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Curb Appeal Tips in New Castle County, DE

Wednesday, April 10, 2024
by Tucker Robbins

Obviously, the first thing a prospective buyer sees when they drive up to your house is the front outdoor space and exterior.  First impressions can make or break a sale! Bring your curb appeal to life with a few easy and easy-on-the-budget ideas. 

 

  • - Use a long-handled soft brush and mild soap and water to wash the front of your home’s exterior.   

  • - If you don’t own a pressure washer, rent one from your local home store and give the driveways and walkways a good cleaning, paying special attention to stains from fallen leaves. 

  • - Store away any personal items you have in the front garden, like statuary, monogram garden flags, and even the basketball goal over the garage door.  You want the buyers to imagine your yard as their own. 

  • - Trim or remove shrubbery and trees, or large plantings that don’t show off the front of your home.  If the job is too big, a professional may need to be called in. 

  • - Give the front door a fresh coat of paint in a bright inviting color, add a new welcome mat, and if necessary, install new hardware and clean up or add new house numbers. 

  • - Simply changing your old porch or yard light sconces can make a big difference in appearance, as most homes are shown during the day, but many house hunters drive around in the evenings, looking at homes on their want list, so you want the lighting to shine bright. 

  • - If you don’t want to invest in a lot of flowers in the landscape in hopes that you will be moving soon, cover the beds with new mulch.  For some color, place pots and containers in strategic areas filled with flowers and greenery. 

  • - On a large front porch, add a sitting area with an indoor-outdoor rug and casually arranged porch furnishings.   

  • - Fencing adds value to your home, but it needs to be in great condition.  Clean the fence, painting and repairing where needed. 

  • - Don’t forget the mailbox!  Inspect the post and mailbox itself carefully, and give it a good cleaning, or replace it altogether.  Some low maintenance plants around it will make it stand out. 

 

You want your home to give your potential buyers a great impression when they drive up.  They will likely have already scrolled through your home’s photos in the online listing, so it needs to look as great or better than what they’ve already seen.  These tips may seem insignificant to you, but look at your home through a buyer’s eyes, and do whatever is necessary to turn that first impression into a sale! 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins. 

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Selecting Plants and Flowers for Your Home Garden!

Wednesday, March 20, 2024
by Tucker Robbins


Many of us select plants for the garden at our New Castle County DE home based on their visual effect—color, height, size of blooms, etc. And so we should, as the sight of our plantings should be pleasing to our sense of sight. As we plan our garden, however, we should also be aware of the other four senses—and include plants which appeal to each of them.

SMELL: Aromatherapy is a powerful practice. With nothing more than a simple scent, the brain can be triggered to remember long forgotten memories, emotions, and feelings. With that being said, it is important to carefully select the flowers you want in the garden of your New Castle County DE home. With a few simple choices, you can create your own "memory lane' or relaxing oasis. In terms of fragrance, it’s hard to beat roses or lavender. Wisteria and jasmine are scented climbers which can really enhance the sensory pleasure of a garden, and amaryllis belladonna and spirea both add pleasant scents.

SOUND: Few of us associate the sense of sound with our garden, but the rustling of long grasses and the chirping of birds add a much-appreciated dimension. To attract songbirds, use fruit-bearing understory trees like dogwoods and service berries and shrubs such as viburnums and hollies and introduce low growing perennials and dwarf shrubs like creeping juniper and cotoneaster. You can also plant vines, ground covers, and sunflowers to increase chirping and tweeting.

TOUCH: Texture in garden design refers to the surface quality of the plant. Plant textures range from delicate and fine to coarse and bold. The feel of the foliage in your New Castle County DE home’s garden is not the only element of texture, however, as the texture can change with the play of light and shadow and even with viewing distance. Plants with thread-like leaves call out to be touched, so consider adding cosmos, baby's breath, asters, and grasses. In addition, iris and lamb’s ear will each provide softer tactile experiences.

TASTE: The world of herbs is nearly without limits. Think about basil, chives, rosemary, chamomile, cilantro, mint, and parsley, to name just a few tasty garden additions. Consider, too low bush blueberries or ligonberries. Lesser known, but equally valuable as salad additions are the flowers of the hibiscus shrub, columbine, and daylilies.

Some of the plants you have selected for your garden will serve more than one purpose and will appeal to more than one sense, so be sure to sniff, feel, taste, listen to, and view each of them!

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins.   

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Invest Your Tax Refund In Your Home

Wednesday, February 21, 2024
by Tucker Robbins


If you are planning on doing some homework with your refund, here are a few suggestions on how best to spend that money! 

 

$1,000 or Less 

  • Add or improve your front walkway.  Whether you plan on putting your home on the market soon or not, a new walkway will improve the curb appeal.  

  • Replacing the front door is an expensive job, but you can create a whole new look for the front exterior of your home just by having a new front entranceway. 

  • Install new light fixtures, especially if you’re tired of the builders-grade fixtures. If you shop smart, you can get stylish new flush-mount lights for every room. 

  • Do a minor bathroom renovation:  replace the toilet, faucets, and lights, and give the tub/shower a makeover with a refinishing kit. 

  • Paint the kitchen cabinets, replace the hardware, and add a tile backsplash. You won’t believe what a difference those three minor renos will make! 

  • Upgrade one kitchen appliance.  
     

$1,000-$2,000 

  • Any repairs that you’ve put off because of cost should be done before any improvements to renovating is done. Protecting your investment is more important than new bathroom tile. 

  • If your front lawn is a black canvas, hire a landscape designer to create some improvements.  

  • Have your “popcorn” ceilings removed by a pro and add new crown molding.  

  • Tankless water heaters, whether you choose whole-house or single-point, are worth the investment as you’ll see a difference in your electric bills. 

  • If you’re handy, you can take on a DIY job and save money: paint your home’s exterior, install new flooring, add wainscoting, or install kitchen countertops. 

 

As much as you’d like to see something physical after spending your tax refund, paying any accumulated debt down or investing it will pay you back in the long run. Check out these ideas from Investopedia,  and take off some of that financial load you may be bearing! 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins.   

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Preventing and Getting Rid of Mold

Wednesday, February 7, 2024
by Tucker Robbins


Mold is a subject that strikes fear in many people.  Though the toxic form of black mold is rare, there are plenty of other types that invade our bathrooms, basements and other places in our homes. Let’s look at the best ways to get control over any mold problem anywhere we find it. 

The bathroom is the most common place for mold, because it has all the right conditions for mold growth:  moisture, a place to grow, and food. 

  • - Use the exhaust fan every time you shower, and if your bathroom isn’t equipped with one, crack the window to allow the steam to escape. 

  • - Wipe down the shower walls and door when you’re finished, leaving the door open until everything is completely dry. 

  • - If you use a shower curtain, use an anti-mold spray, commercial or homemade, to spray the curtain down, and pull the curtain to its fullest length to dry. 

  • - Any leaks should be repaired immediately and inspect under the sink every few weeks to make sure everything is dry in the cabinets. 

  • - If you have a tile bath, give the grout a waterproof seal once a year. 

  • - When you do find mold on hard surfaces, the CDC recommends mixing a solution of no more than 1 cup of household bleach in a gallon of water.  Provide good ventilation, spray on affected areas, leave for five minutes, rinse, and allow to dry. 

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Other common places for molds to grow, especially this time of year when we have the heat on, are closets, window sills, basements, and floors around entryways.

  • - Use washable mats and throw-rugs with waterproof backing at doorways. 

  • - Keep your home’s humidity below 40%.  Using a humidifier is a necessity in Winter, and you may need to use a hygrometer to help you keep moisture levels in check. 

  • - Occasionally inspect your fridge’s drip pan for excessive moisture, and clean according to manufacturer’s instructions. 

  • - Attics can be the first-place mold can start in case of a leaky roof, so get the roof repaired immediately, and clean the mold as soon as you discover it.  Be sure there are no leaves or other obstructions blocking the attic’s vents. 

  • - Having the crawl space of your home encapsulated can be expensive, but it is the only solution to keeping moisture from coming up from the ground and can help you see standing water in case of plumbing leaks. 

  • - The EPA has some tips for mold cleanup, as well as information on when to call in a pro for removal.  

 

There are many products available to help keep moisture in your home at bay.  Desiccant bags containing silica gel are great for hanging in small places such as closets.  Small non-electric dehumidifiers are also available for larger areas, and whole-house dehumidifiers are another option, just more expensive.  While not all molds are toxic, they are allergens, and prevention and action are keys to a healthier, mold-free home.


Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins.   

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Seven New Year Resolutions for Homeowners

Wednesday, January 3, 2024
by Tucker Robbins


New year, new you, right? Oh, we all seem to resolve to eat healthier, lose weight, kick dirty habits and all kinds of other things, but by the end of February, we find ourselves just trying to remember what our resolutions were, much less actually sticking to them! Homeownership is the same way--we start out with big ideas of what we’ll be doing to maintain it, then life gets in the way, and we fall short.  Get started with this guide: 

 

  • - Having an energy audit performed on your house will help you save not only energy but money, too. 
     

  • - Your dryer’s lint trap should be cleaned routinely after each load, but your vent and vent tubing should be cleaned at least annually.  Removing as much lint as you can helps dry your laundry faster and reduce the risk of fire. 
     

  • - Home security systems aren’t foolproof against hackers, and neither are smart home accessories.  Change passwords frequently, and don’t reuse passwords.  To make it even more difficult to hack, use two-factor authentication.  
     

  • - The Family Handyman has several tips for keeping the yard and yard tools in tip-top shape. 


  • - Resolve to cut the clutter in your house. While the temps are cool, and you’re spending more time inside anyway, take one room in your home per week to clean out and clean up. 
     

  • - Repair the little things that you overlook because they’re not necessarily a safety issue:  doorknobs that aren’t working, dripping faucets, or squeaky floors. Fix now to save you from something bigger happening and costing you more later. 
     

  • - Get your personal finances in order!  Commit to saving money, not only in the literal sense, but get the best rates on insurance, or consider refinancing your mortgage. NerdWallet has some great tips for building equity in your home. 
     

  • - Print out this free home checklist, and you won’t miss a thing each season! 

 

Find a good balance of taking care of home and taking care of you and your family.  Don’t spend every spare minute maintaining your home. Some projects can combine family and work time, like a big cleaning job, or yard work.  As important as it is to keep up your home, it’s important to keep up with family as well.   

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins.  
 

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Safely Decorating with Outdoor Lights

Wednesday, November 29, 2023
by Tucker Robbins


It’s time to get the holiday house decorating in high gear, and you may have bought new light strands, but plan on mixing them with ones you have, or adding LED lights.  Safety is important this time of year, and making the days merry and the nights bright means taking a few precautions. 

 

  • 1. Check your old lights for frayed wires, nicks or cuts along the outer cord, and broken bulbs. Broken bulbs can be replaced, but toss the frayed strands, or those with cuts. 
     

  • 2. Decorating the exterior of your house means the lights you use must be made for outdoors.  Check the packaging or tag on the string to make certain. 

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  • 3. Use clips or hangers that are UL-approved--do NOT nail, tack, or staple lights to any fixture. 
     

  • 4. If you’d like to light a tree in your yard, make absolute certain no power lines run through the branches, and keep any lighting at least ten feet from power lines. 
     

  • 5. Make sure your extension cords are specifically made for outdoor use, and have a three-pronged ground plug.  Your receptacle should be a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet in case of electrical overload, it will shut off power.  Portable outdoor GFCI’s are available for very little cost at Amazon. 
     

  • 6. Read and heed all labels when it comes to connecting strings of lights.  If the label says only three can be connected to one another, start a new chain of lights after the third strand is in place.  Also keep in mind that only strands with the same number of bulbs should be connected--in other words, don’t connect a 100-strand with two 25-strands. 
     

  • 7. Keep extension cords away from high-traffic areas, and out from under welcome mats or pavers. 
     

  • 8. Many people start decorating long before Christmas, but be aware that most non-commercial light strands are only safely exposed to the elements for 90 days.  Any longer, and deterioration to the insulation will begin.   
     

  • 9. Avoid using a metal ladder if you’re having to get up high with your lights--use wooden or fiberglass instead. 
     

  • 10. Never leave lights on when you’re not at home, or asleep.   
     

  • 11. If you’re considering adding LED’s to your holiday display, make sure you don’t mix connecting with incandescent.  Going all-LED will be costlier upon start-up, but will save money on your power bill, as well as in replacement costs--LED’s can last up to twenty years. 

 

You don’t want a friendly neighborhood competition to turn into disaster, nor do you want a classic Clark Griswold power outage at home.  Know your home’s electrical limits, and use common sense and care while you’re decorating. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtor Tucker Robbins.

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Caring for Your Laminate Wood Flooring!

Wednesday, November 1, 2023
by Tucker Robbins


Choosing laminate wood flooring for a home is a really good decision for a homeowner.  Laminate flooring has come a long way since its beginning a few decades ago, with better quality, ease of installment, and varieties to choose from--you can even get laminate to look like stone! Caring for this manufactured product can be tricky, but with the right cleaning and care, it can look great for years to come.  

 

Protecting the Floor 

 

  • 1. Laminate flooring isn’t real wood--it’s an image of wood adhered to fiberboard, with a bottom that is moisture damage-resistant. It is covered with a clear protectant that is hard enough to protect it from scratching and pitting. 

  • 2. Although it is made to prevent moisture damage, it still needs to be protected from liquids.  Any spills need to be cleaned up as quickly and thoroughly as possible. 

  • 3. The top layer of sealant is there to protect the floor, but if the dining room chairs are constantly pulled from the table, put some felt pads on the legs to prevent any scratching. 

  • 4. Other pieces of furniture that don’t get moved often still may need something under the legs, and felt pads or newer style plastic casters work perfectly for heavier pieces. 

  • 5. High traffic areas are best protected with area rugs and runners.  Be sure to use a gripper mat or tape underneath rugs to prevent slipping. 

  • 6. Even though laminate is great for homes with pets, they can still get scratched in extreme situations.  Keep pet’s toenails trimmed to prevent this. Pet accidents need to be cleaned immediately to prevent moisture damage and stains. 

  • 7. Some toys with sharp edges can dent or pit the floor, so they should be used with care, or in places protected with area rugs. 

  • 8. Sometimes an area of the floor can get damaged, and the best solution is to call the manufacturer to get their advice.  Most even sell repair kits for small DIY jobs. 

 

Keeping It Clean 

 

  • 1. The first defense in keeping any floor clean is a mat on both sides of a door that leads outside.  A “no shoes” policy could even be put in place to keep even more dirt out, as well as preventing scuff marks. 

  • 2. Removing dirt and small particles is best done on laminate floors with a microfiber cloth or mop.  Sweeping with a broom can scratch the surface over time, and usually doesn’t get all of the dirt, anyway.  Many styles of reusable and washable cloth floor cleaners are available and are perfect for laminate. 

  • 3. Electric sweepers are also excellent for vacuuming dirt and pet hair.  Make sure any vacuum-type sweeper has a gentle brush motion.  Too heavy, and it can scratch. 

  • 4. Mopping can create streaks because of too much detergent in the cleaner. The best solution for mopping grime or sticky spills is using two parts warm water, one part white vinegar, a few drops of dishwashing liquid, and a drop or two of lemon essential oil.  The essential oil helps keep the vinegar odor down, but that smell fades quickly.  Mix this in a spray bottle, and spray each area as you mop.  The less liquid used, the better for the floor. 

  • 5. In case of streaks, use a microfiber cloth or cloth diaper to buff the floor.  These are best for a great shine on the floor. Never use dusting spray, as it can cause floors to be slippery. 

 

 

Laminate flooring can be an asset to a home, without the expense and extra work a hardwood floor can bring. Without a lot of extra cost, the flooring can look new for many years, as long as attention is paid to its care and cleaning.  

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtor Tucker Robbins.   

 

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Organizing Your Home Made Simple

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
by Tucker Robbins


It is almost time for the seasons to change once again as we move from fall slowly into winter.  As the seasons change many people find that they like to get things around their home organized to make the transition seem smoother.  Organizing your home can be made simple with a few of the following tips. 

  • One way to organize your home is to get rid of “junk drawers” throughout the house. Many times folks tend to throw things they don’t know what to do with into a drawer that soon becomes a drawer full of junk. While these drawers DO keep the junk out of the eye of those that come to visit, you just never know when someone may open one of them looking for utensils or other useful items and you may be embarrassed by them.  Simple fix…..throw out the junk once and for all and have no more junk drawers in your home!
     
  • Another great and simple way to organize your home   is to organize and de-clutter your pantry.  Typically there are items in your pantry that you haven’t used in years and they end up just sitting there taking up space.  This is very true for old canned food items that tend to have a shelf life of forever.   Once you get this simple organizing of your pantry complete, be sure not to let it get messy again by throwing away things you don’t use periodically. 
     
  • Yet another simple way to organize your home  is to use all of your closet space for things you will actually use instead of just getting things out of the way.   If you have a lot of games for example why not make a game closet just for the purpose of storing all of your family games.  This type of closet will make it more likely that your family may have a game night once a week because you will know exactly where to go to find the games. 
     
  • Keeping all of the books in the house in one spot is another great organization tip.  If you have various bookshelves in your home, you can utilize them for other purposes and keep one for only books.  Organize each shelf for books from each family member if you have a lot of books.  

​​Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins 

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Ideas and Tips for Brightening Your Home

Wednesday, October 18, 2023
by Tucker Robbins

As you already know, the “fall back” time change is coming soon.  This means that it will likely be getting dark before many of you get home from work in the evenings.  Brightening up your home will become more important to you during this time of year as most of us don’t like coming home to a dark house after a long day at work.  Below are a few ideas and tips for home lightening that may be helpful to you. 

  •  An easy way to brighten up your house without having to purchase any new lighting is to add mirrors to reflect the light you already have in your home.  This is a great way to make a room seem brighter and lighter that won’t cost you a lot of money.  You can find decorative mirrors anywhere but if you really don’t want to spend a lot, try looking at your local yard sales for a steal of a find. 
     
  • Another idea for  brightening up your home  is to install dimmers on the lights you already have.  This is a good way to make a dimly lit room into a brighter situation easily.  When you want more light all you have to do is to turn the dimmer switch up instead of buying more lighting for a particular room. 
     
  • If you want a room to appear brighter, a great way to do it that is to add a few fake windows with some led lightning.  This would be a good idea for a basement room that may likely look quite gloomy otherwise.  This particular idea is a bit “out of the box” but it is a good one none the less. 
     
  • Paint can also go a long way to making a dark dreary room look a bit brighter.  You don’t always have to paint a room white to make it look brighter however, grays and other neutral tones will do quite well. 
     
  • If you want your home to look brighter and not so dark, why not add shear shades instead of heavy curtains.  This is a good tip for those of you who love the look that window treatments give to a home without the dark dreary feel many curtains can give. 

These are just a few ideas and tips for brightening up your home.  There are many others like these to choose from but these will get you started thinking in the right direction.  

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins.

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Tips for Creating a Perfect Kitchen Pantry

Wednesday, July 26, 2023
by Tucker Robbins

The typical household kitchen pantry is full of items that are needed and some items that may have been in there way too long that are no longer needed or good for that matter.  Perhaps you have tried in the past to clean out your pantry to make it more efficient to no avail.  Below are a few tips for a perfect kitchen pantry that may help you clean and organize yours once and for all.  

 

  1.  The best way to start organizing your pantry is to clean everything out of it and start from the beginning.  It may make a mess at first when you begin taking all of the items out of your pantry but sometimes you have to make a mess in order to get rid of a mess.   Be sure to look through all of your items throwing out anything that is outdated or spoiled.   

  2.  

  1. Another tip for a creating a perfect kitchen pantry is to install shelving that makes it more efficient.  You can purchase shelving for your pantry at most local hardware stores or you can build them yourself out of wood, whichever works best for you.   You can make the shelves stationary or you can choose to make them where they will pull out so that you can get things out a bit easier.   

  2.  

  1. Putting all your staples such as flower and sugar into air tight containers then labeling them is a great way to organize your pantry and make it more user friendly.  Once you get all of your staple items into containers you can then more easily organize them.   

  2.  

  1. Another good tip for creating a perfect kitchen pantry is to use one shelf for each type of food.  For example you can put cereals together all on one shelf,  spices on one shelf and  items that you use daily on a shelf that is eye level.   

  2.  

  1. If your pantry is dull and dreary, you can always paint it a light color to brighten it up after you organize it all.   

 

Once you get your kitchen pantry all organized exactly like you want it you will likely want to spend more time in the kitchen creating fantastic meals for your friends and family.   

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

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Tucker Robbins
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
3838 Kennett Pike
Wilmington DE 19807
(302) 777-7744 (direct)
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