18
Sep
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

Restoring A Patio On A Budget: 3 Simple Tips

Restoring A Patio On A Budget: 3 Simple TipsThere are lots of homeowners who are looking at their patio and are not satisfied with what they see. This is where it is important to think about ways to bring that patio back to life. Whether this means entertaining friends or simply relaxing with a cocktail and a book, there are a few easy ways to bring a patio back to life.

1. Target The Pests

There are lots of pests that like to make their homes in the patio. This might include debris that is brought in by the wind, critters that like to dig underneath the patio, or even kids’ toys. There are ways to prevent critters from making their homes in the patio. Simply place pine cones in the nearby area. This is far easier than using mulch. As for the kids’ toys, that sounds more like a parenting issue!

2. Add A Splash Of Color

One of the easiest tips that can bring a patio back to life is adding a splash of color. Instead of going with the boring brown patio, add some plants to bring some green to the porch. Then, throw in some colored furniture. Finish it off with a colorful umbrella and the patio will look like new!

3. Build A Fire Pit

Finally, those who want to host a party need to have a fire pit. A fire pit is one of the best ways to draw attention away from the patio itself. A mini fire pit acts as the focal point of the room while adding a bit more fun (and function) to the patio itself. This is a great place to roast a few hot dogs, make some smores, and host a party! Adding a fire pit to the patio is one of the top ways to take a sad patio and bring it back to life once again.

Restore An Old Patio With These Tips

A patio is meant to be a place where family members and friends come together to enjoy each other’s company. In order to bring a patio back to life, think about putting these tips to use. This will make the patio functional once again, making the porch the place to be.

04
Sep
By First Rate Financial Group
Home Tips

How to Get Stains & Grease Off Of Walls

How to Get Stains & Grease Off WallsStains are common issues faced by homeowners; however, when the stains involve the walls, this can be a difficult challenge. Stains and grease are a much tougher challenge than dust and cobwebs. That is why there are specialized methods that help remove grease and stains from walls.

Remove Grease From Kitchen Walls

Grease is one of the most common occupational hazards of cooking. While grease can prevent foods from sticking to pots and pans, this can be a real challenge if it ends up on the kitchen walls.

Fortunately, there is dish soap that can strip the grease right off of the walls. In order to use dish soap to remove grease from kitchen walls, take a quarter tsp of dish soap, mix it with one cup of warm water, and wipe the grease off the walls. Then, rinse the solution from the wall with cool water and blot the wall until it is dry.

If the grease is particularly stubborn, use the same method with a 1/3 cup of white vinegar and 2/3 cup of water.

Remove Dirt And Grime From The Walls

If there are dirt and grime that has to be removed from the walls, there are a few tips to keep in mind. First, there are wall erasers that might do the trick. This could be easier than preparing a solution.

Those who would like to use a mixed solution can make a cleaning product from a few common household ingredients. Mix a cup of ammonia with a ½ cup of white vinegar, a ¼ cup of baking soda, and a gallon of warm water. Just be aware that the fumes from some of these products can be pungent. Then, wipe the solution all over the walls using a sponge. Finally, rinse the solution from the wall with warm water.

Permanent Marker Stains

Finally, permanent marker stains can be particularly challenging. Take a cotton ball, mix it with rubbing alcohol, and dab it on the stain. If this doesn’t work, think about using hairspray. Either of these techniques can do the trick.

These are a few great methods that can help remove some challenging stains from the walls. In some cases, the walls can look like new.

21
Aug
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage Tips, Real Estate

Tips For Deciding The Value Of A Home

Tips For Deciding The Value Of A HomeHomes are more than just a building. They are filled with memories of children taking their first steps, holidays that were celebrated with family members and friends, and Super Bowl parties filled with smiles and cheers.

These memories are priceless; however, people cannot let emotions cloud their judgment when they are trying to sell a house. Instead, it is important to focus on the building. There are a few tips that everyone should follow as they try to figure out how much their home is worth.

Be Reasonable

The first tip is not to price a home too high out of the gate. While it is tempting to start high and reduce when necessary, the reality is that a price that is too high is going to scare off potential offers. It is better to start with a reasonable price that will get people interested. Then, if the offers start to pour in, there is a bidding war. The price will naturally take care of itself.

Upgrades Don’t Always Lead To A Higher Price

It is tempting to follow in the footsteps of TV shows and pour money into renovations that might lead to a large return on investment. The sad fact is that this is not always the case. Even though the homeowners might love the renovation, this doesn’t mean that a potential buyer will. Do not renovate purely to raise the value of a home. Upgrades can go out of style just as quickly as they came in.

Don’t Price Out Of Necessity

Never price a home based on a dollar amount that has to be reached. It is always better to price a home relative to what the market indicates. Nobody is going to make an offer on an overpriced home purely because that is how much money the seller needs to make.

Leave Emotions At The Door

Finally, do not price a home based on emotions. Yes, a home is a special place; however, remember that the home is on the market, not the memories. Instead, always price a home based on what the comparables are showing. This will lead to a smoother selling process, a higher price, and a bigger return on the initial investment.