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Are you on top of your home maintenance tasks?

Thursday, January 11, 2018
by Mehner Weiser Real Estate, LLC.

Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist

Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist

Your home is an investment that requires ongoing maintenance to stay in tiptop shape. If you neglect annual and quarterly tasks, however, you risk overlooking potential issues that could lead to expensive repairs down the road. Stay on top of preventive maintenance tasks with a seasonal checklist and the reminders below. 

Winter -- To prevent pipes from bursting, drain and insulate exposed outdoor pipes and leave the water dripping inside on cold nights. Also check your boiler's water level every now and again to make sure it doesn't get too low.

Spring -- Winter can leave a layer of grit on your home's exterior. Get it ready for spring by cleaning windows, doors and siding with a garden hose or power washer. And while the weather is mild, have your HVAC systems serviced by a professional to keep them running at optimal efficiency.

Summer -- Inspect your sprinkler system for clogs or malfunctioning heads. Keep an eye out for damaged pipes or pooling water to avoid a larger issue. Review or establish your family emergency plan and restock your disaster supply kit if necessary.

Fall -- Get ahead of winter by having your chimney professionally inspected and cleaned. Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning properly and have fresh batteries. And keep your gutters clear of leaves and debris to protect your roof and foundation.

These are just a few maintenance items to stay on top of around the house. Keep up with all of your annual, monthly and seasonal to-do's to preserve the value of your home and avoid potential headaches down the line. You'll be glad you did!

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4 Tips for Staging a Home for an Open House

Tuesday, January 9, 2018
by Mehner Weiser Real Estate, LLC.

4 Tips for Staging a Home for an Open House, Anchorage, Alaska

Location and curb appeal attract buyers, but the staging makes them fall in love with your home. Effective staging shows off the property’s best features, minimizes any shortcomings, and creates space for potential buyers to imagine living in the house. Before scheduling an open house, follow the tips below to present your home in its best light.

How to Stage Your Home for an Open House

1. Clear Out Your Belongings

open houseRemove at least a third of your belongings from shelves, storage spaces, and closets. Not only will this make the home appear larger and more open, but it’ll also give you a head start on downsizing and packing for the future move.

2. Pay Attention to Lighting

Trim back any bushes or trees that might be blocking the windows. Open the drapes to let in as much natural light as possible. Skip the overhead lights and bring in lamps with high-wattage bulbs, which creates a warmer, cozier atmosphere.

3. Decorate Tastefully

The holidays give you a chance to make the home more inviting and friendly. Some outdoor lights, a wreath on the door, and festive decorations make it easy for buyers to imagine themselves spending the holidays in the house. Just don’t go overboard, and stay away from explicitly religious decorations which could alienate some people.

4. Move Furniture Around

Just because that end table has always been in the living room doesn’t mean it has to stay there. Experiment with different furniture configurations and focus on creating a pleasing flow of traffic. Putting together a few sitting areas in large rooms will make the space feel more comfortable and intimate.

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3 Methods to Organize Your Home and Life

Thursday, December 28, 2017
by Mehner Weiser Real Estate, LLC.

 

We all have some level of attachment to our things. However, many of us feel as though we're drowning in stuff. Fortunately, there's been a growing movement toward minimalism, and there are numerous methods that can help. Below are three decluttering philosophies to help you clear out and clean up your home and life.

  1. Feng Shui -- The driving principle behind this Eastern philosophy is to create harmony and balance between an individual and his or her environment. Good feng shui invites prosperity and brings an overall sense of well-being into your space. From the front door to the bathroom, small changes to color, decor and furniture arrangement are believed to promote health, wealth, happiness and good energy.

  2. The KonMari Method -- Famed Japanese organizer Marie Kondo promises that you can drastically improve your life by tidying up. In her book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing," she explains a two-step approach. First, you take all of your possessions and lay them out categorically (clothes first and sentimental pieces last). Then, you hold each item in your hand and decide whether or not it brings you joy. If it doesn't, you let it go.

  3. The 90/90 Rule (Minimalism) -- This home organization concept also relies on a two-part process. When implementing the 90/90 rule, assess each belonging based on two simple questions: Have I used it within the last 90 days, and will I use it in the next 90 days? If not, it's time to say goodbye.

Ultimately, there's no shortage of ways to declutter and simplify your life. The important thing is to be willing to let go of the items that no longer serve you and make way for new experiences.

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3 Strategies to Make 2017 Your Most Organized Year Yet

Wednesday, December 28, 2016
by Mehner Weiser Real Estate, LLC.

 

 

The new year represents a clean slate and the chance to begin again. It's also the ideal time to clear out unwanted items and organize your home for the year ahead. If you want a fresh start to 2017, let these decluttering approaches inspire you. 

Organizational Apps
Decluttering apps are plentiful, and they provide an effective way to complete the purging process. Some, like Snupps, let you digitize your belongings and organize them into simple categories or "shelves." From there, you decide what to keep, sell or give away. You can also reach out to other users for organizational inspiration, discover items you may be interested in acquiring or show off your personal collection. 

Room-by-Room Schedule
To systematically remove clutter over time, try monthly organization that's broken down by room. For example, you can tackle the kitchen in January and give the home office a deep clean in February. Make a schedule that works for you. This method may feel less overwhelming and rushed.

Single Purge 
Prefer to declutter your entire home all at once? Designate a few days or a weekend to devote to the process. The secret is to stay focused on one task at a time and avoid getting sidetracked. Work your way through each room one by one until you've cleared out all areas of your home. 

The new year is fast approaching and now's the time to eliminate your clutter. Whether it's an app, a 12-month schedule or one big purge, there's no shortage of methods to help you have a more organized 2017.
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Cleaning Tips for Your Hard-Working Appliances

Wednesday, November 30, 2016
by Mehner Weiser Real Estate, LLC.

 

Occasionally cleaning household appliances like stoves and refrigerators may seem obvious, but what about equipment that does the cleaning, like the dishwasher and washing machine? Give these often overlooked appliances a deep clean with the following tips before the holidays have them working overtime.

Unclog the dishwasher. The cleaner the dishwasher, the cleaner your dishes will turn out after going through a wash cycle. Take a moment to clean the dishwasher's filter, usually located on the inside bottom of the machine. This detachable filter becomes clogged with food and debris over time, so empty it out regularly to keep it working efficiently. 

De-gunk your garbage disposal. Use a natural abrasive combo of ice and salt to loosen grime from the blades. Though it will be loud, run the disposal until the ice is gone. When finished, you can grind up a lemon or lime wedge to deodorize the drain. 

Give your washing machine a wash. Hosting out-of-towners during the holiday season? Avoid musty bedding and towels by sanitizing the machine and removing mildew buildup every few months. To do this, run a hot wash cycle without a load and add one cup of bleach to the soap dispenser or directly into the machine.

Give your vacuum more power. Increased foot traffic could have this tool working harder over the holidays. Keep your vacuum maintained with simple fixes like unclogging hoses, cleaning the rotating brush and replacing the filter.

Want to keep your appliances working hard for you? Give them regular attention and their own cleaning now and then.

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Mehner Weiser Real Estate Group
RE/MAX Dynamic Properties
3350 Midtown Place
Anchorage AK 99503
Bethany (907) 223-1632
Bonnie (907) 223-0005
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