Tom Crimmins Realty Blog - home tips

Put An End To Pests Without Using Harsh Chemicals

As the weather starts to turn a little colder and your yard goes into hibernation, the pests that used to live outdoors will want to take up residence in your warm, cozy home. Getting bugs out of your home is not only a headache, but also means that you’ll be spraying a variety of chemicals throughout your home.

Pesticides Can Be As Bad As Pests

Conventional pesticides usually get the job done, but they have been shown to negatively affect people and their pets. Children are especially sensitive to the chemicals as their organs, nervous and immune systems are still developing. Moral of the story, the fewer harsh chemicals you use, the better for your health.

Most Professionals Have Natural Options

Many professional pest control companies have…

2090 Views, 0 Comments

Quick Ideas to Enhance Home and Aesthetic Value

As homeowners, we are always searching for ways to enhance our home and aesthetic value. Don't despair if you are short on cash. You can still have a beautiful home. Sometimes a little elbow grease is a decent replacement for extravagant money, and other times you can get great deals by shopping around for items that are costly. 

Floors

Wooden floors look great but before you pay an arm and a leg, know that there is no hard data to support that hardwood flooring provides greater resale value to a house than other types of floor coverings. (x) Liz Weintraub, from About's Guide to Home Buying and Selling, says: notably bamboo and Brazilian cherry will provide greater intrinsic value to a home. 

Go Green

It's no surprise that we - and everyone -…

11908 Views, 0 Comments

BUSTED: 4 Myths About Buying Your First Home That Just Aren’t True

There are a number of myths floating around regarding the home buying process. Such misconceptions have kept many would-be homeowners from realizing the personal and financial rewards of owning a property.

To clear things up, here are a few myths about buying your first home that simply aren't true.

Myth #1 - "It's Cheaper To Rent Instead Of Own"

If you buy a property that is within your budget and your mortgage terms allow you to make comfortable monthly payments, the cost of rent can often be higher than mortgage payments. Sure, there are other expenses associated with owning a property that you wouldn't be responsible for if you were renting, but one thing that many people forget is the fact that renting does not allow you to build equity. The…

2665 Views, 0 Comments

Home Tips: Childproofing 101

The number one reason children under three years old visit the emergency room is accidental household injury. This can be avoided with supervision and a lot of baby-proofing. Follow these guidelines to make sure your little ones stay safe:

Think Like A Toddler

The first step is to your home is to think like your child. Numerous parents say: get down on your baby's level and crawl around. You’ll see just how dangerous it can be. Take note of exactly which countertops, cabinets, and tables are reachable from your child’s level. This establishes what needs to be protected.

Identify The Enemy

Kids bump their heads, that’s a fact of life. But there are bigger threats lurking in your house. Think of the first thing your child does when he or she…

3774 Views, 0 Comments

How To Get The Full Asking Price When Selling Your Home

Selling your home may feel like a complex process (unless you're working with Tom Crimmins Realty) and there are a lot of factors that you will need to consider. Your goal will be to sell your home in a timely manner, while getting the highest price you can. However, many properties sell at a discount because the buyer is able to negotiate a lower price on the property.

Although it is impossible to guarantee that you will receive your full asking price when you sell your home, there are things that you can do to increase the likelihood of this happening. You will need to have a strategy that attracts highly motivated buyers and improves competition.

Here are some tips to keep in mind that will help you to get the full asking price when you are…

2637 Views, 0 Comments

Home Decor Tips and Trends

In order to keep your home decor looking fresh and up to date, it’s important to pay attention to the trends as they shift and change. 

Planning to redecorate this year? Consider these trends to pay attention to.

Getting Personal

Social media has made a big bang in 2013, and it is following into 2014. People are able to share their interests through pictures and inspire others with DIY ideas.

Printstagram turns your Instagram pictures into prints for frames, posters, calendars, and more.

Hang these pictures of family and friends or even scenery on the walls. Postcards or letters you may have collected and saved over the years will also add a personal touch. 

If you're looking for more pop culture rather than personal, an amazing website…

2439 Views, 0 Comments

Don't Turn Your Buyers Away With These Curb Appeal Mistakes

When it comes to selling your home, curb appeal refers to the “first impression” that your house gives when a buyer approaches it from the driveway or the street. First impressions are important and even if the inside of the home is perfect, the outer appearance can really affect a buyer’s perception.

If you are trying to sell your property, look out for these common curb appeal mistakes:

Garden Decorations

You might think that your decorative lawn ornaments are cute, but your potential buyers don’t necessarily have the same taste. If you have a few gnomes living in your garden, you might want to hide them away for a while when your home goes on the market.

Dying Flowers

Adding flowers to your front yard can improve your curb appeal, until…

2751 Views, 0 Comments

Why January Is The Best Month For House Hunting

Have you made it your New Year’s resolution to find that perfect home for you and your family? You might have thought that you needed to wait until spring to start house shopping, but the fact is that January is a great time to begin.

House hunting in January offers a number of advantages that will work in your favour. Here are some of the main reasons:

Desperate Seller

If the home is on the market at this time of year, there is a chance that the home sale is somewhat urgent. If they were not desperate, they might pull their home out of the market and wait until spring to try again. With a motivated seller you are more likely to get a better price.

A Dedicated Realtor

Your realtor will have more time on their hands at this time of the year,…

2669 Views, 0 Comments

Tips For Winter Roof Maintenance

Taking care of your roof is an important part of home maintenance and you don’t want to suffer a leak or any other problem during the cold months.

Here are some tips that every homeowner should know:

Check Out Your Gutters

Your gutters are an important part of your roof, because they allow water to flow away from the roof surface before it causes rot and damage. During the winter, your gutters will be more likely to get clogged with fallen leaves, snow and ice and can get blocked if they are not cleared out.

Get yourself a ladder and a friend to hold it for you and clean any leaves, debris and dirt from the gutters.Flush the gutters outwith a hose afterward to ensure they are clean. If your gutters have become damaged or leaky, you can use…

2395 Views, 0 Comments

Important Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Open House

Selling a home in this economy can be very stressful. This list is a must do to assist in the sale transaction.

The most important thing to remember is "don't spend money." If you need to spend some don't spend a lot and make sure to spend it wisely!

1. Clean clutter! - Clutter hurts the sale of the home. It make the rooms appear smaller. It is a complete turnoff! Some times people perceive clutter as uncleanliness. Another idea is too have a yard or garage sale. 
2. If you decide to have a garage sale combine it with an open house. Yes chances are you will have same nosy bargain hunters but you never know. Bargain hunters may have relative or friends that are looking just be certain to have enough help around for obvious security reasons. Don't…

2146 Views, 0 Comments