Tips on fighting mold in your home!

No homeowner wants to see or smell mold in there homes! Below are some facts and tips on what mold is and how to get rid of it!

Facts:

• MOLD IS A SYMPTOM OF A MOISTURE PROBLEM!Mold needs moisture to grow (you create an astonishing amount of moisture in your home everyday)! If your house isn't properly ventilated the moisture builds up can causes a mold.
• Mold in the home can cause health problems for it's occupants, and leave mold spots on walls, fabrics etc...
• Not all mold is cause for concern: like around a window sill but not growing anywhere else.
• You cannot see or smell all  molds
• small areas of mold can be cleaned yourself, while larger areas may need a professional.
• Bleach is not recommended. (mostly because of the fumes and it's overuse can be bad for the environment.
• There are small (3 patches less than 1 meter each), moderate3 patches larger than 1 meter to 3 meters) and large mold areas.
• HEPA filters  in vacuums help  which helps keep the mold spores from disbursing into the air.
• wear a dust mask and safety glasses and gloves when cleaning mold.
• Air that feels dry may not be as dry as you think...so before you humidify the air get the hydrometer to measure the relative humidity in the air so you don't create mold.
• Paint does not kill mold...clean it before you paint it because I promise it will still be there under your preety painted walls.

Tips:

• Get rid of furniture that has mold (if you don't need or use it). Mold on these surfaces are hard to get rid of)
• Reduce moisture in the home (fix leaks, proper ventilation, exhaust fans, open windows, clean up spills etc...)
• Get a hydrometer at any local hardware store (your humidity should be around 35-45%)
• Get a dehumidifier if you need one.
• Do not pile items tightly against the wall in moist areas like a basement. regularly clean and replace filters.
• Do not have carpet in the bathroom, kitchen and sometimes it's not a good idea in the basement either.
• Don't over crowd your house with plants...they produce moisture!
• Fix exterior problems that will leak into your house.

IF YOU DO NOT GET RID OF THE SOURCE OF MOISTURE CAUSING T|HE MOLD, IT WILL RETURN AND RETURN AND RETURN!!!!!!

Interior and Exterior Imporvements....

You've made the decision to make some improvements, congraulations! Your home will show better and sell quicker!

Let's talk exterior first. The buyers have likely seen photos of the property inside and out online, but this will be the first time seeing it in person. This is what will leave them with their first impression. Have you ever heard someone say that they wouldn't even go in the house because they didn't like the outside or it's surroundings. As a Real Estate Agent, I have had this happen several time on both the buying and selling side. So, make that first impression a good one!

Exterior:

• Remove clutter. People want to feel like they have a good size yard and too much stuff it in will make it feel smaller.
• Repair any cumbling stairs, decks etc...that are an eyesore but also pose a safety issue.
• Freshen up the outside of the house (wash windows and siding, paint the front door, shutters, or wood trim if needed)
• clean eves and downspouts
• Do your exterior lights work and all bulbs are working
• Replace old calking where needed
• Mow the lawn. If you ahve pets, make sure that a buyer can walk around the property without needing to find your outdoor water supply to clean their shoes.

Interior:

• Space is important. If you have too much furntiure, wall or floor clutter it makes it hard to manuver around the house and to imagine where their stuff will go in the house.
• Clean cobwebs from corner, light fixtures etc...
• make sure that your flooring, and railings are not loose
• PAINT...a fresh coat of neutral paint will do wonders for resale.
• Kitchens, and bathrooms should be clean. These rooms are very important to make look their best.
• Take a sniff...what do you smell? Pets, teenage bedrooms? While I wouldn't recommend a candle (it's too strong)..air out the house, use a nice but not harsh cleanser when cleaning.
• If you need a humidifier in the basement put one there! Musty smeeling basements send off bad signals to buyers.
• Try not to put all your storage against the walls. Buyers want to see of there is or could be potential damage or leakage.

SHOW TIME!!!!

• Open drapes, and put on lights in the darker rooms. Bright and airy is what the goal is.
• Air out the house. opena window for a while
• Empty the garbage or anything that could contribute to smell.
• make sure the temperautre is comfortable.
• Ask your agent to provide an information package with lots of photos, info on well/septic, inspection report (if you have these items), heating/power costs. Put it out so that the buyer feels well informed about your property.

This may seem tideous, or common sense. Some things you may not have considered. One thing these sugesstions are is helpful in getting your house SOLD!!!!!

Getting Your House Ready to Sell! Making the Decision to Get Your House Market Ready.

Once you have made the decision to sell your home, a second decision follows. This decision is whether or not you are prepared to do maintenance to the property prior to selling, or if you are planning to sell the property in it's current state. The difference usually results in the asking price, and sold price of your home. I know, you are asking yourself why you would spend money on a house you do not plan on living in for much longer.

Getting your house market ready does not necessarily require a lot of money.  Little changes can make the house appear more comfortable, fresh and sellable. Remember, home buyers want to purchase for the best price that they can, so when walking around your home they will be taking note of any work that may be required to make the home to their standards. Remember, there is no perfect house, however you do want your house to stand out in the price range it is in as being the best. Your house will sell quicker if it is.

If you decide to make some improvements on your home, the best time to do it is before it goes on the market. Sure, you can have your Real Estate Agent write in the remarks that certain things will be completed prior to closing, but not being able to actually see what the finished product will actually look like may not be the best decision. Do not depend on the fact that the buyer can envision the finish product.

Let's discuss for a moment the idea of repairs versus improvements. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING!!! Paint choices and the fact that your lawn needs mowing will not cause a buyer to walk away from your home, however, a buyer will walk away from a house they love, depending on the repairs needed. Some of these repairs may cost more than your improvements will. Keep in mind that the running tally of costs going through the buyers mind when walking through your home could be signifcantly higher then the actual cost of the repair itself. An offer will reflect  the buyers opinion of the cost to fix these repairs...resulting in a low offer.

Possible repairs:

• Do your doors and windows open and close properly (and is there condensation between your window panes?)
• Is there mold or rot around sinks, toilets and showers.
• Does the bathroom ceiling fan work? We don't want moisture problems do we?
• Roof: shingles and sagging
• Foundation: does your basement leak or are there cracks in the foundation that may lead to leakage.
• Electrical repairs
• Deck: should not be rotten, with holes or dangerous to be on.
•  Air exchangers/Heat recovery systems: do they work?
• Fireplaces, woodstoves and chimneys. Do they work, and are the up to code?
• Plumbing repairs
• etc...

There may be repairs that are to costly to fix. In this case your asking price should reflect that the repair is needed. Walk through the house as though you were a buyer, and make a list of what repairs and improvements you would like to see done to the home. Decide what ones you can and will do. Remember, there is no perfect house so not fixing everything does not mean your house will not sell.

Next blog issue will  discuss some minor improvements for the interior and exterior of your home, to help get you your best possible sale price, and sell your home in the most reasonable amount of time.