on selling. If the potential buyer can find little to no issues with the home, you’ll be able to value the home much higher than if you’re trying to pass off a home that will need a lot of TLC (and money) in the next few years.

While it may be difficult for buyers to implement all of these changes prior to selling their home, even minor fixes in these areas can yield big returns. Some paint, some sod, and some basic home repairs can be just the polish a home (and a buyer) needs. Even if you aren’t planning on selling your home for a few years, you can see the value of good maintenance. Taking good care of your home and investing in repairs will help you reap a greater reward in the end when it comes to pricing your home. Any updates you can make to your home, no matter how small, will contribute to the overall value and will be worth the investment when it comes time to sell.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Should I Hire a Property Management Company?

Renting and leasing a home or apartment takes time and effort. Unless you have ecxceled in business school and have your real estate license, it may be difficult getting your footing down on the business. Juggling your job with this side business may require the assistance of a property management company. Companies dedicate themselves to help manage your property and get your tenants satisfied without losing them in the process of getting things fixed inside your apartment of home.

Management Companies Help Rent Your Condominium or Home
Property owners are responsible for finding their own tenants. Unless properly advertised, you may see your rented property sitting on the market for a while. Property management companies can help with renting out the home using specific marketing techniques that are guaranteed to work.

Property management companies use the power of your landscaping and building structure to create an ambiance that sells. Varying on what vision your management company sees, a person hired by them will place your apartment or home together in a fashion that will sell.

Your property manager will begin with cleaning up the yard, both front and back. When selling, a property manager wants it to entice potential tenants with a feeling of hominess. After all, a person who rents wants a place they can make their own. Turning a house into a home is the ideal choice. Your property management company can establish this using furniture. Alluring aesthetics promise a higher probability of success with renting. If you are unable to establish this yourself, a property management company can handle this aspect of the home.

Fewer Worries with Repairs
Tenants expect an immaculate home. As soon as they enter the premises, they should be reminded they are in their safe haven. In order to create this environment, a person must have a perfectly in-order home. However, when a disruption happens in the home that offsets the tranquility of the home – the tenant looks onto you, the property owner. They want explanations and they want them now.

In order to reduce the stress of having to visit the premises often for repairs, you can hire a property management company. As per the terms in the agreement signed, your property management company will handle all repairs and you will fund them appropriately for it. Most times, these companies will have you sign over a waiver, which allows you to be billed for repairs covered by the maintenance company.

Guaranteed Rentals
Owning an establishment of your own can be difficult. Unless trained, you have little experience with getting rentals. The terms need to be laid out between you and your potential tenant before making them a permanent tenant. You must create an agreement that outlines the rules of the property rental. This agreement sets out the basic rights of you and your tenant.

Guaranteed rentals with airtight agreements that maximize your rights as a property owner should be established with your property management company. These companies reassure you that you are given optimal rights as a property owner and that your tenants never get an opportunity to sue you in most cases.

Hiring a Property Management Company Benefits a Landlord
Whether you have established yourself as a landlord or are just beginning in the endeavor, a property management company may benefit you. These companies handle properties daily and have all rules and regulations in place to help maximize the sales of your rental. Even more, you are promised an airtight agreement that allows you the most rights you can receive as a landlord.

With these conditions, a property owner can only gain from hiring a management company for his or her property. Extend your options and inquire if hiring a property manager could be beneficial for your side endeavor.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Let in a Little Light: Five Decorating Tips for Staging Your Home

The Orlando housing market has rebounded, and people looking to sell their homes will find far more interest than only a few years ago. However, the process of finding a buyer who will pay a reasonable price is still challenging. Here are a few decorating tips for staging your home.

1. Less is More

When people visit your home, they’ll want to envision how their furniture will look in your home. By removing as much clutter as possible and storing extra furniture elsewhere, you can allow potential buyers to see how your home can be the home of their dreams. If needed, consider renting temporary storage facilities while your home is on the market.

2. Light, Light, and More Light

Some people prefer darker homes, but buyers are clearly attracted to lighter rooms. Light makes your home seem bright and cheerful, and it leaves a positive impression on visitors. It also makes your rooms seem larger and more versatile. While artificial lights can work well, natural lighting is best.

3. Paint as an Investment

Painting a room can be expensive, but painting your rooms can help them make a positive impression on visitors. Neutral paint is generally regarded as the best choice as it won’t turn away potential buyers. If your rooms are already cleared and ready to display, painting them won’t take long.

4. Rented Furniture

The right furniture can make a room truly shine, and it can give visitors ideas for how to decorate their new homes. Fortunately, you don’t have to buy new furniture to make your room stand out. Companies will rent furniture for a small fee, and choosing the right furniture can help you leave a positive impression. If you’re holding an open house, rented furniture can spur interest and lead to bids.

5. Talk with an Expert

Some people make a career out of staging rooms, and their experience can help you find the perfect design for your rooms. While any interior decorator can help, those who specialize in staging rooms know how to impress potential buyers. They may also know painters and furniture providers who provide discounts.

When it comes to selling a home, your home’s interior will have a major impact on how much interest you can generate and how many bids you’ll likely receive. By taking staging seriously and investing a bit in your rooms, you’ll be able to sell your home at a higher price.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields