• 5 Hacks for a Spotless House When Selling

    5 Hacks for a Spotless House When Selling

    There are so many things to consider: condition, furniture placement, curb appeal, price, and yes, even cleanliness.

    CLEANING TO SELL YOUR HOUSE

    Preparing to put your property on the market seems like such a daunting task. There are so many things to consider: condition, furniture placement, curb appeal, price, and yes, even cleanliness.

    We cannot stress enough how important cleanliness is when showing your home for sale. In the home staging industry we have a saying…

    buyers want clean carpets or no carpets

    This statement relates to condition as much as it does to cleanliness, but we’re sure you get the idea.

    When talking cleanliness – we’re not just talking neat and tidy, we’re talking spic ‘n span. … if you’re old enough to remember that product. We’re not even sure it is still sold today. Even if it is, most stagers are all about using environmentally-friendly products and greening the property as well (but that’s a topic for another day).

    MAKE YOUR PROPERTY IMMACULATE – EVERYWHERE THE BUYER LOOKS.

    Back to cleanliness: Make your property IMMACULATE – everywhere the buyer looks. Get everything as close to ‘new’ as you can make it. Repaint woodwork and trim, or touch it up if you can, to remove any scuffs or scratches. Make sure the walls are free from marks, no cobwebs at the ceilings, fixtures are dusted and clean, windows are sparkling, floors gleaming.

    CLOSETS & CUPBOARDS

    Don’t forget the inside of closets and cupboards. Linens neatly folded in the linen closet; in the kitchen plates, cups, pots and pans arranged neatly and showing ease of access; in the pantry food neatly arranged and systemized; front hall and bedroom closets should have all clothes hanging nicely and be clean and orderly inside. Buyers want to know there is tons of storage space for their ‘stuff’. Put some of your own things in storage if you have to, to show the buyer how spacious your closets and cupboards are. Learn more about staging attractive, organized closets. This is an article we wrote earlier in the year.

    KITCHEN AND BATHS

    Kitchens and bathrooms are major concerns and areas of interest for any home buyer. They will want to ensure everything works, is clean, free from mould and mildew. Remember to always clean the inside of your fridge and oven, even if you are taking them with you when you sell the property. Buyers will look inside to get a sense of how you live day-to-day to judge how you normally look after the property. Some even check the filter in the furnace as well.

    GARAGE

    Yes, clean the garage as well. Sweep the floors, paint the walls and floor if it will add to the garage. Ensure all items are stored, hanging and look neat with easy access allowing enough room for a vehicle to be parked with access for the driver and passengers to get in and out.

    CURB APPEAL AND OUTDOOR SPACES

    The landscaping and outdoor areas of your property should be well maintained as well. Sweep and clean the porch and patio areas – have them power-washed if necessary. Trim, patio furniture and accessories should be clean, dusted and free from debris blown in from the wind. Having an immaculately groomed yard never hurts either – freshly mowed, no weeds in the flower beds. Pay close attention to the driveway especially if it is paved or concrete. Clean it, but also consider sealing or painting the concrete for a fresh, undamaged, in great shape look.

    MAINTAINING IT

    While your house is on the market, new rules for living may be required to maintain the ‘immaculate’ look at all times. Get in the habit of dusting, mopping and vacuuming daily. Ensure beds are always made and everything put back in its place. Also consider odours in the house. (Again, a topic for another day).

    OUR FAVOURITE CLEANING HACKS

    • VINEGAR AND NEWSPAPER FOR WINDOWS
      This one is -oh-my-gosh, such an ancient hack but it works even now. Using vinegar and newspapers to clean windows leaves the best streak-free sparkle. A word of caution however – wear gloves and do not touch anything else – all that ink from the newspaper rubs off quickly when the newspaper is wet…
    • CITRUS FOR BATHTUB
      Lemon cuts through stickiness and grease with ease, grapefruit with salt scrubs your bathtub spotless, and ½ part lemon juice with one part olive oil makes a great furniture polish. There is a reason, you get those little lemon wipes in a restaurant when you order wings or ribs – the stickiness on your fingers is gone almost instantly…
    • WALNUTS
      To remove scratches from woodwork and furniture, crack open a walnut and rub the nut on the wood, it will blend the scratch into the woodwork making it hardly noticeable.
    • MAKE STAINLESS STEEL SINKS SHINE
      This one is a little work, but it is Bob Vila’s remedy for restoring the luster of a stainless steel sink. After you do it once, maintaining it is much easier. You’re going to require dish soap, baking soda, parmesan cheese shaker (optional), a soft to medium nylon scrub brush, and old toothbrush, vinegar, spray bottle, cream of tarter (optional), a lint-free cloth and olive oil. Then click here to get the exact directions.
  • Micro Apartments: What You Need To Know

    Micro Apartments: What You Need To Know

    If you’re looking for NYC apartments for rent, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a few listings for micro-apartments. They’re growing in popularity, and their rental prices can certainly make them sound like attractive options, but are they the right option for you?

    Here’s what you need to know about micro-apartments:

    • What Are Micro Apartments?
      Micro apartments are apartment versions of tiny homes. In New York City, the average size of a micro SoHo apartment is 400 square feet, although you can find some as large as 500 square feet. This makes them smaller than the average studio apartment, but still spacious enough to live in.
    • Growing In Popularity
      Micro NYC apartments for rent are growing in popularity, especially among young professionals who want to live on their own. The main reasons for this upward trend are that apartments can be hard to find, and they can be expensive.

    New York City continues to attract people from other cities and smaller towns. Young newcomers to the city quite frequently realize that larger apartments or apartments in specific neighborhoods may be out of reach financially. Micro apartments help make it possible to live economically in your desired neighborhood. After all, location is key and some New York City areas give a better summer experience than others.

    However, some people choose to live in micro-apartments because they’ve embraced minimalism and living in a way that has less impact on the environment.

    If you’re looking at micro apartments for rent in Manhattan, there are several things you need to know about them before you make a decision.

    Important Factors To Consider

    Consider the following factors if you’re thinking about renting a micro-apartment:

    • Micro apartments are usually cheaper than traditional studio apartments: Micro apartments usually cost 20 to 30 percent less than traditional studio apartments in the same area. This isn’t always the case, as construction costs could push rental rates for micros to be equal to or higher than those of studios with more square footage.
    • Micro apartments are suitable for one occupant: As mentioned above, the average size of an entire micro-apartments in New York City is 400 square feet. The average size of a primary bedroom is about 224 square feet. Fitting two people’s belongings in a space that’s smaller than two primary bedrooms can be tough.
    • Micro apartment furniture can be expensive: If you’re serious about maximizing space in your micro apartment, you’ll want to look at furnishing it with dual-purpose furniture, such as a Murphy bed that you can turn into a desk. While helpful, specialized furniture can be pricey. Ori Design Studio produces a range of transformable furniture created with small living spaces in mind, such as a pocket office that offers workspace when needed and space for living when it’s not.
    • Micro apartments are easier to clean and maintain: There’s less square footage to keep clean in micro NYC apartments for rent, which means saving time, money, and effort in maintenance. Of course, this means downsizing before you move in. Every item you bring into your home must have a place and a purpose for being there, or the space will become cluttered.
    • Micro apartments may not be suitable for pets or for entertaining groups of friends: Some pets need space that micro-apartments can’t offer, which is why many of those homes have a strict no-pets policy. The small living space also means you probably won’t be able to invite more than one friend over at a time.