Home Improvement – How to Seal Grout

Home ownership comes with a lot of responsibility including maintenance. Keeping your house in tip-top shape not only preserves the appearance of your home, but also helps secure its value. After all, owning a home is probably the biggest investment you have ever made and you don’t want to see your hard earned money literally go down the drain!

Yesterday I spent the majority of the afternoon sealing the grout in our master bathroom. It wasn’t hard, but I will admit it was tedious. Why did I feel the need to “waste” my day on something so boring? Below are the reasons why it is important to seal your grout:

·         Protects against moisture and seals out water

·         Forms a physical barrier to resist mildew stains

·         Keeps the color of your grout in its original state

So, how can you go about a project such as this? Below are the steps needed to sealing grout:

Supplies:

·         Grout Cleaner (I used Tile Guard)

·         Large sponge

·         Paint brush ( I experimented with several different ways to apply the cleaner. I had purchased a grout bottle that comes with a little applicator but after about 5 minutes I realized it was not as easy as promised. Then I tried using a Q-Tip. This was great to get into the little crevices but they fell apart easily. I then turned to a paint brush and this turned out to be the easiest application tool.)

Process:

· Clean your bathroom. Vacuum the bathroom to get up any hair and debris. Then, wash the tile with soapy, warm water, paying particular attention to the grout lines. Do a quick rinse with clean water and let the tile dry overnight.

· Apply the cleaner in sections. Dip your paint brush into the cleaner and then apply it to the grout. Be sure to apply to small sections at a time.

· Let dry. Let the grout dry for roughly 5 minutes.

· Wipe. Take a dry sponge and wipe off the section you just applied. Move on to another section.

· Let dry for 24 hours.

That’s it. You are done! The directions indicate 1-3 applications are necessary and what you choose is up to your discretion. I applied one coat to the floor and two coats to the shower since it gets the most use and is exposed to a lot of water and soap.

Remember – small investments of time in maintaining your home will give you big rewards in the long run!

Thinking about putting your home on the Henrico County Real Estate or Richmond Real Estate market? Contact me, Shannon Milligan, at Home Sweet Henrico today!

Teaching the First Time Home Buyer

When I was 19 years old, I worked very hard (thank you, Red Lobster!) and bought my very first car. It was a four door, white Ford Tempo and I paid $3000 for it. What a fantastic day!

About a year later my car started to “act funny.” I had no idea what was wrong, but that night I had my uncle take a look. What was wrong? Well, it turns out you have to put OIL in your car in order to keep it running! Go ahead, laugh! It’s funny NOW. But at the time I was devastated. I didn’t have any money saved up for another car and I couldn’t understand why it happened. Believe it or not, I didn’t KNOW I had to change the oil in my car. Sounds silly, but if no one ever tells/teaches you, then how are you to know?

First time home buyers are in a similar situation except they are dealing with a much bigger investment than a beat up car. It is our duty, as Realtors, to educate them on what terms mean and how the process works. Below you will find a small sampling of important terms, taken from RealEstateabc.com, the first time home buyer (or even a repeat buyer who may have not had an attentive teacher in the past)should become acquainted with:

·         Pre-Approval. A loosely used term which is generally taken to mean that a borrower has completed a loan application and provided debt, income, and savings documentation which an underwriter has reviewed and approved. A pre-approval is usually done at a certain loan amount and making assumptions about what the interest rate will actually be at the time the loan is actually made, as well as estimates for the amount that will be paid for property taxes, insurance and others. A pre-approval applies only to the borrower. Once a property is chosen, it must also meet the underwriting guidelines of the lender.

·         Earnest Money Deposit. A deposit made by the potential home buyer to show that he or she is serious about buying the house.

·         Adjustable Rate Mortgage. A mortgage in which the interest changes periodically, according to corresponding fluctuations in an index. All ARMs are tied to indexes.

·         Escrow. An item of value, money, or documents deposited with a third party to be delivered upon the fulfillment of a condition. For example, the earnest money deposit is put into escrow until delivered to the seller when the transaction is closed.

·         Down payment. The part of the purchase price of a property that the buyer pays in cash and does not finance with a mortgage.

·         PITI. This stands for principal, interest, taxes and insurance. If you have an "impounded" loan, then your monthly payment to the lender includes all of these and probably includes mortgage insurance as well. If you do not have an impounded account, then the lender still calculates this amount and uses it as part of determining your debt-to-income ratio.

·         Contingency. A condition that must be met before a contract is legally binding. For example, home purchasers often include a contingency that specifies that the contract is not binding until the purchaser obtains a satisfactory home inspection report from a qualified home inspector.

These are just a FEW of the terms used in the real estate world. I know, it can be a little overwhelming. But by selecting the right Realtor, one who is willing to teach and explain, you can be sure you will be graduating at the top of your class and not breaking down in the middle of the road during your real estate transaction! And remember, if you don’t understand something, ASK. There are no stupid questions in this class and education is a POWERFUL thing!

Ready to explore your  Henrico County Real Estate or surrounding  area Richmond Real Estate options? Then contact me, Shannon Milligan, at Home Sweet Henrico today! I am happy to light the way on your road to home ownership!

Buying a Home for Baby

Right before I became pregnant, my husband and I had purchased a new construction carriage home. It was beautiful with 3 bedrooms, 2  and a half baths, second floor laundry, and a low maintenance yard. It was the perfect place to start a family. (Little did we know we were going to be pregnant with twins, but that is an entirely different blog post!)

Once the home was built, we realized there were some features of the house that probably weren’t so great for little, curious minds. For one, the foyer was two story with a simple little banister to keep one from falling. For another, we had a finished basement that was open to the first floor with no door to keep a little one from entering. We immediately turned our attention from home decorating to babyproofing! Below are a few tips to get your started on your babyproofing journey:

·         Electrical sockets. This is the first thing we tackled and it was a very inexpensive fix. Purchase and install outlet covers on all electrical sockets that are within a little ones reach. Example: Outlet Covers.

·         Stairs/Doorways. Here is where we had to be a little creative. Since we had a dog and a cat who needed access to the house (for water, potty, etc.) we decided to purchase a pet gate. Example: Pet Gate. Don’t have pets? There are plenty of gates to choose from in all different sizes to fit all widths. Example: Gates.

·         Cabinets and drawers. Keep little ones out of the cabinets and away from everyday household items by using locks and latches. There are many different styles and solutions to almost every type of cabinet, drawer, etc. Example: Locks and Latches.

·         Appliances. Make sure you install an anti-tip bracket and knob covers on your stove! Example: Bracket and Knob Covers.

·         Blinds. Many deaths occur each year due to cord strangulation but this can be prevented by  installing cordless blinds or using a cord wind up device. Example: Wind Up Device

·         Bathtub spouts. Ensure the safety of your child's head by installing a cover over the spout. Example: Spout Cover.

·         Door stoppers. This one we learned the hard way. Take a look at your door stoppers. Is there a little white cap on the front? Kids LOVE to play with these and these caps can easily come off and go right into a child's mouth! Replace those with a solid stopper. Example: Door Stop.

This is just a short list of some of the items needed to baby proof your home. Feeling a little overwhelmed? Then consult a professional babyproofer! If you live here in the Richmond, Virginia area, you can contact: BabyProofing Richmond for a consultation on what you should do to keep your children safe and sound in your home!

Is your nest growing and you need more space? Then contact me, Shannon Milligan, at Home Sweet Henrico and let me light your way to Home Sweet Home in Henrico County and the surrounding Richmond area.

Strategies for Discount Upgrades, Additions, and Replacements

No matter if you are a seller trying to upgrade your appliances to help entice a sale, or a buyer who just made a purchase and needs to replace or add items to make that house a home, you don’t necessarily have to pay top dollar. Having to make these expensive purchases can be hard to swallow after already investing so much, but there are deals to be had if you know where to look and how to ask. Below are some tips/strategies that have worked for my family in the past and hopefully can help you save some of your own hard earned money!

·         Appliances. These can be very expensive to purchase but can make a huge difference in the look and feel of a home. If you need to purchase more than one, ask to speak to a manager about a discount for buying multiple appliances at the same time. Just need one? Check out the floor models! When our family needed a new refrigerator we went to one of the big home improvement stores and we found a fabulous Whirlpool side by side. We inquired to the associate about it and he told us it was the last one. We asked if he could give us a discount for taking the floor model off of his hands and he offered 50% off! That $1200 refrigerator only cost us $500 and we even received free delivery!

·         Deck and Fence. If you find yourself in need of a deck and fence, gather estimates from a company that installs both. Kindly ask if they would honor a discount if you were to tackle both projects at the same time. This will save them time (and thus money) and you can reap the benefits. We are currently shopping for these items and have found many of the contractors will take $200-$500 off the price if we move forward with both projects at the same time. They both need done so we might as well SAVE!

·         Blinds, window treatments, and shutters. Many people don’t take into account the cost of these items and find themselves blindsided by how expensive they really are. But, with some planning and strategy, you can save BIG! We recently purchased a new construction home and thus all of the windows in the house needed a treatment. After some searching, we found one of the major home improvement stores was running a 20% off special on all Levolor blinds. We decided to purchase 30 blinds at the same time in order to apply the discount. We saved hundred of dollars in the store and then roughly $200 more when we discovered an additional 5% rebate through Levolor online! A little research can go a long way.

·         Delivery goofs and mishaps. Mistakes happen, that is a way of life. But  you can make those mistakes work in your favor. Spent the entire day waiting for the delivery crew only to discover they brought you the wrong item? Call the store manager and calmly explain your time lost and ask if they can apply a discount. When we had a slight debacle with the delivery of a stove, we called the big box retailer and explained our position and asked how they would compensate for our time lost. They responded with discounting that stove by $400! We ended up getting a fantastic product for a fraction of it’s retail price.

I can’t promise that you will have success in obtaining discounts from every retailer your approach, but I can guarantee you will not receive any if you do not ask. I firmly believe that you only get out of life what you have the courage to ask for!

Thinking about listing your home on the Henrico County Real Estate market? Then contact me, Shannon Milligan, at Home Sweet Henrico today!

Selling Your Home While Owning Pets

The above picture is of my fur baby, Bella. I adore her. She sleeps in our bed, lays on our furniture, and has the run of the house. I trust her completely with our kids and our belongings. She is easy in every way. Well, almost.

Since Bella joined our family, we have had to move several times due to job relocation for my husband. During each period our home was on the market, Bella and our fat cat, Buddy, posed some obstacles that we had to overcome in order to showcase our house in the best possible light. It is hard for us pet lovers to imagine this, but not everyone likes, or tolerates, a furry friend. Below are some tips/advice that I can offer if you find yourself in the same situation.

·         Inform your agent. This is simple enough but is often overlooked. When you list your home with your agent, make sure they are aware of how many and what kind of animals you have. This information is needed to make note of the pets in the MLS system. When a buyer agent is aware of a pet in the home, they can prepare their buyer before entering. (And will remind them to use caution to not let your beloved pet outside when they open the door!)

·         Remove your pets for a showing. I know, this is easier said than done. But, if it is at all possible, try and make arrangements for your animals to be elsewhere . If you work from home, take your furry friends with you for a car ride. If your mom or generous friend lives down the street, see if they would take them in during showing periods. Consider doggy daycare as yet another option. This will allow potential buyers to look at your home with out the distraction of a jumping dog or overly friendly cat.

·         Can’t remove them? Contain them. If you absolutely can not remove your pets for a showing, it is imperative that you keep them contained to one section of the home. The laundry room, unfinished basement, or garage would work well. Make sure to post a sign (printed from the computer!) on the door as a warning to your potential buyer and their agent. Although they may be disappointed they can not access one of these rooms, it is better than them not looking at all because you have a barking dog guarding your front door!

·         Keep their things tidy. Keep a litter box out of sight and be sure to clean it every day. Organize all of your dogs toys and bones and put them away in one spot. Keep their food areas neat and clean.  Don’t let a foul odor or untidy pet spaces be the reason a buyer walks back out the door.

By following a few simple steps, selling your home with a pet will hopefully be a seamless process and they will be back the ruling to roost in no time!

Looking for an agent who understands your needs? (And those of your pets!) Then contact me, Shannon Milligan, today at Home Sweet Henrico Real Estate!

Home Sweet Henrico Facebook Fans Make Difference

Giving back doesn’t have to be a difficult thing. It can be as simple as helping an older lady out to her car, throwing some change into a collection container at McDonald's, or by simply becoming a fan on a Facebook page. Come again?

Recently Home Sweet Henrico Real Estate created a business page on Facebook. As a way to spread the news, I decided to make the following “challenge” : for each person who becomes a fan, I will donate one canned good to a local food bank or charity. Did it work? I would say it was a success! Friends and strangers came together and collectively accumulated 78 cans of filling, HEALTHY vegetables!

I had the privilege of donating the food today to a local food pantry. The cans will go to feeding the homeless and to families who need an extra hand on getting food on the table.

I would like to thank each and every one of those “fans” for not only making my Facebook business page a success, but for taking a tiny moment to make a real difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate.

And, I would also like to issue other businesses this challenge: what can YOU do have a successful and DUTIFUL business? Think about it as the possibilities are endless!

Contact me, Shannon Milligan, at Home Sweet Henrico today for all of your Henrico County Real Estate needs!

Be An OFFENSIVE Seller – What To Do BEFORE You List Your Home On The Market

In any game, it is critical to anticipate your opponents next move. Just ask Donald Trump or Peyton Manning! The same holds true when you are selling your home – the more you know, the less power you give to the other team- a potential buyer. Below are a few suggestions to help you be on the right side of the playing field:

·         View from the curb. Never under estimate curb appeal. The outside of your home will be the buyers first impression so it is imperative to make it a great one! Bushes look overgrown? Trim them back. Paint chipping off of the trim? Touch it up. If you don’t have a critical eye, ask a neighbor – trust me, they have noticed the imperfections you no longer see!

·         Inspect. Walk through your home and make notes of obvious problems. Have a window with a broken seal? Replace it. Found a leak under the sink? Repair it. A good home inspector will find and document these problems for their client – the buyer. By tackling the issues ahead of time you will leave that home inspector on the bench trying to figure out how to get in the game! 

·         Turn honey-do’s into honey-done’s. We all have our little to-do lists of things that we will get around to. But now is the time to scratch those items off of your list. Grout in your shower a lovely shade of brown when it used to be white? Re-grout to make your bath shine. Kitchen cabinet coming off the hinge? Tighten it up to make your kitchen look picture perfect. Showing a buyer that your home is well maintained will reassure them that they can move in without having to add to their own running list of things to do.

·         Update. Look around and see if there are small changes you can make to improve the look and feel of your home. Builder grade light fixture in the dining room? Replace it with a more modern and up-to-date selection. Wallpaper in the den from the 1960’s? Take it down and paint it a neutral color. Making a small investment in your home now will pay off in the long run with less time sitting on the market. Don’t know what selections to make? Consult your Realtor or a professional home stager.

·         Depersonalize. Sure, your baby is cute as a button and home buyers will love looking at all of the photos of he or she....but that’s the problem! They will be so distracted looking at your little cutie that they won’t be paying attention to the details that make your home so special. Store these pictures and other unique items in a safe place and let the potential buyer envision THEIR pictures on the wall. Don’t worry – you will be settled into your new home soon enough and can enjoy every documented milestone!

·         De-clutter. We all have it and we all hate it. It’s an endless cycle. But when your home is on the market it is important that everything has its place and everything has a functional use. Show off your kitchen counter by storing small appliances in a cabinet or closet. Clear the papers and office equipment off of your make shift desk in the dining room. You don’t want to show a buyer you don’t have enough space for your belongings making them think they won’t have enough space for theirs.

·         Clean, clean, clean. If you do nothing else to your home, make sure it is sparkling and absent of odor. Nothing turns off a buyer more than a dirty home that smells! Make your bed, wash and put away the dishes, and showcase your fantastic home!

By implementing these tips and strategies you will avoid being blindsided and will leave the real estate game victorious!

Ready to get into the Henrico County Real Estate game? Then contact me, Shannon Milligan, at Home Sweet Henrico today! I have my game face on!

Henrico County Real Estate - Hunton Park

Hunton Park is a fabulous community developed by Atack Properties and is neatly tucked away in beautiful Glen Allen, Virginia. This neighborhood is a commuters paradise with easy access to I295, I95, and I64 and just 10 minutes from the Short Pump and Innsbrook area. Nearby shopping includes Martins Grocery Store, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Target, McDonalds, and more!

Comprised of apartments, town home style condominiums, town homes, single family homes, and even aged qualified homes, Hunton Park truly has something to offer everyone and every budget.

The Hamptons at Hunton Park is a terrific apartment community that offers resort style units and boasts  a luxury clubhouse, game room, fitness center, pool, and private movie theatre stadium! Rent starts at roughly $1,00o per month and several lease terms may be available.

The Villas at Hunton Park hosts town home style condo’s and features a club house, community pool, and beautiful floor plans built by Ryan Homes. Phase 2 construction has just begun with plans to establish a total of 221 units. The HOA fee is $165 monthly and includes plenty of amenities such as a community pool, clubhouse, and common ground maintenance all managed by the Community Group.

The Townes at Hunton Park consists of 245 town homes and amenities include snow removal, trash removal, and common ground maintenance. The HOA fee is $125 per month and is managed by the Community Group.

The Ridge at Hunton Park encompasses magnificent single family homes built by Ryan Homes and Parker Orleans. Currently there are 60 homes completed and several under construction with 87 homes in total projected. The HOA fee is $226 quarterly and includes snow removal, maintenance of common areas, and trash removal.   This community is also managed by the Community Group.

The Manor at Hunton Park  is an age qualified, gated community with 78 homes upon completion. Amenities include a community pool and a clubhouse. Residents must 55 years of age or older. (20% may be younger than the age of 55) Snow removal, trash removal, and a low maintenance environment is all included and managed by Landmark Properties.

Children who live in Hunton Park  may attend one of these Henrico County Public Schools: Glen Allen Elementary, Hungary Creek Middle School, and the newly constructed Glen Allen High School. For more information on these schools, please visit : http://www.greatschools.org/

If you are ready to explore any of these communities or other Henrico County Real Estate options, then contact me, Shannon Milligan, at Home Sweet Henrico today and let me light your way to home sweet home!

* And remember: If you would like to obtain a real estate agent to work on your behalf in the new construction process, you must obtain their services BEFORE you visit a new construction sales center. Many home builders do not allow you to have an agent if you have already visited the center on your own.

Staging Your Home While Raising Children

There are days when my home can look like a beautiful white canvas – clean, crisp, and untouched. Then, on any given Sunday (or Monday, or Tuesday...), my home can look like a work by Georges Seurat – little dots of clutter making up one large painting that showcases a mess!  

My point is, as a mother, I know how hard it can be to keep a house clean on any day of the week let alone trying to keep your home in SHOWING condition when your house is on the market. It certainly is a challenge. But, with these tips and a little preparation ahead of time, you can be assured that you will survive!

·         Edit – Take inventory of the toys. Chances are, there are more toys out than your kids could play with in a month. Pick out the toys your children must have on a daily basis and pack the rest in a box and store in the basement or garage. Don’t worry – if they get bored or request a certain item, you can easily go back to the box and retrieve it. But my guess is they won’t even miss them. Bonus: once you are moved and settled in your new home, your kids will feel like it’s Christmas morning all over again when you bring back their bounty!

·         Organize – With the remaining toys, make a plan to organize them. Remember: Rubbermaid is your friend! Purchase inexpensive containers and get everything grouped together. Games/puzzles in one, dolls in another, and those too many to count cars in a third. Tip: buy the clear containers so your children can see what is inside each one.

·         Store- Once you have all the toys neatly organized into their boxes, store them in a bookcase, under the bed, or inside an ottoman. Not only will this look uniformed, but will also create a nice, calming effect. What’s the saying...”cluttered space, cluttered mind!”

By following these tips, you are one step closer to having your home in tip-top shape for all those pesky showings!

And one last thought – Relax! If you have chosen an agent you feel confident in and priced your home IN the market and not simply ON the market (what's the difference? Call me! I will be happy to explain it!), you will sell your home in no time and can be back to living life the way we all normally do...with clutter and all!

Ready to list your home IN the Richmond real estate market? Contact me, Shannon Milligan, at Home Sweet Henrico today!

Know Thy Neighbor

Last week my kids had a snow day from preschool and absolute terror crept in – what in the world was I going to do to entertain them all day? Typically I would have our days planned out with activities and errands to keep us busy.  But this...this was unplanned and my somewhat OCD mind was racing! Then I had an idea: we would bake! It would take up a  lot of time, be somewhat educational for them, and at the end of the day we would have something delicious to share together.

I told the kids of my plan and they were thrilled! Having bought a brownie mix the week before, I thought this would be the best place to start. Until...no eggs! No EGGS! I was in trouble and my kids were not going to let me off the hook easily.

Normally I would just walk next door and ask one of my friendly neighbors. That’s what they are for! But we had recently moved into our new home and at that moment I realized I had not taken the time to introduce myself to those around me.

I can come up with many reasons for why I had not introduced myself (busy unpacking, busy running my business, busy being a wife and mom) but I won’t lean on those excuses. Truth is I should have gone over the first week and said a simple hello.

Since I didn’t know any of the neighbors and the roads were too bad to drive on, my only option was to scrap the baking and I was sentenced to playing endless hours of dress-up, Candyland, and watching several Disney movies.

And what did I take away from this? Neighbors are terrific resources but only if we actually get to know each other! To that end, my new project for the week will be to knock on every door on the street and introduce myself. I will even steal an idea from my old neighbor who had made a chart of every person on the street with address, phone number, and ages of their kids and then distributed the list to everyone on the block. So get ready neighbors, I am coming for you...and your eggs!

Thinking about moving to a new neighborhood? Then contact me, Shannon Milligan, at Home Sweet Henrico today! I would be happy to show you around and extend some neighborly advice!

Benefit Concert for Fire Victim

It’s seems as though every time I turn on the news as of late there has been another devastating fire. It’s heartbreaking to hear and many of us often think “I wish I could help” but then either forget or don’t know how. Well, if that describes you, here is a way you can help one of our neighbors in need!

On Thursday, January 20^th a benefit concert will be held at the Canal Club on E. Cary Street at 7PM with proceeds benefiting Evie – an Innsbrook After Hours volunteer who recently lost all of her possessions in a fire. The featured bands are Proverbial & DJ Williams Projekt and  a $10 donation will be collected at the door.

Can’t make it but still want to contribute? Donations can be made at any Greater Richmond area Wachovia Bank branch to the Yvonne Wilkerson fund with the account ending #5158. Prefer to donate a household item? Simply email  lsummers@innsbrook.com for a list of needed items.

So come on out for a night of fun and fellowship!

Home Sweet Henrico real estate would like to take this time to remind you to check your fire detectors and have an escape plan in place in case of an emergency!

Have your plan in place but need a home to execute it in? Contact Shannon Milligan at Home Sweet Henrico today and let her light your path to Home Sweet Home!