Duncan Real Estate Blog

To clean your Duncan real estate gutters, you have several options.  You can sweep the gutters out on your own, use a robotic cleaner to clean out the gutters or rent a power wash machine to any dirt and debris out of your gutters. 

Sweeping the gutters out yourself is very time consuming and can be dangerous if you have a second storey house.  This is a viable option if you have a small ranch style home, however.  If you have a ranch home, you can get up on the roof and commence sweeping out the gutters from one end to another.  You can then rinse them out with a hose when you are finished sweeping them.  This is a job that is best done in the spring and can also be done in the fall. 

There are also robotic gutter cleaners that you can use to get the job done for you.  These are relatively new devices and work similarly to robotic carpet cleaners.  You put the device in the gutters and let it get to work.  The robotic gutter cleaners do all of the work for you.  You need to put in batteries to get it to work.  The only problem with using a device such as this is if the battery dies while the device is in the gutters, you have to find it.  You are better off to make sure that any robotic device has the batteries fully charged before putting it into the gutters.  These robotic gutter cleaners are available online or in stores that sell robotic cleaners. 

Another way that you can clean out your gutters is to use a power washer.  A power washing machine is something that can be used for a variety of different purposes, including washing decks, siding and even cleaning out the gutters.  Many people, when cleaning out their gutters, also use the power washer to do other chores around the house.  The power washer will blast the leaves, debris and dirt from the gutters easily.

There are many choices when it comes to cleaning out the gutters of your home.  It is not a difficult job with the many devices that you can use or rent to accomplish this task.

If your Duncan real estate is subjected to cold winters, it is a good idea to keep the water dripping so that your pipes do not freeze. The pipes can end up freezing, causing them to burst if the temperatures drop into the sub freezing category for a long time. For this reason, it is a good idea to keep the faucets dripping just a little during the evenings when it is very cold. 

Many people go away on vacation during the cold winter months and turn the heat down while they are gone. This can cause the pipes to freeze, and possibly burst. If the pipes do freeze, you will want to take a heat gun and try to get them unfrozen as this can end up causing the water damage throughout your house. 

It is important to take care of your pipes in your house all of the time, but they need special care in the winter months. If you have any of the pipes that are close to the outside of the house, they should be insulated. If you live in an older home, this may not be done properly, so it is something that you should take a look at to avoid the pipes freezing. 

Leaving water running in the pipes can prevent them from freezing. This is why it is so important to make sure that you let the pipes drip just a bit when you are sleeping and not using the plumbing. The plumbing will not freeze if someone is using it. If pipes do freeze in the house, chances are that they will freeze during the night when you are sleeping, or when you are away on a trip. 

If you have to leave your home and you know that the weather is going to be freezing, you should ask a friend to take a look at the house while you are gone and keep an eye on the pipes that they do not freeze. If the pipes do freeze, they need to be thawed as soon as possible so that they do not burst. If the pipes do burst, the damage can be substantial throughout the house. During the cold winter months, make sure that you are aware of the potential of the pipes freezing and take precautions so that this does not happen.

Thermal shades can help your Duncan real estate stay warmer during the cold winter months.  You can purchase thermal shades in any store that sells window coverings or in a home improvement store.  Thermal shades are easy to install and stop your windows from being so drafty. 

Installing thermal shades is very much like installing horizontal blinds in your home.  You should install them in the window jambs of the windows.  Most thermal shades are made to order, so you will have to measure from window jamb to window jamb in order to install the shades properly. 

Shades will come with latches that will enable them to pop in and out, much like the latches that come with horizontal blinds.  The first thing that you will need to do is to drill into the window jamb so that you can screw the latch into the jamb.  Do this lightly at first to make sure the shades pop in and out with ease.  Once you are sure that the latch is correctly fitted to the window jamb, you can then screw it in with a power screwdriver so that it is very tight and does not move.  You should be able to pop the shades in the space very easily. 

Thermal shades will make quite a difference when it comes to protecting your windows from the cold.  Windows that are uncovered or are covered with flimsy cotton curtains or vinyl blinds are not very well insulated.  Anytime you can press your hands up against the glass and feel the cold, you are not getting proper insulation.  The thermal shades will protect the room by adding a layer of insulation between the glass and the room, while serving as a window covering at the same time. 

Thermals shades do not have to be the only window covering.  When the shades are pulled up, you will hardly be able to even tell that they are there.  You can add curtains or other types of window treatments with the shades and even insulate the windows against the cold even more.  The more insulation you have against the windows, even by way of window coverings, the warmer your home will be.

If your Duncan real estate closets need organizing, spring is the perfect time to do this.  You can get rid of items that you do not want and give them to charity during this time of the year.  Take it each step at a time when you are organizing your closets so that you do not get too overwhelmed. 

Closet organizing can be somewhat of a chore, especially if it has been awhile since you have accomplished this task.  One way to do this is to get closet organizers that will make it easier for you.  Closet organizers consist of racks and even baskets that can be placed in your closet and keep everything in order.  It is far more pleasant to open an organized closet than one that has everything strewn all over it all of the time.  Closet organizers can help even the most unorganized person stay more organized when it comes to their closets. 

You can purchase closet organizers at home improvement stores and put them in yourself.  Before you can install the closet organizer, however, you have to clean out the present state of the closet.  You should get several boxes so that you can toss out stuff that you are no longer using and put other items in storage.  Be sure to look at things carefully instead of thinking that you are going to use them someday. If you have not used an item in years, what makes you think that you are going to use it anytime soon?  Get rid of it and make room in your closet for things that you are wearing and using now. 

Once the closet has been completely cleaned out, you can then install the closet organizers.  You will need a screwdriver, drill and drill bits in order to accomplish this task.  Be sure to follow the directions and only attach the pieces to the studs in the walls so that they will stay.  If you do not have a stud finder, you may want to pick one up when you go to the home improvement center to get the organizers.  Organizing your closets is one of the best things that you can do for yourself that does not cost a lot of money, but will make you feel better about your rooms.

If your Duncan real estate has old cabinets, you can update them simply by painting the cabinets and installing new handles.  This can be done for a lot less money than it would take to buy and install new cabinets.  It is not difficult at all to paint cabinets.  Here are the steps that you need to take in order to properly paint the cabinets in your home: 

Remove the handles

The first step is easy - remove all the handles.  You will want to replace them with updated handles for your cabinets.  New handles can be found in any hardware or home improvement store.  You just have to be sure to bring an old handle with you in order to make sure you get the right size gap.  Most of the handles are put in with screws that are included with the handles. 

Remove the doors

You will find it easier to paint the cabinets if you remove the doors first.  Put them in a save place, on a tarp, where they can be painted and allowed to dry.  You will want to obviously paint one side of the door, allow it to dry and then paint the other side.  For this reason, you should start on painting the doors first before you commence to painting the hung cabinets. 

Prime the cabinets and doors

Use a primer on the cabinets and doors so that the paint will stick to the finish.  Most kitchen cabinets have veneer over them to make for easy cleaning.  You cannot paint directly on the cabinets as the paint will not adhere to the cabinets.  You have to use a primer which will adhere to the wood and will then allow for easy painting. 

Paint the cabinets with latex high gloss paint

Use a high gloss paint to paint the cabinets.  High gloss paint will make it easier for you to keep the cabinets clean when they need to be wiped down.  High gloss paint often takes longer to dry, but you can get water soluble high gloss paint at your local paint store.  Whenever possible, use latex paint that is water soluble rather than enamel that needs to be cleaned up with turpentine.  It is better for the environment and produces fewer fumes. 

Once the cabinets and doors are dry, put the doors back on and install the new handles.  Your cabinets will look like they are brand new.  Keep a little of the paint that you used on hand for touch ups.  Use the best quality paint that you can find as this will make for a more even coat on the cabinets and you will not have to put on more than one coat of paint.

If you are thinking of selling your Duncan real estate, a good coat of paint on the interior walls may be in order.  If you have painted the walls of the house in various colors, you might want to repaint them so that they are all a neutral shade.  Studies show that homes sell better and faster when they are all in move in condition and the buyer does not perceive that there is too much work to be done. 

Painting is arduous work, but can be accomplished in a weekend project.  You can shorten the painting process by getting an automatic roller for the painting job and painting the ceilings as well as the walls with the same neutral shade.  This should be white or off white and flat latex. 

Painting the ceilings to match the walls is called “alfresco” style and is actually very popular right now.  At one time, the ceilings were always painted white and the walls a different shade.  Many people, even those who use colors on the walls, are opting to use alfresco style as it saves quite a bit of time and looks more professional when it is finished.  This is because you do not have to spend as much time trying to cut in the ceilings evenly so that the paint job does not look uneven. 

If you have colors over the walls and wish to go back to white, you may have to use a primer.  There are several latex primers available for this purpose.  They will cover the walls with a thick coat of white that will hide the color underneath.  Use a good quality paint to paint the walls after the primer has dried.  Do not be tempted to use cheap paint as it often takes more than one coat to give you an even finish.  When you use good quality paint, you will notice that it spreads on evenly and you usually only need one coat to get the desired effect.  You will not only save money on paint, but time. 

Anyone preparing their home for sale can urge the sale on by painting the interior of the house before they offer the house for sale on the market.  This makes the house look cleaner, brighter and is more attractive to prospective buyers.

If your Duncan real estate roof is more than 20 years old, you may want to consider getting a new roof.  This can be done in one of two ways - you can have the roof re-shingled or you can tear off the old roof and have a new roof put on.  The latter is much more expensive.  The former may be a viable option to allow the roof to last longer and if the roof has always been in good repair. 

The base of the roof is plywood.  On top of that goes tar paper, in most cases, and on top of that go the shingles.  If the base of the roof is damaged to the point where you are experiencing leakage, you have no choice but to repair the base of the roof.  If, however, the roof is just old and you want to prevent any problems from occurring and further protect the roof for another 10 years or so, you can get new shingles placed on top of the old ones. 

Re-shingling the roof is possible if you have ordinary singles.  If you have slate or clay shingles, you will not have this option.  However, as those types of roof shingles last longer than ordinary shingles, you can often just repair part of the roof. 

Tearing off the roof and lying new plywood and tar paper is usually done over a weekend.  A tarp is usually used if the house is going to be without a roof for more than a day.  The entire project can be done by a roofing crew in a weekend. 

Re-shingling the roof is usually a one day job.  The shingles are lifted by crane onto the roof and the job is completed by a roofing crew.  Again, this is significantly cheaper than tearing off the old roof. 

If your real estate property has an older roof, you might want to consider getting a new roof or simply putting on a new set of shingles to maintain the existing roof.  This proactive approach can prevent the current roof from developing problems that can affect the interior of the house and will also make your home much more attractive.

If you have Duncan real estate with a maintenance free exterior, like we do, you will want to wash down the siding every once in a while to remove the dirt and debris that gather on the siding as well as on the gutters.  This is easy to do this, just take a power hose and wash the siding. 

We have aluminum siding on our house but never thought to wash it as we felt that maintenance free meant we never had to do anything again.  This is true, to a point.  While you don’t have to wash the siding and it will not look unkempt like it would if you had wood that was peeling away, washing the siding with a  power washer will really make a difference in your home exterior. 

The aluminum siding on your house should be washed once a year, if you can manage.  Wait until you see the difference!  You can rent a power washer at the local hardware store and use it to wash the siding.  You do not need chemicals or anything, just water.  But the water has to come out with power, unlike the water that comes out from a hose.  This is why you need the power washer.

It takes about an hour to completely wash the siding on your house.  It is not a difficult job to do.  Power washers are not hard to use and they come with attachments that make reaching hard to reach places easy.  I did not have to get up on a ladder to wash the siding on my real estate property.  It was very simple to do. 

Once the first power washing of the siding was completed, I couldn’t believe the difference.  My wife was shocked as well.  It looked as if we had brand new siding.  You never realize how much dirt builds up on something until you wash it.  At that time, you then feel bad that you didn’t go through the trouble before to wash the siding.  Now I wash the siding on the house every year, usually in the late spring after the rain is gone.  It always makes me feel good to do this job which costs very little and does not take very much time.  Our siding always looks like new.

Your Duncan real estate carpets need to be cleaned and this is the right time of the year to get this done.  You have many choices when it comes to cleaning your carpeting. You can opt for steam cleaning, shampooing or chemical cleaning.  Most people today will go for steam cleaning as well as chemical cleaning when they are seeking to clean their carpets.   This is because this will do the least amount of damage to the carpeting and get it the cleanest. 

Steam cleaners usually have machines that they will bring in to clean the carpeting.  In the case of chemical cleaning, there is usually a hose that is attached to the truck.  You should make sure that the chemicals that they use to clean the carpeting are environmentally safe and will not harm your children or pets.  Most people like the chemical cleaned carpeting because it does not shrink the carpeting and will not cause any mildew. 

Steam cleaning carpeting is also very popular and works well.  You can even rent a machine to steam clean your carpeting yourself at your home improvement store.  There are also shampoo machines that are made to clean carpeting that you can also buy or rent. 

Carpeting attracts germs so it is a good idea to get the carpets in your real estate cleaned twice a year.  This usually does not cost a lot of money to get this done and it only takes an hour or so for the process to be completed if you pay someone else to do this for you.

If your Duncan real estate has a fireplace, now is a good time to clean it out, before you start lighting fires for the winter.  This is a job for a chimney sweep that will be able to use an instrument to clean the entire length of the chimney on the inside.  This will allow for the soot to escape the chimney and keep the air in your house much nicer. 

You most likely clean out your fireplace each time you light it.  The ashes that will accumulate on the ground are most likely cleaned up and then dumped.  You probably have a fireplace set that include a poker, a small shovel and a small broom.  All of these are necessary to clean out your fireplace.  If you have a natural, wood burning fireplace or even one that uses a gas start, then you will be burning wood and accumulating ashes that need to be cleaned up.  And soot will be collecting on the inside of your chimney. 

Many people have the chimney cleaned once a year while others will do it every other year.  When the chimney is not being used, it is a good idea to have a cap on the top of the chimney to prevent any birds from making a nest or animals from getting into the chimney itself.  A chimney cap is not difficult to find and you can get one at most home improvement stores.  This will have to be removed during the winter months when you plan to light a fire in the chimney.  Make sure the fireplace is clean and ready before you light a fire.  You will also want to be sure to open the flue to make the smoke go up the chimney and not into the house.