Do You Know How Much Equity You Have in Your Home? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some HighlightsIf you’re a homeowner, your net worth has gotten a big boost. That’s because recent home price appreciation has increased your equity.Your equity grows as you pay down your loan and as your home increases in value. Over the past year, the average homeowner’s equity grew by $55,300.Ready to sell? Let’s connect to talk about how you can use that equity to fuel your next move.

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Important maintenance home repairs to do this spring in VA

Spring is the perfect time to get your home back in order after winter weather leaves the area or if any major maintenance issues need to be addressed Whether you plan to sell your home soon or just want to make it look presentable there are some important spring maintenance checklist tasks and home repairs to do this spring in Virginia after the winter weather. Home maintenance issues during a good old spring cleaning include maintenance tasks such as checking gutters, replacing windows, caulking cracks, and a whole lot more. Be sure to check your roof, siding, and foundation as well as cleanout the attic and/or basement as part of the spring maintenance checklist and after winter weather departs. Spring Maintenance Checklist for Virginia  Here are some more spring cleaning ideas to help with maintenance issues as part of the spring maintenance checklist to help you get things done this spring after the winter weather has finally left Virginia. More than just a general spring cleaning, this season offers the chance to make sure that your home wasn't damaged and allows you to do some maintenance issues during the winter months and winter weather. You should be ready to address repairs and help prepare the home for the rainy season. So, as the weather in Virginia gets warmer, and winter weather leaves, peruse this spring maintenance checklist and other maintenance tasks to keep the property looking good and avoid any costly damages that might hit your pocketbook when repairs aren't looked after. Damages from Winter Weather Walk the outside perimeter of your home checking for possible damage and other maintenance issues on exterior walls that may have happened during the winter months and/or winter weather. See if there are any loose shingles, damaged siding, chimney issues, or cracks in sidewalks or driveways as part of your spring maintenance checklist and/or spring cleaning. Looking now at these maintenance issues is an excellent way to find issues early before they become bigger problems. For example, if you see damage on the roof, getting it fixed quickly can help the flooding of rainwater in the attic or other rooms as part of a spring maintenance checklist Foundation Cracks and Shifting The freeze-thaw cycles that occur in the winter weather in Virginia can be hard on a home's foundation and exterior walls. As wet ground turns to ice, the expansion can place pressure on your home foundation. As a result, you might have cracked exterior walls, a bulging or sunken foundation, or the separation from other structures such as steps or chimneys. In the spring and as part of the spring maintenance checklist do walk the outside of your home, looking at the foundation sill, concrete, and where the house meets the ground, when performing a list of maintenance tasks. Call a professional or a licensed contractor, if you see anything odd or out of the ordinary to help build on a positive curb appeal. The foundation is an important part of the home, and finding problems could help avoid losing 30 percent of the home's market value because of foundation damage, according to jeswork.com Take Way Yard Debris After the winter weather has gone it may have left a lot of unwanted debris and diminished the home's curb appeal. A good old spring clean-up and as a part of the spring maintenance checklist can freshen up the yard. Rake up fallen tree branches, leaves, and cut grass, and remove debris as part of the maintenance tasks. Re-edge flower beds and add some fresh mulch. Trim Trees, Shrubs, and Hedges Spring is the best time to prune most trees including those ghastly ones that have long pine needles as well as other shrubs, but if you have spring-flowering plants wait until after they bloom before pruning. Remove dead branches, stacks of pine needles and assess all landscape including trees as part of the maintenance tasks to increase a positive curb appeal. During a hurricane or wind storm, or other harsh winter weather conditions, a tree limb can turn damage a roof. Close areas of shade can reduce airflow and raise utility bills and may result in siding mildew. Clean Home's Gutters Gutters need to be cleaned out at least twice a year, and spring is a good time since there will be a lot of winter debris after the winter weather. This keeps rainwater from the home's foundation and avoids basement or crawl space flooding and will only add to the home's curb appeal if you're selling. Depending on the type of trees in the vicinity, gutters may frequently become filled with leaves and overflow during a storm. Installing gutter guards as part of regular maintenance tasks may help avoid clogged gutters and reduce how often they need to be cleaned, and should be part of your regular maintenance tasks. If you can't do it on your own or don't feel comfortable asking a licensed contractor, or ask for a referral. Inspect Outdoor Plumbing and Pipes Since the home's outdoor faucets and other mechanical systems have been exposed during the winter weather months,  do a visual inspection for cracks, ice damage, corrosion, or any leaks that ruin its curb appeal caused by weather damage. Also, view home systems like outdoor heat pumps, AC units, compressors, air filters, generators, sprinkler systems, and faucets as part of the maintenance tasks. If you see any issues and need major repairs that have been ruined by cold weather, call a plumber, licensed contractor, or HVAC pro to replace fittings, air filters, to keep systems safe. Flush Outdoor Drains Outdoor weather damage to drainage pipes can get clogged due to fallen leaves and debris during the cold weather as well as any air filters. Regardless of if they are buried drains, storm drains, or other water management systems, regular maintenance tasks in the spring can keep them working and should be part of your regular list of maintenance tasks.  Clean out all debris, and if there's a clog, use a plumbing snake to clear pipes after tough weather damage or winter weather, and cold weather months. After cleaning, use a pressure washer to get rid of grime build-up and keep the drainage system working to avoid any major repairs  Regular Home Maintenance Performing a few easy monthly and regular maintenance tasks such as these above on the home after cold weather, as well as warm weather, can prevent costly major repairs from weather damage in the future. And since most of these chores are easy and along with a simple visual inspection, you can do them yourself with common household tools. The costs are minimal rather than if you need to contact a licensed contractor or other pros. Perform a visual inspection of these things monthly during cold weather, as well as warm weather seasons: Check miscellaneous things such as hot water heaters, garage door springs, look for any water stains on the inside and exterior walls and ceilings of the home. Check HVAC system and air conditioning filters: some air conditioning filters are reusable, others are disposable, and need to be removed and replaced. Clean or replace air conditioning filters when they become soiled which might be from 30 days to a few months, or call a licensed contractor if you feel you can't DIY. Do a visual inspection of grout and caulking. Fix any voids or cracks in tubs and showers to maintain their appearance while helping to avoid seeping water damage and avoid major repairs whether it's during cold weather or warm weather months and/or any weather damage. Check kitchen vent hood filter. Clean or replace if needed and consider looking at the vent hood filter more often if you use the range a lot. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly as "Consumer Reports" says to change batteries every six months be it cold weather or warm weather.  Do a visual inspection during spring cleaning of the home outside including air conditioning and air filters and look at outbuildings in the cold weather, as well as the warm weather seasons for issues /problems with the foundation, vents, gutters, and drainpipes and to keep major repairs at bay. Overall These regular maintenance tasks checklist during the cold weather and warm weather months will change with the seasons of course but they are helpful tips for what to do during each season and hopefully stop major repairs in the future.Happy spring cleaning!

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Tips to Renovate and Better Your Laundry Room

The old days of scrubbing your dirty laundry on a washboard along the riverbed are long gone.   Today, many homeowners are lucky to have their laundry rooms indoors and many are state-of-the-art. For example, when creating an updated laundry room, homeowners might want to think about adding frontload washers and dryers.   Frontload models make up a generous portion of the washing machine market, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.   Popular choices are frontloaded washers and dryers offered by many appliances manufacturers. In addition, lots of consumers are choosing to move their washer and dryer to prominent locations within their homes into spaces adjacent to kitchens, bedrooms, or bathrooms for easier access.   Installation options on many models include stacking the machines for an integrated look, or consumers may choose custom under–the–counter, custom built-in, or side-by-side installations. Optional storage drawer pedestals with dividers are available to provide convenience and extra storage space for detergent, dryer sheets, and other cleaning supplies on some models.   Other elements to consider when updating the laundry room include making sure there is adequate storage space, and extra space beside the washer for a laundry sink to rinse stains or presoak clothes before washing. Constructing the room larger than what you need allows for expansion later; for instance, the addition of a crafts or sewing area. Let There Be Light (In Your Laundry Room) Make sure the room is bright, too. Not only does adequate light create a more cheery, safer work environment, but it provides proper light for important tasks such as ironing, identifying stained areas on clothing, and better performing the task of properly matching socks. Experts suggest non-glaring, uniform incandescent lighting and besides overhead lighting, a separate wall fixture located near appliances and the laundry room work table is also convenient.   Like the kitchen work triangle of the stove, refrigerator, and sink; appliance, work table, and sink placement in the laundry room layout is important for ease of use.   Regardless of whether you have a small laundry room or large, utilizing wall space over and around work areas for supplies and storage will save steps and time. No-fuss flooring that can handle occasional spills will save time and maintenance; vinyl or ceramic tile are good choices. Other Elements It’s all about space and being able to multi-task when it comes to laundry duty. For example, a fold-down table or shelf on the wall beside the washer, for instance, provides a surface for sorting clothes or applying pre-treat before washing. A work table off the side of the dryer is handy for removing clothing from the dryer and folding it. A corner for an ironing board and to hang pressed clothing is also handy since many of today’s specialty fabrics require at least light pressing after laundering.  If you have a stationary table by the dryer for folding clothes, place color-coded plastic bins for each family member under the table; ready to receive clean, folded laundry. This frees up table space while separating laundry for easier distribution.  A nearby wastebasket is handy for cleaning the dryer filter. And 1-inch PVC pipe makes great hanging rods for permanent press clothing as it comes out of the dryer, placed at a convenient height over the dryer or folding table for ease of use.  A second fold-down table provides an additional work area without taking up extra space; great for heavy laundry days such as when bed linens are changed, or for visiting friends and relatives. Adding shelves and artwork to plan walls in the laundry area also updates the room making it more homeowner friendly. Besides the kitchen, the next most popular room most homeowners spend their time in is the laundry room. Why not make it as comfortable and spectacular as possible? Some homeowners have even installed wall TVs, stereo systems, and added exercise equipment like a stationary exercise bike, treadmill, or elliptical to work out while waiting for their laundry to finish. Upgrade Detergent Try swapping out regular detergent for one that’s 100 percent free of perfumes and dyes, like All® Free Clear Clean & Care. It’s recommended by dermatologists, allergists, and pediatricians for sensitive skin, with a keratin-enriched formula that smooths fibers to promote elasticity.   Go Green Laundry rooms can feel sterile, so add some greenery to make them feel homey. Carve out a little space for a leafy plant that doesn’t need much light — or Ficus if you’re looking for a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t need to be watered often.   Have Fun with Stencils Instead of tiling floors, a more affordable project is to get some porch and floor paint, painter’s tape, brushes, and a stencil, and DIY your design. This project will take time, but the new change will make the room feel like a new space.   Streamline Storage Exchange a bulky plastic hamper for an upgrade. Woven baskets add neutral color and a  texture, making the room feel more inviting.   Cabinets Change out drawer pulls and knobs for something fun or give them a paint-over in a soothing shade, like pale blue, or a green with yellow undertones. Or this small space can also be a fantastic way to try something dramatic, like a sunshine yellow for a real pop.   Take a Risk When Designing and Building The bottom line? Take a risk and go for whatever makes you smile—those little pops of personality can go a long way in creating a space you love.   Isn’t it time to say so long to your boring laundry room, and welcome a cool place to wash your clothes, do some yoga when you’re not folding laundry?   A laundry room doesn't have to be a boring room that makes you want to run for the hills rather than spend time doing what most of us must do several times a week.   Don’t hesitate and get busy updating and renovating your ugly laundry room inro something happy and a place where you can enjoy spending time.

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