Summer Real Estate News

Welcome to our Summer-Real Estate Update

Dear Reader,

Someone once said, “Summer should get a speeding ticket,” and that doesn’t feel truer than in August. So, I hope you can slow summer down just a little this month and enjoy it before getting back into a busy routine.

 Check out this month's e-newsletter for three articles with tips to make the most of your home.  Learn about how to keep hardwood floors looking like new. And if you work from home, read about how to create a home office you’ll love. Lastly, have you ever had a wasp family attach their nest to your home and had the horror of trying to remove it without being attacked? Read an article about preventing them in the first place and what to do if they take up residence at your home.

Wishing you an enjoyable rest of your summer, and as always, for any real estate-related questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m just a phone call or email away.

Keeping the Shine on Your Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors can increase your home’s value, but if you don’t take good care of them, their value can go right out the window, or you can incur expensive replacement costs. So, how can you maintain the value of your hardwood floors for the long term?

• Don’t clean with vinegar, as the acidity will break down the finish over time. Instead, use diluted dish soap or a mild all-purpose cleaner.
• Avoid using excessive water when cleaning, as this can cause swelling and warping. Use a dampened microfiber mop, or if using a spray mop, less is more.
• Take off shoes indoors. The shoes themselves and the stuff they track in can cause damage.
• Use pads or rugs under furniture. 
• Heavy furniture in the same spot for years can dent wood, so shift it a few inches every few months.
• Clean up spills immediately so they don’t stain.
• Keep pet nails trimmed to prevent scratches.
• Polish quarterly to add shine and extend the lifespan.
• Consider professional refinishing every 7 to 10 years, unless they are a ¼ inch thick or less, which could strip away the entire floor. 

If you are considering hardwood floors but are concerned about the maintenance and/or cost, research other types of flooring, such as engineered hardwood, luxury laminate, or vinyl, which can mimic the look of hardwood but are generally cheaper and easier to maintain.

A Home Office to Inspire and Motivate

Choose a distraction-free place. If you don’t have a separate room, consider using a divider or bookshelf to divide the room. 

Ideally, choose a space with lots of natural light, which can help boost productivity. Use layered lighting, such as a lamp when you are on your computer and need less light, and overhead lighting when you are doing paperwork and may need more light. 

Choose a desk that is proportionate to the room’s size but also gives you sufficient desk space. Consider a height-adjustable desk so you can sit or stand for increased comfort and productivity, along with a stylish, ergonomic chair. Use cabinets to conceal work stuff during non-working hours and maximize space with floor-to-ceiling vertical storage.

As for the fun part, personalize your space with art, perhaps a vision board, photos, plants, and focal points like an area rug or accent wallpaper, while keeping it professional to have an appropriate background for video calls. 

Once your ideal office is ready and stocked with all the right vibes, you’ll be out of excuses — time to get work done!

Waging War on Wasps

Summer brings many familiar sights and experiences. One of them, unfortunately, can be the increased prevalence of pesky wasps. So, what is it that attracts wasps?

• Dead or untrimmed vegetation 
• Unharvested fruit and vegetables
• Sugary, fruity drinks or food, and grilled meat. Put food away promptly after consumption.
• Garbage that is not tightly sealed
• Compost — when flipping the pile, be careful about disturbing a wasp nest that may be hidden.
• Pine sap
• Bird feeders containing sugary concoctions

And if wasps are already a nuisance for you, here are some ways to wage war on them:

•  Make a trap with an empty 2-litre bottle filled with banana peel, apple cider vinegar, and sugar, or spray wasps with 2 tablespoons of dish soap and water. 
• Hang wasp traps
• If a nest isn’t bothering you, leave it be. But if it’s necessary to remove it, do so when it’s late at night or in the early morning when wasps are least active by spraying a hose 15 to 20 feet away at the nest or using a commercial wasp spray. Wear protective clothing to minimize the chance of being stung. After it’s removed, check for signs of the nest being rebuilt in the same spot, which is not uncommon.

 If you don’t want to risk being stung when removing a wasp nest yourself, are allergic, or if wasps are inside your home, hire a professional to remove it.

Notable, Quotable, Quotes!

“People wait all week for Friday, all year for summer, all life for happiness.”

Abhysheq Shukla

 “Fill up your own cup and let them fall in love with the overflow.”

Harry Styles

 “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

Maya Angelou