Yajnesh Rai

13 Simple Steps to Prep Your Home for the Best Summer Ever

Summer will be here before you know it, and you know what that means: Heat, hornets and yard work.

If you’re starting to miss spring already, fear not. Here are some quick projects to make your home and garden more comfortable and cost-effective this summer.

Inside the house

• Service the air conditioning. Nothing can ruin your day like a broken air-conditioning unit on a summer day, so keep it running smoothly by servicing it every spring. Every three months, change the filter, flush out drain lines with a cup of bleach, and ensure that the outdoor unit has room to breathe by keeping vegetation about an arm’s length away.
• Replace smoke detector batteries. You’d be surprised at how much peace of mind you’ll get after knocking out this one little chore. Change all the batteries on the same day and remind yourself to do it again in six months. If your smoke alarms were manufactured 10 or more years ago, replace them entirely.
• Rotate ceiling fan blades. Your ceiling fan may have a switch that changes the direction in which the blades turn. If so, make sure that the blades are spinning counterclockwise and pushing air down, rather than up.
• Clean behind appliances. You’ve been putting it off for far too long. You’re terrified of the horrors that await in the shadows of your kitchen, but it’s time to put on some gloves, arm yourself with disinfectant cleaner and roll out the oven with a brave face.
• Clean dryer vents. If your clothes come out of the dryer damp and musty lately, it’s probably because the vent is clogged with lint — not only wasting energy, but posing a significant fire risk. To do it right the first time, purchase a vent-cleaning kit. Its flexible rod and brush attaches to your drill and will extract a puppy-sized mass of lint in no time.
• Upgrade your thermostat. Replacing your existing thermostat with a ‘smart’ model does more than save you money. They respond to your voice, divert cool air to occupied rooms, can be operated from your phone and might even give you a weather forecast at a glance before work.
• Repot houseplants. Give houseplants fresh potting mix in spring when they’re actively growing. Slip the mass of roots and potting mix out of the pot, gently tease apart the roots, remove rotted pieces and replace it with fresh and fertile potting mix. If the leaves are turning pale from too much direct summer sun, move them to a slightly shadier place.

Out in the yard

• Patch your lawn. If you wait too long to plant new grass seeds or sod, aggressive weeds will happily fill the gaps for you. Luckily, grass will quickly establish if you remove all existing weeds beforehand, amend with topsoil and keep the area irrigated for the first week or two.
• Inspect gutters and downspouts. Fall isn’t the only time to clean out the gutters, especially if you have messy trees nearby. Make sure that the gutters are soundly attached to your roof, seal any gaps with silicone caulk and remove any obstructions at the base of the downspout.
• Inspect sprinklers. If you notice any clogged or broken sprinkler heads, shut off the water and dig a 2-inch diameter hole around the head. Unscrew the head from its riser and replace with a new one. If the head is merely clogged, remove the basket and rinse both it and the head in clean water. Reassemble the head and screw it onto the riser.
• Get your mower up and running. Give your mower, string trimmer and other lawn equipment some TLC before the summer mowing season begins. After removing the spark plug, replace the air filters, change the oil, sharpen blades and give your equipment a good cleaning.
• Remove hornet nests. If you have hornets, yellow jackets and paper wasps around your home, take steps to remove them now before they form a large, aggressive colony. You can play it safe by calling a professional, or spray nests at night when they’re less active. Just be sure to wear protective eyewear, a mask, pants and long sleeves.
• Clean the grill. Prevent flare-ups and cooking fires by giving your grill a good cleaning. Ideally you’d clean after every use, but you can start fresh with a grill brush, nozzle and wet rag. Now is also a good time to stock up on charcoal and make sure your tools are ready for grilling season.

Staged to Sell: View Inside This Rosedale, Md. Home

Have a home you recently staged that you’d like to show off here at Styled Staged & Sold? Submit your staging photos for consideration, along with three to five of your best spruce-up tips. Contact Melissa Dittmann Tracey at mtracey@realtors.org. 

 

Home stager: Cyndi Ryan with Staging Gracefully, Middle River, Md.

About the property: A 3-bedroom, 3-full bath single-family home with a 5-car garage and open floor plan in Rosedale, Md. The property was completely restored by Yanni LLC.

Photo credit: Cyndi Ryan with Staging Gracefully, Middle River, Md.

Photo credit: Cyndi Ryan with Staging Gracefully, Middle River, Md.

Photo credit: Cyndi Ryan with Staging Gracefully, Middle River, Md.

Photo credit: Cyndi Ryan with Staging Gracefully, Middle River, Md.

Photo credit: Cyndi Ryan with Staging Gracefully, Middle River, Md.

Cyndi’s staging tips from this property:

1. Clean is serene! A fresh, bright decor brings a feeling of peace and tranquility. Whites and beiges paired with a darker wood is a great way to really extenuate a crisp, clean palette. Keep counters clear. Tuck toasters, can openers, and other handheld appliances away to maintain an open non-cluttered prep area.

2. Art does not have to be store bought pictures and paintings. Be creative. Clocks have so much personality now. Choose one that really demonstrates the style of the house and because of their popularity they are also easy to find for an inexpensive price. Create colorful abstract canvases with acrylic paint. Mount an old piece of driftwood or an old farm tool over a sofa for a dramatic textured focal point.

3. Stage the open house. Your refreshments may be store bought but your presentation shouldn’t show it. Break out those gallon pitchers with the cute spout at the bottom and invest in a few really awesome serving plates and racks. Add fresh cut fruit to your drink cups. You want buyers to feel they just walked into the next home where they will entertain friends. Add a little soft jazz playing in the background or music that is gentle and peaceful.

Photo credit: Cyndi Ryan with Staging Gracefully, Middle River, Md.

4. Unclutter. Declutter. Disclutter. Keep your staging simple. Whether for selling that property or even in your own home, no more clutter. The era of knick knacks and curios full of figurines left us some time ago. Minimize to a few staple pieces atop cabinets and dressers. Bring in fresh flowers (or even realistic artificial) and greenery. Let nature help create a space that is welcoming and spacious.

5. Dress the house for the occasion. Ever gone to a party and found that you were overdressed or under-dressed? Know your audience. Designing decor that is the most trendy, cutting edge in the world of interior design isn’t what will speak to most buyers. Buyers are looking for a relateable atmosphere where they can picture themselves. Design your staging to meet the price of the home and neighborhood it’s in. Also, be sure to invest more in homes that will bring a clientele that is looking for a bit more drama. Don’t be afraid of jewel tones or rich textures. Just know what style speaks to your potential buyers for that home.

Rates Hit Highest Level in 7 Years | Realtor Magazine

 

Mortgage rates reversed course and soared to the highest averages in seven years, Freddie Mac reports. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.61 percent this week, which matches the highest level since May 19, 2011. 

“Healthy consumer spending and higher commodity prices spooked the bond markets and led to higher mortgage rates over the past week,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Not only are buyers facing higher borrowing costs, gas prices are currently at four-year highs just as we enter the important peak home sales season. While this year’s higher mortgage rates have not caused much of a ripple in the strong demand levels of buying a home seen in most markets, inflationary pressures and the prospect of rates approaching 5 percent could begin to hit the psyche of some prospective buyers.” 

Freddie Mac reports the following national averages with mortgage rates for the week ending May 17:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4.61 percent, with an average 0.4 point, rising from last week’s 4.55 percent average. Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.02 percent. 
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4.08 percent, with an average 0.4 point, increasing from last week’s 4.01 percent average. A year ago, 15-year rates averaged 3.27 percent. 
• 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 3.82 percent, with an average 0.3 point, rising from last week’s 3.77 percent average. A year ago, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.13 percent. 

Builders Speed Up Townhome Construction | Realtor Magazine

ownhouse construction continues making gains as buyers’ appetites once again increase for this type of single-family attached housing. Over the last four quarters, ending with the first quarter of 2018, townhouse starts were 7 percent higher than the prior four quarters. Townhouses accounted for 21,000 starts during the first quarter of 2018. 

The market share of new townhouses now stands at 12.3 percent of all single-family housing starts, according to an analysis from the National Association of Home Builders. Over the last two decades, the peak market share for townhome construction was reached in the first quarter of 2008, when the share was at 14.6 percent of total single-family construction. 

“I expect future gains in the share as townhouses are a useful bridge from rentership to homeownership for younger prospective home buyers in high-cost markets, among other market opportunities,” Robert Dietz, the NAHB’s chief economist, writes at the builder association’s Eye on Housing blog. “The long-run prospects for townhouse construction are positive given the large numbers of homebuyers looking for medium-density residential neighborhoods, such as urban villages that offer walkable environments and other amenities.”

Best Tip to First-Time Buyers: Act Fast | Realtor Magazine

A shortage of homes for sale and rising home prices are making it challenging for first-time buyers, in particular, this spring. For those who want to land a home, real estate professionals are urging them to move fast.  

The price of an existing home in March was about $250,000, up nearly 6 percent from a year ago, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Homes are selling faster too, often under contract in about a month. 

“The starter house is nearly missing in some markets,” says Jessica Lautz, NAR’s director of survey research and communication. 

In Colorado Springs, Colo., real estate pro Jay Gupta says the imbalance between the supply of homes and demand is “unprecedented” and many buyers are being priced out of some areas. Homes that are selling for less than $225,000 are hard to find, he says. Gupta told The New York Times a home listed for $310,000 in the area recently attracted 40 people to a three-hour open house. The home was soon under contract with a buyer offering $30,000 above the asking price. 

To increase chances, home buyers should get preapproved for a loan and be ready to act quickly when they find a home they like, Gupta says. They’ll likely need to be less picky too. Pick two or three “must haves” and make those the priority so you can move fast when opportunities arise, Gupta suggests. “You have to be more flexible,” he adds. 

Also, home buyers needn’t wait for a 20 percent down payment. More than half of first-time buyers make down payments of 6 percent or less, according to NAR data from 2017. Both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae support home loans to eligible buyers who put down as little as 3 percent on a home purchase, as does the FHA. 

Single Women Outbuy Men in Homeownership | Realtor Magazine

Single women are purchasing homes and condos at more than double the rate of single males. The trend is expected to keep growing, too.

Last year, single women comprised 18 percent of all home purchases, while single men accounted for 7 percent, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Single women are the second largest segment of home purchasers, behind married couples. Single women purchasers include never-married individuals, widows, and divorcees.  

Homebuilders are taking notice and are increasingly designing homes and subdivisions to appeal to women’s preferences. For example, in a development in North Carolina with McKee Homes, up to 50 percent of the homes purchased are by single women in their 30s, 40s, or older.

Read more: 6 Must-Haves for Women in Home Shopping

Single women tend to view homeownership more as an investment, Jessica Lautz, NAR’s director of demographic and behavioral insights, told The Washington Post. Single women tend to pay more on their home purchase than single men—$185,000 compared to $175,000. 

Rising rents may be the motivator that’s pushing more single women to homeownership. Twenty-three percent of single women cited rising rents as a “trigger” motivator behind their home purchase, according to a survey conducted by the Builders Digital Experience, a research and publishing firm. That is a greater percentage than the 16 percent average of all recent buyers surveyed. 

California OKs Solar Mandate for New Homes | Realtor Magazine

California will become the first state to require all new homes to have solar power. The new requirement, which was approved by a five-member California Energy Commission on Wednesday, will take effect in two years. 

“You can bet every state will be watching to see what happens,” Bob Raymer, senior engineer for the California Building Industry Association, said in the public comments prior to Wednesday’s vote. 

New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., have considered legislation that would ensure new buildings be solar-ready, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Hawaii lawmakers have considered mandating energy efficiency measures, such as solar water heaters. 

But California has been the first to approve such a move on a statewide scale. By 2020, builders will be required to make individual homes available with solar panels or build a shared solar-power system that could serve a group of homes. The rooftop panels can either be owned by the homeowner and rolled into the cost of the home, or leased on a monthly basis. 

The mandate could add up to $16,000 more to the cost of a home. But homeowners’ lower energy bills will make up for the extra costs of adding solar, state officials and clean-energy advocates say. Based on a 30-year mortgage, the Energy Commission estimates that the standards will add about $40 to an average monthly payment. The commission also estimates consumers could save $80 on monthly heating, cooling, and electricity bills. 

“Any additional amount in the mortgage is more than offset,” says Andrew McAllister, an Energy Commission member. “It’s good for the customer.”

California’s new mandate stems from a requirement that at least 50 percent of the state’s electricity needs to come from non-carbon producing sources by 2030. Solar power is becoming an increasingly important part in meeting that goal. 

Builder Makes Alexa a New-Home Standard | Realtor Magazine

Lennar, the nation’s largest homebuilder, announced a deal with Amazon that will make voice-activated digital assistants a standard feature in its new homes, as well as other smart devices. The new homes will include built-in Wi-Fi, smart locks, doorbells, thermostats, and lights that can be controlled by Amazon’s voice-activated digital assistant, Alexa. 

“This will be the hallmark of why we buy a new home,” says David Kaiserman, president of Lennar Ventures. “It’s an important step in the mass adoption of all these technologies.” 

Every new home from Lennar will come with two Alexa-enabled smart speakers, an Echo Show and an Echo Dot. The builder will also give home buyers a complimentary visit from an Amazon technician to teach them how to operate everything. 

Lennar and Amazon announced Wednesday that they will be opening eight model homes across the country to showcase the technology.

“We want to be able to walk into one of these model homes and see how it all works in a real house, so they can see how much it would simplify their lives,” says Nish Lathia, general manager for Amazon Services. “It’s super addictive.” 

Voice assistants have been growing in popularity. About 18 percent of Americans this year use a smart speaker at least once a month, according to eMarketer, a digital marketing firm. Amazon holds the majority of the market share, but Google and Apple hope to change that. 

Mortgage Rates Barely Stirred This Week | Realtor Magazine

Mortgage rates have mostly taken a pause after a series of rises in April. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.55 percent last week, unchanged from a week ago. 

“The minimal movement of mortgage rates in these last three weeks reflects the current economic nirvana of a tight labor market, solid economic growth, and restrained inflation,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “As we head into late spring, the demand for purchase credit remains rock solid, which should set us up for another robust summer home sales season.” 

Still, mortgage rates are up 50 basis points from a year ago, Khater notes. This has “put pressure on the budgets of some home shoppers” as “weak inventory levels are what’s keeping the housing market from a stronger sales pace.” 

Freddie Mac reports the following national averages with mortgage rates for the week ending May 10: 

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4.55 percent, with an average 0.5 point, unchanged from a week ago. A year ago, 30-year rates averaged 4.05 percent. 
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4.01 percent, with an average 0.4 point, falling from last week’s 4.03 percent average. A year ago, 15-year rates averaged 3.29 percent. 
• 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 3.77 percent, with an average 0.3 point, rising from last week’s 3.69 percent average. A year ago, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.14 percent. 

Calif. Takes Up Solar Mandate for New Homes | Realtor Magazine

California is on the brink of making solar standard on every new home built in the state. The California Energy Commission is set to vote on Wednesday on new energy standards that would require most new homes to have solar panels installed starting in 2020. 

If approved, solar installations will skyrocket in the state. Currently, just 15 to 20 percent of new single-family homes have solar facilities, Bob Raymer, technical director for the California Building Industry Association, told The Mercury News. 

“California is about to take a quantum leap in energy standards,” Raymer says. “No other state in the nation mandates solar, and we are about to take that leap.” 

A few cities have already made solar standard. For example, San Francisco and Fremont have mandated that solar panel systems be included in all new single-family and multifamily homes. Also in late 2016, Fremont mandated new residential and commercial developments to be “EV ready,” which requires most new single-family homes to have a large specialized outlet and a dedicated circuit in the garage so a resident could plug in an electric vehicle charger, Rachel DiFranco, the city’s sustainability manager, told The Mercury News. 

If approved on Wednesday, the new California solar mandate would encompass all homes, condos, and apartment buildings up to three stories that obtain permits after Jan. 1, 2020. Exceptions would be allowed for homes that are shaded by trees or buildings or whose roofs are too small to accommodate solar panels.

The solar mandate will increase building costs. Solar installations can cost about $14,000 to $16,000. With additional state mandates of increased insulation, more efficient windows, appliances, and more, the amount could jump another $10,000 to $15,000. However, the $25,000 to $30,000 extra for the building additions could potentially reduce an owner’s operating costs by $50,000 to $60,000 over the 25-year life of the home’s solar system, says C.R. Herro, Meritage Homes’ vice president of environmental affairs.