Tis the season for pumpkin carving, hot apple cider and your October Homeowner Checklist!
Bookmark this post for the upcoming weekend so you can get your Fall home projects crossed off your to do list!
-Clean your dryer vents
-Seal your outdoor surfaces
-Clean and Store your summer yard furniture
-Feed and seed your lawn
-Inspect and clean out your gutters
-Caulk cracks and gaps on exterior
-Replace worn weather stripping and Thresholds
-Visit a pumpkin patch or apple orchard
-Give your front porch a Fall makeover
-Check carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
-Start planning and saving for holiday gifts
-Host a socially distanced costume contest
And speaking of Halloween costumes.. do you have one picked out yet?
WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT? Add Wallpaper - Save this for ideas on where to use it and where to buy it 🎨
Where to "Wallpaper":
-A small space that won't effect the entire feel of a home (think half bath)
-Add wallpaper to the wall behind your headboard to create a bold statement wall beyond what you can do with paint
-Try a bold office look - Add wallpaper behind your desk for a fun workspace. This is especially fun if you are working from home doing lots of Zoom calls (no need for the Zoom backgrounds if you have your own)!
-The playroom or nursery - Wallpaper is a fun way to Kid-ify a space without transforming the room into Paw Patrol galore! Instead find a fun kid style print like oranges, letters, florals or woodland theme
Now for WHERE to find wallpaper - here are my top spots:
1. Anthropologie
2. Etsy
3. Chasing Paper
4. Magnolia Home
5. Minted
My go to shelf styling system:
First, gather up any accessories you might want to style your shelves with.
Next: Start styling with the largest items first. That might be a book (or stack of books), a taller vase or oversized bowl). Larger items will anchor the entire look.
Then you'll want to layer in frames and / or artwork. Lean a frame against the back of a shelf, set a smaller frame on top of a book or another decorative object.
Group items together in a variety of ways. Some items can be grouped in 2's while others might be grouped in 3's. You don't want to create too much symmetry but instead create a balanced look.
Lastly, move things around. Try stacking books vertically vs in-between bookends. Group together different pieces until it looks just right!
Don't forget to have fun! Shelf styling is meant to bring out your creativity. If you need some extra help, save this image for inspo or search Pinterest for shelf styling ideas. You can use other photos as a guide to where to put what!
Small home? No problem! Here are my 5 easy tricks to making your space look bigger than it actually is (save if you're thinking of selling)!
Bonus Tip: Add a striped rug to your living area. The stripes will elongate the look of the room.
Come on in! Stop for a chat and grab this checklist of documents you'll want to have ready for your home sale:
✔️ Your Mortgage Documents (including a payoff estimate)
✔️ Your prior title policy (this will save you money on the order of the new title policy)
✔️ Homeowners Association Documents
✔️ List of home updates
✔️ Home Repair and Maintenance records
✔️ Age of Mechanicals and FAQ (average heating/cooling costs)
✔️ Copies of any pre-sale inspection reports
✔️ Tax records
✔️ Any permits or property surveys
THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SCARY 👻
The Home Inspection is one part of the process that can cause the most stress for buyers and sellers but it doesn't have to be.
The best way to feel calm during the home inspection process is to be educated on what to expect (that's where your home inspector and I come in).
First you'll want to learn about things like how much the home inspection costs, what the home inspector looks for and how the process works.
I cover that with buyers and sellers at our initial consultation so that when inspection time comes you feel like a home buying superhero (cape included)!
I extracted 2 of the main things I cover when talking about the home inspection and am sharing them with you here. swipe to reveal! One of them is something you've probably never thought of!
Do you have questions about the home inspection process? Would it be helpful to bring on a Home Inspector for a little Q&A? Tell me everything you want to know in the comments!
Is it even Fall if you don't have a new doormat for the season? Comment below with the one I'd most likely find on your front porch!
Then tell me: Do you have a Fall themed doormat out yet or do you need one asap?!
Swipe to make Fall scented potpourri 🍂
Infuse your favorite Fall scents into your home with this simple homemade potpourri recipe!
BONUS TIP: If you're selling your home, this creates the perfect, cozy aroma for home showings! The buyers will want to move in the second they step foot inside (well there are a few other tips I'd give you but this is a good one)!
WOULD YOU RATHER: LOCATION EDITION
Would you rather - City life: think Carrie Bradshaw's apartment with shopping and nightlife just steps from your front door OR would you choose a house in the country with plenty of privacy? Think Joanna Gaines style dream house with an entertainment barn in the back (because how fun would that be)? Which one would you pick?
STOP HERE TO TALK FAVORITE HOME FEATURES:
What is the #1 must have feature in your next home?
Is there a room that you don’t have in your current house that you absolutely need in your next home?
A mud room for storing all the shoes and jackets that seem to always pile up at the door?
A designated office space to make working from home easier (and quieter).. thank you 2020!
A bigger yard for your kids and pup to run around without worrying about a busy road?
Or maybe your top priority is more location focused such as a specific school district or a fun neighborhood that you want to be in that would fit your lifestyle better? Do you dream of living in walking distance to local restaurants and shopping? (me too!)
Think about the ONE thing that would be a non-negotiable and tell me in the comments!
PS: Home features are kind of like food – we just want it all! Am I right?! However, if you’re really considering buying your first home or a new home, we have to make sure we are setting realistic expectations and prioritizing our favorite features.
In honor of #NationalSavingsDay let's talk about the costs of homeownership you'll want to be prepared for (aka "save for") if you want to buy your first home!
Don't forget to save this post for later!
1. Property taxes - this could have a big impact on your budget depending on the area where you’re looking
2. Homeowner’s association or condo fees
3. Home Insurance (when purchasing a home, the lender will typically require one year paid up front in order to close on your home)
4. Home maintenance - landscaping, lawn equipment, appliances that need to be replaced, chimney cleaning, heating and electrical costs, etc.
5. HVAC, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING - whether it's repairs that need to be done at some point, clogged drains, replacing furnace filters, or having your HVAC serviced, you'll want to budget for these expenses before buying a home.
On another note: What is something fun you're saving for in your home? A remodeling project, a Nespresso machine, a new sectional.. tell me in the comments!
Before you put your turkey in the oven, stop here for this month's Homeowner Checklist 🦃
The holidays are upon us and we are ready to start decorating! But first, we are sharing your monthly homeowner checklist so you can be sure to take care of your house for the holidays!
⚠️ Check paths, stairs and railings for safety
🚽 Deep-clean bathrooms
🛀 Check bathtub caulk and repair if needed
🍂 Remove the last of the Fall leaves.
🚨 Restock emergency kits for car and home
🔥 If you use a fireplace or wood stove, order firewood
🧽 Clean Garbage Disposal
🔑 Lubricate Door Locks
🛌 Clean (and flip) all your mattresses
🧹 Get a Chimney Sweep to Inspect the Fireplace
🛍 Get a head start on your holiday shopping
🦃 Host a virtual friendsgiving
🍞 Make a donation to your local food pantry
📪 Order holiday cards and update your contact list
We might have something up our sleeve for 2021 and it has to do with these checklists! Comment below if you'd be interested in seeing the entire year of checklists combined into one easy to reference, e-guide?! 💫
For the first 6 decades after WWII, the housing sector led the rest of the economy out of the recession. Expect it to do so this time as well. -Dr. Frank Nothaft, Corelogic Chief Economist
HOW TO HAVE A COZY (and spooky) FRIDAY AT HOME 👻
Halloween is just around the corner which makes today the perfect Friday to spend at home with your favorite scary (or not so scary) movies!
Grab your fluffiest comforter, fill up a glass of your favorite beverage, pop some popcorn, light your pumpkin candles, and head to the couch. THIS is what home is all about, am I right?
Here are my go to Fall flicks to watch during the Halloween season (some are romantic, some a cute and some are spooky)!
1. Hocus Pocus
2. All the Harry Potter movies
3. Dead Poet’s Society
4. When Harry Met Sally
5. Goodwill Hunting
6. Practical Magic (my personal favorite)
7. Casper
8. Halloweentown
9. You've Got Mail
10. If you’re in the mood for extra spooky: “The Strangers”.
Have you seen all of these? Tell me your favorite and which one you're picking to press play on tonight!
Virtual House Hunters DREAM HOME POLL: Which house fits your ideal style??
🏡 Classic Colonial with double door entry
🏡 Cape cod with a gabled roof and a giant fireplace
🏡 Tudor with a steeply pitched roof and vertical lines
🏡 Victorian farmhouse with the perfect mix of victorian architecture and farmhouse charm
🏡Craftsman with a large covered porch and exposed rafters
Our newest listing brought to you by The Wendy K Team and The Real Estate Group! Open House Saturday fro 11-1 or call for a private showing! 801-420-0679
UTAHREALESTATE.COM
$449,900 | 7663 N Red Oak Rd Eagle Mountain UT 84005
1) Deep clean and disinfect
2) Change the locks
3) Clean and deodorize the fridge and freezer
4) Service your furnace/AC and replace air filters (make this a yearly habit - add it to your calendar right away and set to "repeat yearly")
5) Switch utilities into your name (you can call and get them set up in advance and let them know your move in date)!
6) If you want to paint or remove popcorn ceilings, it’s ideal to do this before moving in any furniture. Start picking out paint colors and get all of your painting tools ready so you can paint right away on closing day!
7. Forward your mail
8. Check smoke detectors, update to a smart home option or replace batteries
9. Locate circuit breakers and shut off valves
10. Have a moving day pizza party! Invite your friends, order pizza, pop open some champagne and celebrate!
2 reasons you shouldn't slow down your home search for the holidays:
Here's the Holiday low down on House Hunting: There is LESS competition!
If you’ve been seeing accepted offer after accepted offer on just about every new listing that pops up (not to mention only hours after you heard it was even for sale) – I totally get how it can seem like finding a house right now is impossible.
Maybe you're thinking you'll just wait until after the holidays are over to start looking so you can slow down and enjoy the season.
But what if I told you that the holidays can be a great time to get your search started because there aren’t as many buyers out and about (finally, right?!)
In fact, buyer foot traffic drops significantly during the holiday season which leads me to reason number 2!
With less buyers to compete with, that could mean more flexibility on things like price and offer terms for you! Not to mention, house hunting during the holidays just gives you all the cozy feels! Picture Cameron Diaz in The Holiday cozied up in that adorable little cottage. That could be you!
So if you want to get a jump start on your home search and take advantage of the decreased foot traffic during the holidays, We are only a message away!
