Moist Basement? Here’s What to Do About It!

First off, our deepest apologies to anybody that hates the word moist – there really isn’t a better word for this situation!

Do you suspect that your basement has a moisture problem? If you answered yes, then just know that you are definitely not alone. Moisture in basements is a very common issue that homeowners deal with. Here are some tricks, tips, and insights on where the water is coming from and how to address the issue.

How do I know that my basement has moisture problems?

Here are just a few signs that you could potentially have moisture in your basement:

• Damp, cold feeling
• Musty smell
• Presence of mold or mildew
• Effloresence on foundation walls
• Ring of dampness
• Staining on drywall

Where does the moisture come from?

This *unfortunately* doesn’t have just one simple answer. There are many different routes for water and moisture to get into your basement – here are a few for example:

Laundry Washers & Dryers: Don’t have your dryer properly vented? Does your washer sometimes leak onto the floor? The water and moisture from these appliances have add to your moisture problem without you even realizing.

Improper Grading Around Your Home’s Structure: Take a quick circle around your house. Do you notice that the soil or landscaping around the house sits flat or even slopes into your home? This can have an extremely negative effect on the moisture levels in your basement.

Improper Gutter Lengths: Your gutter’s downspouts should all extend at least 4 feet from the side of your home. In some instances, they may need to go even further! Having gutters that don’t extend long enough can actually be doing harm to your structure.

Lots of Rain and Snow: This is something you obviously cannot control but moisture can creep into your basement from large snowfalls as well as heavy rain.

Cracks in the Foundation: Small holes in your foundation can not only let critters in but unwanted water as well.

Tips & Tricks on how to keep your basement dry

Now that we know some of the ways that moisture can get in, the best thing that you can do is try and counteract all of those things. You want to try and fix the problems from their core.

Positive Grading surrounding your home – Slope the landscaping surrounding your home away and out.

Here is a great example of the soil sloping away from your home

Lengthy gutter downspouts – Remember, your gutters should reach a minimum of 4 feet away from your home but use your best discretion, you may need them to be longer!

Keep in mind they don’t have to be boring old gutters… you can get creative!

Fix cracks in the foundation – Make sure to check around the outside of your home’s foundation on a yearly basis. You never know what kinds of things created holes around your home!

Easy basement access for moisture!

These are just a few of the ways that you can help prevent water and moisture from creeping into your home. If you have tried these three preventative measures and you are STILL having problems it may be in your best interest to look into a drain tile/sump pump mechanism. See Below for an example of how that system can work to help you keep your home dry

A dry home is a happy home!

Renting a Home Vs. Buying a Home

Weighing out the pros and cons

If you are currently renting, I am sure you have asked yourself at one point or another if you should continue to rent once your lease is up or if you should start to consider the possibilities of owning your own home – am I right? Renting has its benefits like not having to replace your furnace when it decides to magically go out or potentially getting a credit back on your rent from your landlord for doing work around the home. On the other hand renting can have some cons, like not having the freedom to change whatever you want whenever you want or adding to someone else’s wealth rather than your own. Buying a home might not be within everyone’s financial abilities or even in the plans for your future but you clicked on this blog so you must be a little curious! If you are currently renting and are stuck on this question, let’s take a quick second to think about some major questions you need to ask yourself before making the big decision.

Are You Ready to Put Down Roots?

Do you frequently consider moving to a different state or even a different country? Do you like exploring different cities and moving around to different apartments? If you are constantly moving or thinking about moving, then buying a home might not be right for you right now. If you see your life changing yearly, then staying in a rental might make the most sense for you.

Do you dream of creating a space that is fully yours? Do you have a steady job that you plan to stay at for a while? Are you totally content staying in your current city for the next 5 years minimum? Then buying a home might be in the cards! Buying a home is a big responsibility but if you are ready to put down those roots, it might make sense.

What Are Your Finances Like?

We cannot stress this enough, buying a home is a big responsibility! Being realistic about your finances is something you need to do. You do not want to get into a house and not feel comfortable. Some loan types allow for as little as 3% down and there are also first time home buyer programs that help you get into a home with 0% down. These options are great but you also don’t want to utilize these loan types and first time home buyer programs and still not have some reserves in the bank. Having a good cushion of cash will allow you to not panic when typical homeowner things come up – because they ALWAYS do!

Calculate the Cost of Renting vs. Buying

When it comes down to really weighing your options of renting vs. buying one of the biggest factors is probably going to be cost. Taking into consideration the average cost of renting in your city and then comparing that to the home price within your budget/where interest rates are at currently is going to help paint a clear picture when it comes to weighing these options. Quicken Loans has a great calculator that can help you really see how drastic these numbers can be! https://www.quickenloans.com/rent-vs-buy-calculator?qls=ZNG_zingblog.0000065482

Risks of Renting vs. Buying

Like we briefly mentioned at the beginning of this blog, there are always pros and cons to both sides of this argument. Buying a home can come with risks but if you are fully aware and set up for those risks then they could potentially not feel as risky. When you buy a home there are always things that can and will go wrong. You might’ve just bought a home that has a 30 year old furnace that is going to stay alive for 15 more years. On the flip side, someone else might’ve just bought a home with a 10 year old furnace and found out that they need to replace it. You truly never know. As long as you are aware of the risks that could potentially happen and are financially set up for when they do, then buying a home can be a wonderfully rewarding thing!

Hopefully these four topics on renting vs. buying a home have helped you navigate the home buying world a little better. Just like anything it can be terrifying if you don’t know what you’re doing, but when you are equipped with knowledge and understanding, starting the process can feel more attainable. Have more questions or concerns about the risks and rewards of renting vs. buying? Let us know in the comments or write us a message! We would love to help 🙂

What to do with the extra room in your home

Having an extra room in your home is a fantastic problem to have. If you have a room that is just sitting empty and collecting dust, use some of these ideas to give you inspiration on how to convert your room. After this it might even be your favorite room in the house!

In Home Gym

A lot of new home wants and needs have stemmed directly from the pandemic. When gyms and studios closed down people were left to their own devices to get their workout in. Walking into a home that has a special workout room can be a huge bonus to some people!

https://www.extraspace.com/blog/home-organization/diy-projects/home-gym-design-ideas/

Playroom

A specific room to keep all of your kid’s toys needs no explanation. Yes their toys will still end up in many rooms of your home but this could potentially keep all of the toy clutter in one spot. Not only that but decorating it to be a fun place that your kids love to be is a big added bonus.

https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/room-ideas/g25938283/playroom-design-ideas/

Meditation Room

Having a calm, quiet place to be mindful and reflect on things is highly slept on. A space that is designated for meditation and shutting things out can be so beneficial whether you have a busy or moderate lifestyle. Not to mention creating that space for yourself can be pretty fun in itself.

https://homebnc.com/meditation-room-ideas-that-will-improve-your-life/

Entertainment Room

Another type of room that is pretty nice to have is an entertainment room. This can mean many different things but the most important part is to tailor it to be somewhere you’d like to hangout. A kids video game room, a space that you and your friends can have poker night in, a movie room – these are just a few ideas to get your ideas rollin on a fun room for you, your friends and family.

https://www.architectureartdesigns.com/22-contemporary-media-room-design-ideas/

Plant Room

Here is another thing that has become increasingly popular for some over the pandemic – How many of you have bought 5, 10, 15+ plants over the last two years? A lot of us are in the same boat! A bright and sunny room for your plants to thrive in can have a lot of benefits for not only you but your mental health and even air quality! An extra idea would be to mesh your plant room with your meditation room!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rVRvHam1VY

Closet Space

Who doesn’t love an extra room for all of their clothes?? A special place for all of your clothes, shoes and laundry needs can free up some space in different corners of your home. Does anyone else try 15 outfits on before choosing what you’re actually going to wear for the day only to leave a massive explosion in your room? Now imagine if you had a designated room for this!

https://www.houzz.com/photos/small-closet-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_734~a_30-231

Have any other suggestions for you have done or wish to do with your extra room in your home? Let us know in the comments!

Messy Garage? Here’s How to Tackle it!

A garage is a space for many different types of things – tools, appliances, vehicles, furniture, cleaning/gardening products, storage – the list could go on and on. With so many different things stored in your garage, it’s east to create complete chaos. Let’s be real, you have to be a certain type of person to have a clean garage, you know what I’m sayin? We have put together a list of things to help you tackle the big job that is organizing the garage.

1. Create a clean slate

When you are beginning to create anything (for most) it’s easiest to start with a clean slate. If you have room outside of your garage or even in your backyard, take most things out and create that blank canvas. Once you have a clean area, it is easier to envision your spotless garage as well. Sweep, throw away unused boxes/garbage and put together a pile of things you either want to donate or sell.

2. Sort likes with likes

Now that you have your clean, blank canvas, it’s time to sort likes with likes! To help you in the future to navigate your area without trouble, put the yard tools in a pile, sort your gardening and cleaning products into their own pile, and so on. By doing this you are paving the way to never having a messy garage ever again! ( we hope!)

3. Decide what goes where

Once you have your clean garage and your likes with likes, now it’s time to decide where everything goes! Whatever you use the most would make sense to put int the most accessible corner, am I right? On the contrary, whatever you use the least would make sense to put in a less accessible corner to utilize your space the best. There is no specific rhyme or reason to how you HAVE to do it, just more so on what makes the most sense to you!

4. Create shelving/organizational systems

Storage systems are the big necessities of garage organization. Cabinets to hide things you don’t want sitting out can clear up the clutter. Peg boards to help display your most used tools for easy grab and go access for any project. Hooks can help you hang out your yard tools instead of shoving them in a pile in the corner. There are so many different ways to use systems to keep you garage clutter free and accessible.

5. Extra tips n tricks

Pro Tip #1: Having as many things off the ground can help keep away clutter. Remember to use vertical storage as much as possible to create the illusion of a tidy garage space.

Pro Tip #2: Sometimes your garage has some pretty valuable things in it – make sure to keep an updated inventory of what is in there for insurance purposed if you’re ever in a bind.

Pro Tip #3: It’s all about the lighting. If there is proper lighting in your garage it will be easier to create a clean space. Without useful lighting it’s easier to let the clutter build up because you simply cannot see it!

Has this blog given you the motivation to get your garage in order? If yes then give us a like! Or better yet, share it with someone you know also has a messy garage. We are all about organization over here! 🙂

7 WFH Tips and Tricks

*WFH – Work From Home (how the kiddos are saying it nowadays)

As the lives of everyone continue to evolve due to the ongoing pandemic, many people have converted to working from home. Businesses are seeing the potential to convert to fully working from home and pocketing the expense of having an office. For some people this is a dream come true! For others, working from home is all fun and games until the work piles up from not being able to stay on schedule. We have put together a little list to help you stay on track!

Stick to a Morning Routine

This is number one for a reason! Starting your morning right and setting a the tone for the day is crucial. Have a specific time that you wake up during the days that you are scheduled to work – open the blinds, brush your teeth, wash your face and put on some non bed-time clothes. Get ready like you are stepping outside and your mindset will be in the work zone. When you look good, you feel good and when you feel good, you work good! Thats how the saying goes, right?

Time Block

This one is almost equally as important as the first. Time blocking your day can make a huge difference when it comes to staying on track. Setting times to do specific things and staying on track with that schedule can make a world of a difference. Time blocking your Monday on Sunday, your Tuesday on Monday, etc. can really make a difference as well. That way when you’re done with your morning routine, you don’t have to waste any time trying to figure out what needs to get done for the day – you just jump right into things!

Space for Work – Space for Regular Life

I KNOW you’ve heard this one before. Having a designated work space not only helps you during your work day, but also helps to allow you to turn your brain off when it is time to enjoy your time away from work. Having your things in one designated space also helps to decrease the distractions of trying to roam around your house trying to find what you need for your next task – its right there! Get in the zone, work zone *in my autozone voice*

Plans for After Work

One thing that is highly underrated is having things to look forward to once you’re done with work. When you have something planned for a specific time, it puts a little fire under your booty to get things done on time. Whether its wine with some friends (face-to-face or on zoom), a hike with your dog, a new dinner recipe or anything else in between, having time to look forward to helps you stay on track.

Certain Tasks for Certain Days

Having certain things that you do on certain days can make a big impact on your productivity as well. On Monday’s you schedule out social media, Tuesday’s you follow up with clients – whatever it is that you need to get done throughout the week, when you schedule certain things on certain days it helps you to not forget or put off big tasks and to keep your week predictable.

Put the Distractions Away

This one speaks for itself. Having distractions as far away from you as possible is key to staying on track. If you have kids that are distance learning, keep them in their designated spaces as much as possible. If you have animals, keep them in their designated spaces as much as possible. The faster you get your work done, the faster you can spend time with the family and take the dogs to the dog park!

Accountability Groups

Last but not least and another highly underrated one – join an accountability group! Setting yearly, monthly, weekly goals for yourself keeps you on track. Checking in with those goals consistently and being held accountable really helps to make your goals attainable. Even the smallest goals can be forgotten about if you’re not being held accountable. Gather a group and hold each other to those goals!

Have any other tips and tricks that have been helping you stay on track while working from home? Let us know in the comments!

Ways to Make a Small Space BIG

A small space can feel limiting and not having the proper storage can be frustrating! However, if you utilize every nook and cranny of your small space and find creative ways to organize/decorate your home, you might just realize that a smaller home is just right for you. Smaller spaces = less cleaning. You feel me?

Lets take a look at a few creative ideas to help organize your small home!

1. Keep your small space clutterless

Hidden storage in your small space is KEY! Having clutter can crowd a small space and it can crowd it fast! Ottomans with storage inside, storage with closed off drawers and even baskets on open shelves can be a successful way to create more organization and less visual clutter.

2. Pocket doors!

This one is easy to over look but can really help with the functionality of a room. Most doors when they are open will cover a whole wall! The pocket door opens up that wall for extra storage, decor and other opportunities.

3. Shelving above doorways

Genuis! It’s so easy to forget about that space above a doorway but it is such a great space to either decorate or utilize as storage. This is especially helpful in small hallways for extra storage outside of the surrounding rooms.

4. Create functionality in corner spaces

Corner spaces can easily turn into two things: a space for clutter or a space for absolutely nothing. In a home with not a lot of square feet, it is essential to get creative with what those corners can do for you. corner shelving, lazy susans, or even a corner desk are all great ways to not write off those pesky corners.

5. Space behind your door

Don’t fret if you a pocket door isn’t plausible for your home, behind the door can be a really useful thing as well. Whether it be a shoe rack, a place to hang your shower towels or even the back of the cabinet door below your sink, taking advantage of all types of different spaces within your home is going to make it feel bigger!

6. Anything under the bed

Extra storage under the bed is such an underestimated resource. You can easily switch out your seasonal clothes, store shoes and hide many other things below! Check out this sweet bed frame… the possibilities here seem endless.

7. Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors

Long mirrors across the wall can make a room seem longer and floor length mirrors can make the room feel more tall. Across from a window they can create a faux mirror and bounce natural light into your space. Layered mirrors can create depth without clutter. Any small space can benefit from strategic mirror placements!

Here is just a start to the limitless possibilities of making your small home more useful and feel bigger. Do YOU have any tips or tricks you use and didn’t see above? Let us know your hacks in the comments!

Capture Buyers & Sell Your Home: Kitchen Edition

         When searching for a new home, the kitchen is arguably one of the most exciting ingredients in a new buyer’s recipe. Little improvements can go a long way to the eyes of a prospective buyer when they first walk into your home. From shiny new appliances, to a clean and spotless cooking space, all details matter when considering to sell. Let’s look at a few kitchen updates that won’t break the bank, but can liven up the space and turn your kitchen into the focal point of the home.

1. Update Kitchen Light Fixtures

Updating the light fixtures in a home can be an easy and dramatic change to the look and feel of your kitchen. While being relatively inexpensive, they can still pack a big punch.

2. Redo Kitchen Backsplash

A kitchen backsplash can transform the entire feel of the room. A quick update to the backsplash can inexpensively create that wow factor when updating your kitchen to resell.    

3. New Hardware for Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers     

Arguably the easiest and cheapest thing you can do to give your kitchen a facelift, is change out the hardware. Swapping out the basic knobs to sleek handles or newer chic knobs can add a simple detail that helps your kitchen pop.

4. Update Kitchen Floor

If your kitchen floor is dated or worn, you might want to consider updating to give it a fresh new feel. There are some inexpensive options that can liven up your kitchen and give it a crisp new look.

5. Update Kitchen Faucet

Updating your faucet can give your kitchen a sparkle you may not have thought of. It is also simply one YouTube video away from fixing yourself!

6. Paint Walls to Refresh

Painting the walls is a fast way to brighten up the kitchen. Choosing neutral colors creates an inclusive feel and allows just about anybody to envision themselves buying your home.

7. Clean and Declutter

This goes for just about any room in your home when you’re preparing to sell and open your doors to prospective buyers. However, the kitchen is high on the list of needing to be spotless. Have a minimal amount on your kitchen tops, organize your drawers/cabinets and have a nice, tidy pantry. Remember to also organize underneath the sink as buyers tend to check underneath for leaks or water damage.

Extra things to consider while preparing your kitchen for a remodel:

Updated kitchen countertops?

         Having a sparkly new kitchen countertop would pull in any buyer, but sometimes can be a highly personal preference. A glowing granite countertop might not be as appealing to somebody looking for a contemporary, rustic butcher block. If your countertop is cracked, stained and dated, then it may be time to update. If the countertop is in good condition, then it might be on a low priority list of updates.

Brand New kitchen appliances?

         Similarly to countertops, kitchen appliances can be a very personal decision. A family of 6 is probably going to need a different size refrigerator than a single person. If your appliances are dated and worn, then consider replacing with a “like new” used appliance that doesn’t break the bank.

Remember: Even if you are in the beginning stages of considering to sell your home, contact an agent in your area. Local agents will know what is trending in your neighborhood and can help guide you in making decisions to get you the highest return on investments.

November Tree and Shrub Care Tips

Here are some late fall lawn tips that can help your shrubs and trees look excellent in the spring!

1) Plant.
Continue to plant deciduous trees and shrubs as weather permits. The alternate time for planting is next March, before plants leaf out. Apply 2 to 4 inches of wood chips, shredded bark, leaves, or compost to root zones of newly planted trees and shrubs. Be sure to pull mulch 4 inches away from tree trunks.

2) Water. Water. Water.
Continue to water trees and shrubs, especially evergreens, until the ground has frozen completely.

3) Protect.
If rabbits, rodents, or deer have been a problem in past winters, take precautions with valuable woody plants now. To keep deer from rubbing antlers on tree trunks, spread garden netting or snow fencing around abused trees. Creation of physical barriers is more effective than sprays. Deter rabbits and rodents from overwintering in gardens by cutting down their winter habitats, such as ornamental grass clumps or perennials left standing for winter interest. Protect tree trunks from gnawing rabbits by setting up 12 to 16 inches of hardware cloth tacked into the soil 3 inches away from the trunk.

If necessary, construct burlap windbreaks 12 inches away from any newly planted, sensitive shrubs. The screens will buffer damaging effects of bitter, northwest winter winds.

All this late Fall work gives you a chance to be outdoors and we all know what’s coming SOON!!