Articles Tagged "Home Improvement"

What's the one thing you don't want when planning a large home improvement project? Too many surprises. Coordinating your own home renovation project is as rewarding as it is challenging, and achieving your desired result starts with having a plan. Our real estate agents have some key tips to help you take charge of your next home improvement project, and get results that you'll enjoy for years to come.

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Whether you've just finished shopping for D.C. homes for sale or you've already owned your current home for a while, the beginning of the new year is the perfect time to start planning your next home improvement projects. It's not too late to start dreaming up your own home improvement New Year's resolutions, and our real estate agents have some inspiration to help you think of some great projects for your home this year.

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If you're like most people, you probably spend a lot of time in your living room visiting with family and entertaining friends. Our real estate agents see the living room as a multi-purpose space for most families, so it's the perfect place for quiet conversations, family gatherings, special parties and events, or just curling up with a good book.

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Thanksgiving is a special holiday when families and friends gather around the dinner table to visit over Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you prefer a traditional stuffed turkey dinner with sides or a cultural family favorite, our real estate agents have a few tips to make your Thanksgiving a success.

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Your living room is an essential space because it's an entryway into your home. As the first room that guests see, your living room should welcome guests with comfort and style. Our real estate agents know just how important first impressions can be to potential buyers. The living room sets the tone for the rest of the house, so it should make a great first impression. When showing D.C. homes for sale, buyers look for comfortable homes with style, character, and exciting features. By making costly design mistakes, you can quickly turn interested buyers away.

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Fall and winter are around the corner, which makes now the perfect time to make sure that your home is prepared for the change in weather. Many outdoor home improvement tasks are easier to handle while the weather is still warm, and there are quite a few systems in your home that you'll want to make sure are in good working order before the cold weather arrives. Our real estate agents have all the details on how to get a head start on fall and winter prep this year.

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Making sure that your electrical is safe should be an important priority for any homeowner, and electrical safety is something to consider when shopping for D.C. homes for sale. There is a significant risk of fire with some electrical issues, and power surges can cause substantial damage to electronics that may not be covered by homeowner's insurance. Our real estate agents have some tips to help keep the electrical systems in your home as safe as possible.

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Window sills are not just home spaces that collect dust. If you have window sills, you have hidden gems that can increase your home's functionality and design appeal. Although often overlooked, window sills offer a variety of solutions for great home improvement ideas.

At AveryHess, our real estate agents show numerous properties with unique features that attract home buyers. Many Arlington homes for sale are built with large windows and deep window sills that create additional, useable space and endless design opportunities for creative homeowners.

1. Create a Window Garden
   Live plants and greenery add natural beauty and oxygen to indoor spaces. Window sills provide the perfect place for sunlight and fresh air that is necessary for healthy plant growth. By decorating your window sills with clay pots, glass jars, or colorful containers and baskets, you can showcase your green thumb and add organic design appeal to your home.
   
   
2. Grow Herbs and Vegetables
   If you're kitchen windows get sun and natural light throughout most of the day, you can grow a variety of herbs and vegetables that will flourish, even during the winter months. If your kitchen gets minimal sunlight, grow lights are ideal. They are available at most home improvement stores, hardware stores, and nurseries in a variety of designs, sizes, and prices.
   
   
3. Design a Sitting Nook
   Many Arlington homes include impressive decorative details like heavy crown molding, elaborate window trim, bay windows, and window sills that are 2 to 3 feet deep. This makes it easy to design a comfortable sitting nook where you can enjoy your morning coffee, curl up with your favorite book, or seat guests at parties, family gatherings, and special events.
   
   
4. Display Your Favorite Books
   Window sills provide a great place to display your favorite books, especially if you're an avid reader with limited editions or special collections. Whether it's in your family room, master bedroom, child's room, or kitchen, books on display provide convenient access for reading, as well as visual appeal from vibrant colors and textures on book covers and jackets.
   
   
5. Exhibit Your Family Photos
   If you have an abundance of family photos, you likely know that displaying them presents some problems. Even in a large home, you may have limited wall space to hang framed photos. Window sills are a great place to showcase groups of framed photos in various frame styles, colors, and sizes. You can create eye-catching displays, but make sure you don't completely block your view from the window.
   
   
6. Display Holiday and Party Decor
   When the holidays arrive, your window sills provide a great space for festive holiday decorations. You can use your window sills to display small Christmas trees, holiday wreaths, twinkling lights, decorative ornaments, Thanksgiving pumpkins, candles, and candy, or festive flags on the 4th of July. If you're throwing a party, you can fill your window sills with snacks, party favors, or presents for your guests.
   
   
7. Give Your Pets a Sunny Spot
   Window sills can provide your pets with a cozy spot for warm sunshine and long afternoon naps. Dogs, cats, and birds love windows that offer a view of the outdoors, natural light, and a cool breeze of fresh air. While dogs will likely watch for you to return home or run to the window when the doorbell rings, cats and birds will find a comfortable spot for relaxing throughout most of the day.

If you're interested in buying or selling a home in Arlington, contact us about available properties and prices in desired communities. We have a variety of properties that may be the perfect fit for your lifestyle.

Want to add a clean, crisp, modern style to your home? Minimalist interior design has been increasing in popularity over the last several years and for good reason. The objective of a minimalist design is to create a simple modern look by eliminating clutter and creating the right balance between the essential objects and remaining space in the room. Minimalist interior design can actually have a calming effect and can even prove beneficial to your mental health.

Our real estate agents are seeing a lot of minimalist designs across many homes on the market, so they're prepared to share some tips on how you can take advantage of this simplistic design strategy in your home:

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Summer is just around the corner, which means many of us will be spending weekends and evenings in the backyard. Before inviting family and friends over for a BBQ, why not tackle some of those long-awaited outdoor projects so your home, yard, and facade really stand out? Our real estate agents absolutely love creating beautiful outdoor spaces, so if you're looking to revamp your exterior this year, consider getting started with one of these DIY projects:

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Spring cleaning is never a favorite thing to do, but it's necessary for a sparkling clean home. When warm weather arrives, it's time to roll up your sleeves and tackle some cleaning chores that you've been putting off throughout the year. With a little effort, you can create a spotless home!

At Avery Hess, our real estate agents know that a clean, well-organized home sells much faster. Messy homes with dust and clutter are a turn-off to buyers looking for D.C. homes for sale, even if they have great potential. So if you're thinking about listing your home, follow these tips to make spring cleaning chores easier, faster, and less stressful.

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Whether you've been busy exploring Middletown homes for sale or you're happy in your home, sprucing up your bedroom is a great idea! As the room where you start and end every day, your bedroom should have a calm, relaxing vibe. If you're like most people, you love this idea but aren't quite sure how to execute it. While everyone's style is different, the following tips will help you find some inspiration.

Choose a Subtle Color
It's amazing how much of an impact a coat of paint can have. When choosing the color palette for your bedroom, stay away from bold primary colors and instead opt for soft, soothing shades. To create a calm, serene vibe, look for lighter hues of lavender, green, and blue.

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Interior design seems to come easy to some, but it's a struggle for most of us. Our real estate agents understand the importance of decor on a space, especially when you're getting ready to sell your home. 

But decor isn't just important when you're listing Fairfax homes for sale. It also has an impact on your day-to-day happiness and wellbeing. Decor can make your home feel warm, welcoming, cozy, spacious — really any way you want it to feel. And it all starts with finding your style. 

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Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and its appliances can have a lot to say about how the space looks and functions. Older appliances can make everything from storing food to preparing meals more difficult and time-consuming.

Although you may be tempted to put off upgrading your kitchen appliances, it's an investment that can pay big dividends as you live in and enjoy your home. A kitchen appliance upgrade can also make your home compete more favorably with other Fairfax homes for sale or Alexandria homes for sale if you decide to put it on the market, our real estate agents point out.

The following are 5 good reasons to upgrade your kitchen appliances:

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The holidays are almost here, and we're definitely feeling the spirit! While we all do some seasonal decorating, a few of our real estate agents truly go above and beyond. This year, we've asked them to share some of their best holiday decorating tips. Here's what they had to say. 

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Indoor plants are a lovely addition to any home. Not only do they enrich your decor, but they improve the air quality in your home and enhance mood levels while lowering stress levels. Our real estate agents find that properties with indoor plants also appear more welcoming and inviting to potential buyers.

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A home with a spare bedroom can present nearly endless opportunities if you'd like to convert it to a different use. By using your imagination and making a few adjustments, you'll end up with a room that suits you and your family's needs and increases your enjoyment of your home.

Our real estate agents suggest the following 7 ways to utilize a spare bedroom:

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According to a study by the National Association of Realtors, 25% of buyer's agents said home staging generated a one to five percent increase in dollar value offered compared to similar, unstaged homes on the market. As the housing industry continues to adapt to an ever-growing digital marketplace, home staging is not just important for showings, it's necessary for your listing to garner online attention as well. 

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Just because you're feeling all cooped up doesn't mean you can't stay busy. Our REALTORS® have discovered that working from home provides ample time to tackle some much needed DIY projects around the house!

These simple (and inexpensive) home improvement projects will have your house looking better than ever. 

1. Update Kitchen Fixtures
   Are the fixtures in your kitchen looking a little worn-out and out of date? Brightening up your kitchen fixtures is one of the quickest and easy ways to breathe new life into your home, and you can easily do it over a weekend! Kitchen faucets are easy to replace, as long as they match your sink, and you can switch up your cabinet hardware with little more than a screwdriver and a little elbow grease. 

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As the National Association of Realtors® says, more than 90 percent of home buyers look for homes online. And for most of those shoppers, it's eye-popping photos that reel them in. Further, many potential home buyers these days use virtual tours to help them narrow down their choices.

Follow these tips from our REALTORS® and you'll get better results from online shoppers looking for DC homes for sale.

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There's no doubt that a well-planned open house is a vital tool for getting your home sold, and how you prepare makes a huge difference in how buyers perceive the property. With the right prep and the help of your real estate agent, you can make sure your home shines on the big day. Our real estate agents have you covered, starting with our open house checklist.

• Create an Open Space
  When you're competing with DC homes for sale, you want every edge. Start by removing personal items, to make it easier for buyers to picture their lives in the home. Clear out as much clutter as possible to make the home feel more roomy and store unnecessary furniture.

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Winter can be gloomy and filled with cloudy days and nights, but that doesn't mean your home needs to fall into a winter slump. Whether you're looking to sell your home or add to the allure of it, our REALTORS® can help you along the way with tips and advice for improving your winter curb appeal.

Prepping Your Home for Winter Curb Appeal

First, keep up with the maintenance of your yard. While you won't necessarily need to mow your lawn throughout the winter, you can still rake leaves and clear walkways and sidewalks of any snow, mud, or other debris. Picking up toys or other furniture not in use will help to make your yard look less sloppy, and this should include tools, lawnmowers, and even dying plants. Trimming trees of any dead limbs will prevent possible collapse if they become covered in ice, which will protect the exterior of your home as well. Other ways you can improve your curb appeal are:

• Placing fake plants or flowers to give an added level of ambiance
• Repainting or replacing your mailbox
• Tactfully adding exterior lights, lanterns, or lamp posts
• Add colorful ornaments or sculptures to counterbalance the gloom associated with winter

Make Your Home Stand Out 

Keeping your driveway clear will allow your guests to park there when they visit, and avoid parking in front of your house and taking up street space. If you're someone who likes to work in your garage with the door open, you may want to consider reorganizing, so it's less of an eyesore when others walk or drive by.

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