Real Estate Information Archive

1. Once you're settled, go for a walk and introduce yourself when you see neighbors outside.  Have a porch or front yard gathering on a weekend afternoon. Offer light, simple snacks and invite the whole neighborhood.  
 

2. Get outside and work on the landscaping, small DIY projects, or sit on the front steps with a good book. Your neighbors then have the opportunity to say hello. 
 

3. Just a few outdoor decorations can bring compliments from neighbors, always an easy way to start a conversation. 
 

4. If you have pets, especially a dog, they make great ice-breakers when you're out for a stroll.  
 

5. Visit your local small businesses and you'll see enough familiar faces over time that saying “Hello” will be easy.  
 

6. Ask your realtor if there's a neighborhood community center, and call to see how you can get involved.  
 

7. Children make great conversation-starters.  They love finding nearby kids to hang out with, and taking them for a bike ride is a great way to get to know other families. 
 

8. Host a fun, child-centered activity in your front yard with outdoor games and snacks.  Invite the kids in the neighborhood and their parents, and they will come! 

1. Ask current friends if they know anyone in your new area, and get in touch with them. 
 

2. Contacts from local organizations--these can provide you with lots of information about your new hometown, as well as introduce you to new people.  
 

3. Search social media for events taking place in your area and go to them! 
 

4. Invite your new coworkers to lunch or coffee.  
 

5. Getting the kids involved in activities will connect you with locals and other parents.  
 

6. Hobbyists sometimes have get-togethers for like-minded people. Find a nearby group with your same interest, and join them.  
 

7. School parent organizations are a great place to meet other parents.  

- Paint over the wallpaper!  Benjamin MooreⓇ suggests you start by sealing any peeling spots with adhesive, applying clear caulking around the room where the wallpaper meets the ceiling and floor, then priming the wallpaper with an oil-based primer.  Using your choice of latex interior paint, paint as you would any other wall surface.   
 

- Switching out the dated sink fixtures is as simple as finding the correct pieces to go into the configuration for the existing fixture in a style you like.  Once you’ve made your decision, confident do-it-yourselfers can switch them out themselves, and Home Depot shares this step-by-step video how-to for sink faucet installation. 
 

- Updating your light fixture can be a huge improvement, and the choices are almost endless at local home stores.  Changing the location of the light, or adding wall sconces may require a call to a reputable electrician, so don’t forget to budget those extra costs. 
 

- Ugly linoleum can be covered with adhesive-backed vinyl tile or painted with porch paint, and if you’re feeling creative, you can have a custom look like this striped floor from 1915 House. Supplies may cost a bit more than other paint jobs, but it beats the expense of replacing the flooring. 
 

- Replacing the cabinet can be expensive between the new cabinet and labor, so the best way to improve it is to paint it and add new hardware.  Countertops, depending on what material they are, can be painted or even tiled for a fresh look. 
 

- Add style to a plain mounted mirror with a frame! Framing kits come with everything you need for this quick update, and are available at home centers and online for less than $100. 
 

- If your budget is tight, just the purchase of a new shower curtain, window treatment, inexpensive framed prints, and one nice coordinating towel set can make a huge improvement to your dated bathroom.   

- Masonry, including foundations, chimneys and fireplaces can last over 100 years.  If you live in an older or historic home, pay close attention to and repair damage to mason work, especially if it’s in the foundation. 

- A house with good bones can last an indefinite amount of time, which is evident when you tour historic neighborhoods.  The framing and roof trusses of a house can last many years with proper care. 

- The lifespan of your roof depends on the material; shingles are made to last 20-30 years, determined by material make-up, and stronger materials such as copper and slate can last up to fifty years. 

- Most exteriors, vinyl, wood, stucco, etc., and interior walls that are well-maintained can last the life of the house.  Wooden windows have a life expectancy of 30 years, while aluminum windows will survive 15-20 years. 

- Floors are normally made of strong wood or wood composites and should last upwards of fifty years. 

- Your cabinetry takes a lot of abuse, but well-constructed cabinets will last fifty years. 

- The sink’s lifespan depends on the material, and can last a lifetime.  Faucets, however, will work well for fifteen years or so before needing work or replacement. 

- A dishwasher used regularly will function well for about nine years. 

- A gas stove seems to last longer than electric ranges, about fifteen years versus thirteen years. 

- Toilets, bathtubs and sink are made to last a lifetime, even though some of the working part need work or replacement over that lifetime. 

- If your tub is enclosed with shower doors, they should serve you well for twenty years. 

- A tub with jets will last at least twenty years, once again, depending on use. 

- The whole-house system you use to heat and cool should give fifteen years of service before needing some attention or replacement parts. 

- You can expect your hot water heater to last about ten years, but a tankless heater can last twice that long.   

- Most washers and dryers will do your laundry for up to ten years. 

- Downsizing can be a huge change for most, and planning for it is the key.  Talk with your partner, your family and friends, tell them of your thoughts, and have some of them help you start a Downsize Plan.  
 

- Think practically when you’re thinking about what sort of house you’d like to buy.  You don’t want to go so much smaller that you don’t feel at home.    
 

- Do you want to stay in the general area you are currently in, or do you want to move across the country? Maybe you’d like to have an adventure and travel.  
 

- Look at your budget and go through it very carefully.  Even with a home sale, your new place could be in a more expensive area, with property taxes and higher utility costs.  Choose carefully so you save more of the profit from the old house’s sale. 
 

- We don’t like to think about aging, but one consideration you should be taking is that if this will be your last home, make sure it will work for you as you get older.  In case of mobility issues later on, a single-story house that will be easier to maneuver around in, or one with a smaller yard for less maintenance is best when house-hunting. 
 

- The thought of maintaining our landscaping can make us groan as we get older in more ways than one, so consider a condominium or townhouse to relocate to. Be sure to ask if there are extra maintenance fees in these communities. 
 

- Once you make your decision, contact a realtor in the area with questions about the housing market, as they can assist you with figuring out how much your house would sell for, as well as finding a smaller and affordable home for you to buy or even consider a rental for a while. 
 

- Once you decide to sell and relocate, start the first step of the moving process of going through your belongings, and deciding what you’ll have room for in a smaller home.  This downsizing article from Sixty&Me.com has some extreme but practical advice to help you start this emotional task. - -Get the family involved if your children still have belongings stored in your attic or spare room. 
 

- If the thought of cutting out so many of your belongings is too daunting, find a professional organizer who can help.  Look for one that specializes in downsizing. 
 

- You have probably acquired a houseful of furniture, and a smaller home means less space to place what you have now.  Talk to family members who may want pieces that you have, sell some furniture, or donate practical items to a shelter or thrift store. 

- Refrigerator coils can gather lots of dust and pet hair, along with spills from the fridge.  Getting the coils cleaned as much as possible can make a difference in how well your refrigerator motor runs.  Check with your appliance’s manufacturer website for the best way to perform this task. 
 

- The dishwasher doesn’t get dirty, because it’s a washer, right? While they clean, dishwashers can have greasy build up. With vinegar, baking soda, and a bit of elbow grease, Wikihow shows us how to get the dishwasher itself to help us get it sparkling clean and smelling sweet. 
 

- Herbs and spices are often overlooked while cleaning pantry shelves.  McCormickⓇ reports that whole spices last 3-4 years, 2-3 years for ground spices, and herbs have a shorter life of 1-3 years.  Check the freshness date on the container, and if it’s within that time frame, keep it.  If not, throw it away and restock your spice rack. 
 

- Don’t neglect the freezer compartment when you’re wiping down the fridge.  A mixture of equal parts of hot water and white vinegar to wipe down the door, seal and inside will take care of the grime, and help with any lingering food odors.  Before you refill the freezer with food, go through it and toss anything that looks freezer burnt. 

- Give your toothbrushes a good clean.  Pour about an inch of antibacterial mouthwash into a cup and soak the bristles in the mouthwash for about five minutes, and rinse. If you use a toothbrush holder, wash it in warm soapy water and allow to air dry before returning the toothbrushes.
 

- Bathroom exhaust fans can collect dust like ceiling fans, and the buildup affects how well it exhausts the humidity warm showers cause.  Danny Lipford of Today’s Homeowner has step-by-step instructions for getting your fan clean and running efficiently. 
 

- Many of us don’t think of cleaning hair and makeup brushes.  Remove loose hair from hairbrushes and combs, allow them to soak in warm water with some shampoo mixed in, and use an old toothbrush to scrub hairspray build up and body oils and rinse.  Makeup brushes should be soaked, given a lather, then rinsed in cool water.  Air-dry everything on a hand towel. 

- Light fixtures get grimy and dusty, so covers should be removed after turning off the circuit breaker and washed in warm soapy water then air dried on a thick towel.
   

- Remove mattresses, vacuuming both sides, and if possible, prop them in the sunlight for a few hours.  The sun’s rays freshen and can kill some germs. When you replace them on the beds, make sure the mattress is flipped and rotated from its original position.   
 

- HVAC registers should be vacuumed, using the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner.   
 

- Curtains and blinds collect a lot of dust, but are usually washable, so check the manufacturer’s information before you toss them in the washer or clean them.   
 

- Once your deep clean is complete, take care to wash or clean brooms, mop heads and dusters, as this simple move will help your home stay fresher as you do your regular cleaning.