A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.

Home Ideas Ben Soreff Home Ideas Ben Soreff

How to Clean Your House in Preparation for Selling It

Cleaning your home before you move may look like a huge task, but if you break it down into steps, it is much easier. There are two great ways to do this: break it down by type of job, or divide it by room. For instance, you could wash all the windows at once, clean all the floors and baseboards, and clean out all the clutter, or take it room by room.

We partnered with a cleaning company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

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Cleaning your home before you move may look like a huge task, but if you break it down into steps, it is much easier. There are two great ways to do this: break it down by type of job, or divide it by room. For instance, you could wash all the windows at once, clean all the floors and baseboards, and clean out all the clutter, or take it room by room. Learn more about their cleaning services.

Clear out the Clutter

The first step to cleaning your home is to clear out the clutter. For example, in the kitchen most people have a spot where they just drop everything-their mail, empty jars, pens, and miscellaneous items. Give away or throw out items that are not needed. Kitchen counters can also look crowded with too many appliances. Only one or two appliances should be left visible on the counter, such as a coffee maker or small microwave. Other appliances should be boxed up or placed in a cupboard out of sight. The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house, and when you are selling your home, this room needs to look very spacious and inviting. Another space that is important to clean is the garage or workshop. When trying to sell your home, you want to make this space look as large as possible. You can take extra items to the thrift store or put them in temporary storage with a friend.

Wipe Surfaces

No one wants to see dirt and dust in a potential home, so all surfaces need to be cleaned. The more obvious places to clean include the floors, counters, and bathtubs, but do not forget windowsills, top of the refrigerator, bookshelves, baseboards, and light fixtures. Also, the large appliances in the kitchen should be wiped and polished (especially if they are stainless steel). The windows also need to be washed, especially any glass sliding doors or front doors with glass.

Care for the Yard

Some companies, like Olivia Cooley Group, know that the outside of the home is just as important as the inside when you are trying to sell your home. Leaves should be cleaned up, grass mowed, sticks and yard debris cleaned up, steps swept off, and bushes trimmed nicely. Consider cleaning up large children’s toys or extra lawn equipment for the nicest presentation.

To put the finishing touches on cleaning your home, be sure all the lights are working, doors and latches functioning, and all windows have screens in them. Personal family decorations should be taken down, with only a few simple pictures and decorations left. Curtains and blinds should be open to allow light into the room. These are great steps to make your home look beautiful.

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How to Make Sure Your Roof Is Prepared for Spring Rainstorms

Your roofing is among the most costly elements of your house, and spring storms pose one of the greatest risks to them. From the wind tearing off a few shingles to the big branch dropping and poking a hole in your roofing, these storms will do significant damage to your roofing.

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Your roofing is among the most costly elements of your house, and spring storms pose one of the greatest risks to them. From the wind tearing off a few shingles to the big branch dropping and poking a hole in your roofing, these storms will do significant damage to your roofing.

Although there is no solution to stopping this yearly onslaught of extreme weather, here are three simple and economical tips you could do to help shield your home from damage.

Trim Overhanging Branches

As you know, storms can become very turbulent in the spring months, and these moving winds can impose a severe effect on the trees surrounding your house. It is effortless for trees to drop their branches during these windstorms, particularly if some of these branches died in the cold season or if they have just gained their energy back.

Taking your time to check the trees and cut any branches that could be troublesome or unsafe if they dropped during a spring storm could also be one of the best choices you might make.

Clean Your Gutters

Your gutters' key task is to bring rainwater that falls on your roofing to a safe spot on the surface that doesn't harm your house. If your gutters are blocked up with debris as the storm hits, water will remain on your roofing and spill down the outside of your house, which can cause significant and costly damage.

After clearing your gutters of any residual autumn and winter waste, you should inspect them for holes or other harm indications that could prevent them from doing their job effectively or contact a roofing expert for roof repair.

Get an Inspection

Another step towards protecting your roofing is performing roof inspection. Before the storms begin, you should get an expert roofer to check your roofing and ensure it is in excellent condition. If they can help you discover and repair a small issue before the storms start to hit your roof, you'll save money and the hassle.

An experienced roofer will check your flashing. These are the metal parts that cover the joints of your roofing around the chimney and vents. They are more likely to be unplugged than other roof materials. Checking these sections and reassembling or removing any broken or loose flashing should help keep them safe in strong winds.

While you cannot keep spring storms out, you can protect your house by following the above tips. When your roofing is damaged during these extreme weather conditions, contact us.

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How to Know When to Upgrade Your Appliances

How do you know when it’s time to swap out your old stove or oven for a newer model? There are many clues that let you know it’s time to throw out the old and install the new, and we’re here to help you find them! Here are our top three signs it’s time to upgrade your appliances.

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Whether for cooking or cleaning, we rely on good appliances to help make our lives a little easier. Stoves, refrigerators, washers, and dryers, are all just some of the household appliances we use everyday. These are often large-ticket items that come with a hefty cost, and we try to avoid unnecessary upgrades and purchases by taking care of them when we can. So, it’s easy to become complacent with what you have and put up with the odd burner that doesn’t work quite right. 

How do you know when it’s time to swap out your old stove or oven for a newer model? There are many clues that let you know it’s time to throw out the old and install the new, and we’re here to help you find them! Here are our top three signs it’s time to upgrade your appliances. 

1. Things aren’t working right.

All right, this one is obvious, but it’s true! Because appliances can be expensive, we often put up with things not working properly. After so long, these minor inconveniences can become large hassles and annoying nuisances that take up a lot of extra time in the day. Here’s what to look for on some appliances: 

Stoves: 

A stove or range usually lasts around 15 years, so if you’re pushing that timeline or are well over it, it might be worth it to start looking for something new. When a stove starts to go, you can expect uneven heat distribution and faulty burners. Another sign is the control panel stops working, and this is the most expensive part to have replaced. 

Refrigerators: 

Current refrigerators are built much more efficiently than those of 20 or 30 years ago. These appliances last about 20 years, and can end up costing a lot of money to repair. If you notice a water leak, it may just be a simple hose that needs replacing, or it could be indicative of a larger issue. If your fridge is over 20 years old, it might be smarter to invest in a newer, more efficient refrigerator to cut down on energy costs and electric bills. 

Washing Machines: 

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Washing machines last around 8-10 years, and in those years, they do a lot of work for your home. A tell-tale sign of a washer in need of an upgrade is excessive leaking. Some water here and there is no issue, but when it’s an excessive amount every time, you should start looking for a new washing machine. Also, listen for excessive noise. Older washers get easily unbalanced and cause a loud banging that is not only annoying, but causes even more damage to this appliance. 

2. Your appliances don’t match. 

There may have been a time in your life when you didn’t care about having mis-matched appliances. A white fridge, with a black stove, and a brushed-nickel sink seemed just fine at the time, but that aesthetic can become distracting. Or if you only replace appliances as they break, it’s easy to get this style. Because appliances last so long, many kitchens have this look. If you’re tired of your stove from the 90s and modern fridge butting heads, it’s time to upgrade. A kitchen should have a seamless, effortless look that is inviting and modern. Not every piece needs to be exactly the same, but once you pick a theme, stick with it and opt for streamlined appliances that match and make your kitchen look more expensive. 

3. There’s no more joy in cooking or any house work. 

Not everyone likes to cook or do chores like home organizing. When appliances are breaking and not working properly, these simple tasks can become a huge chore that ends up sucking the life out of your day. If you are someone who loves cooking, but have suddenly dreaded the thought of using your stove, you should upgrade! Ovens with uneven heat distribution, dishwashers that make loud noises, and dryers that need to be run multiple times to get the job done make doing small tasks draining. 

Now, a lot of items are built to function, even with broken parts, so that’s why it’s easy to let this go unnoticed for so long. But if cooking your favorite meal fills you with dread, and you often find yourself cursing your appliances, upgrade them and restore that small joy in your life. 

There are loads of appliances in your home that only live for so long. Everything from outdoor grills to dishwashers have an impact on your life. Not every appliance needs to be replaced right away, but it is smart to know your options and the tell-tale signs that an upgrade is imminent. 

Replacing appliances doesn’t have to be a hassle or intimidating––you just have to do your research, and there are many resources you can utilize to find the perfect fit for your home. 

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Guest Post - 5 Decorating Tips to Make Your Home Office More Enjoyable

As the possibility of working from home stretches far into the future, it might be a good idea to set up a home office space with an eye on improving comfort and function.

Have you made the switch to working from home? Following the stay-at-home orders imposed on 1.5 billion people after the outbreak of COVID-19, many people have made this transition, but at the cost of their productivity. A major obstacle is creating the right environment to ensure you are focused and relaxed. 

In addition, elements in a home office like colors, plants, noise and lighting all have a significant impact on one’s concentration, and can also help you enjoy your work. After all, one of the important benefits of working from home is the freedom you have to decorate according to your personal tastes. This is an opportunity to customize your workspace to unleash creativity and your hidden talents. 

With the above guiding principles in mind, here are some things must be taken into consideration when designing an ideal work from home space. We’ve rounded up some of the top tips below.

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Make yourself at home. Design your workspace to naturally extend the overall interior design in your house or apartment, and it should blend seamlessly. Incorporate the same design elements you love in your home, and overall plan to decorate with the same themes. For example, if you love plants in your home, then include a lot of green in your work space. If natural wood tones are your vibe, then select the same material for your office desk and chair. Don’t limit yourself just because this is your workspace. You will be much more productive in an environment that brings you joy, so put some extra care into creating a work space that feels like you’re at home.

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Let there be light. Natural light has been proven to improve productivity, and having sufficient sunlight in an office space will elevate mood and benefit overall health, so it’s extremely important to create ample opportunities for natural light to filter into your home office environment. Ensure you have sufficient light to work well, but try to avoid stark lighting like fluorescents, and instead supplement natural light with incandescent bulbs that are softer and integrate well with natural light. We spend most of our days staring at our screens, so the aim is to balance that with natural light as much as possible. 

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Add a dash of color. You can get a boost of inspiration whenever you need it by ensuring you have bright colors added to your home office décor. Strong colors with refined compositions help improve focus and concentration, while abstract art and neutral palettes like green and beige help with tasks that require a calm mind. Blue is soothing, inspires focus and stimulates productivity, but be sure to break it up with some brighter colors, like orange, to create a balance. Put a little time into decorating your space with vibrant colors—on your desk, on the walls, basically anywhere your gaze falls. Make sure you have a spirited, lively environment to keep your creative juices flowing, and ensure that your productivity stays high. 

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Stay organized. Keep your home office space fully-stocked with great organization solutions. The sight of extraneous items strewn about an office can add to stress. Instead, add shelves or install cabinets against the walls. Rather than your typical office storage bins, keep baskets, boxes and containers on your desk and fill them with your essential stationery and work items, so you have what you need within easy reach. Clear, acrylic boxes with lids are ideal for compartmentalizing your go-to office accessories, and you can easily stack them on top of each other to save space and still see what is inside, so items can be easily located again.

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Hide the cables. Electrical cords and computer cables are essential, of course, but try to make them as unobtrusive as possible. Leverage Bluetooth and other wireless technologies to cut down on the number of cables you require to work. Choose furniture and built-ins that make computer monitors and TVs fit seamlessly into a cabinet or the wall, and find furniture that will hold the printer, which is often the bulkiest piece of equipment. Mount a power strip on to the back of your desk or underneath, and use cable ties to wrangle any cords that get plugged into that power strip and run them along the back of the furniture where they’re out of sight. You will be astonished how much cleaner and brighter your home office will look once the cables and cords are gone.

Conclusion

The most important thing is to make your home office reflect the way you like to work. If you do your best work behind a desk, then center your decorating around a desk and chair. If you prefer to lounge on laptop, pick out comfortable couches or chairs to start. The goal is to create a space that will make you happy, and always inspire you to work.

Finally, decide whether your workspace will be exclusively for work, or serve a dual function in your home. For example, some prefer to have a work from home space where they can close the door and leave it behind at the end of the day. While others, prefer the space to also serve as a library, TV room, or sitting room. Either way, it can work and it is entirely up to you. But make a decision, and stick to it—that way your home office will be everything you want it to be, even when you’re not working.

Author Bio

Ray Ko has been creating effective visual merchandising and interior design strategies for retailers for more than 20 years. Today, he is the senior ecommerce manager for shopPOPdisplays, a leading designer and manufacturer of stock and custom retail displays that helps brick-and-mortar and ecommerce stores of all sizes, across all industries, showcase their products to drive sales. 

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