As spring begins, we enter the annual season known as “spring cleaning.” Whether your goal is to start the season fresh with a clean home or you’re considering selling, there are specific areas of the home you should focus on more than others. One of those rooms happens to be the bathroom. Often one of the dirtiest places in the house, the bathroom is usually the one we want the cleanest. To ensure a sterilized and fresh space, make sure you don’t forget these 10 spots you often overlook when cleaning the bathroom:
The Showerhead
Mineral deposits found in water can often build up and affect the showerhead. Ensure you keep the jets in the nozzle clear by spraying the showerhead with a mixture of 50 percent white vinegar and 50 percent water. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes and then wipe clean with a dry cloth. Do this every week.
The Base of the Toilet
When cleaning the toilet, it’s normal to just focus on the bowl, seat, lid and the top of the tank. However, there is more to it than that. The underside of the bowl and the plumbing piping behind the toilet can be just as important to the bathroom’s overall cleanliness. For the hard-to-reach places, try using a steam wand to disinfect and then a cloth to wipe it down.
Lighting
Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the bathroom light fixtures. Do this by turning off the light and wiping down the inside and outside of the fixture as well as the bulb.
Sink, Bathtub and Shower Drains
Drains can get clogged with hair over time. To prevent having to snake the drain, complete regular maintenance by removing the drain or drain cover, rinsing it and using a soft bristled brush to clean the inside.
Air Vents, Fans and Returns
Keep the air circulating your bathroom fresh and clean by dusting and disinfecting the exhaust fan. While you can simply just dust the source, it is usually better to remove the cover and deep clean with a vacuum. If you can’t remove the cover, spray your dust want with 50 percent white vinegar and 50 percent water solution with a few drops of tea tree oil. This combination will naturally disinfect the air.
Bath Toys
Over time, mold can build up in your children’s bath toys. How can you prevent this? First, make sure they are completely dry before packing them away. Second, wash the toys regularly in a tea tree oil, white vinegar and water solution.
Inside the Faucet
Just like with the showerhead, mineral deposits can also build up in your faucet spout. To prevent this and maintain your water pressure, disassemble the nozzle and clean the aerator with white vinegar. For a deeper clean, use a stiff-bristled brush dipped in vinegar to keep the faucet clean.
Drawers
Makeup, hair and more can build up in the bottom of your bathroom drawers. Once a month, remove everything from the drawer, do a quick wipe down and then reorganize the contents. Not only is it now clean, but it is also more organized.
Exposed Plumbing
Visible pipes should be wiped down every six months or so. Simply spray a diluted white vinegar solution and wipe them down for a clean and shiny appearance.
Stay tuned! Next month, we’ll give you some tips on cleaning overlooked areas of the kitchen! Happy “spring cleaning” season!
With homes flying off the market for top-dollar value and little-to-no inventory, one thing is certain about the real estate market: we are in a seller’s market. In addition to the rising home values, rent prices are also increasing – causing more people to decide to buy a home. While this may sound like a good thing, the increase in traffic and low inventory of homes available is not boding well for buyers. Why? To put it simply, they don’t have enough time to find and make an offer on a home they like. How do you compete in Central Texas’ hot market? Here are five tips to help you buy a home in our competitive market:
Get Loan Pre-Approval
Unless you are paying in cash, you are going to need to take out a loan to buy a home. To receive loan approval, a lender needs to look at your credit, debt, assets and more. Now, if you want to be competitive in a tight market, pay attention! Before you even begin searching for homes, you should visit a lender and receive pre-approval. What does this mean? Basically, it means that a lender has examined your financial situation and determined how much mortgage you can afford. DO NOT start viewing homes until you have this letter in hand. Why? To a seller, this pre-approval letter shows that you are a serious buyer and you can financially close the home. If you walk into a situation without this letter, a seller may pass you up for another buyer.
Avoid Contingencies
While contingencies can protect you as a buyer, they will more than likely place your offer at the bottom of the pile. This is a problem if you are buying in a competitive market. If you want your offer at the top of the stack, ensure your offer is appealing to the seller – i.e., no contingencies.
Make a Strong Offer
In a normal market, submitting an offer below list price is realistic. Even then, you have to be practical with your offer as offering 10 percent below the asking price will quickly turn off the seller. However, this changes even more in a competitive market. Trusting an experienced real estate agent is in your best interests in this situation.
Gather Your Best Down Payment
While the average down payment is around 7.6 percent of the median sale price, according to ATTOM Data Solutions, it is advisable to submit a larger down payment. How come? Sellers are more likely to accept an offer with a more substantial down payment. To a seller, this signals the buyer is more likely to qualify for a mortgage.
Look for a Hidden Gem
Turn-key homes are generally in higher demand than homes that require renovations. With this in mind, a home that doesn’t include everything on your wish list may come with less competition and a lower selling price. This home, while requiring renovations, could be customized into your dream home. Just one thing here: don’t pick a home that needs too many improvements. Why? It may end up costing you more than you saved – housing code regulations, foundation problems, etc.
In general, it is important to search for ways to show you are a serious buyer – especially in a competitive market. A buyer with a pre-approval letter, a substantial down payment and more, are more appealing to a home seller and make you more competitive.
Do you have any questions about buying a home in the Central Texas area? Contact us today!