Archives for June 2019

3 Tips to Maintain the Well-Being of Your Home’s Foundation

When was the last time you took a close look at your home’s foundation? If you find yourself racking your brain trying to determine whether it was last spring, or two summers ago, it’s definitely been too long. From simple tasks to time-consuming projects, homeowners often don’t have the time—or the space on their to-do list—to add yet another item. However, when it comes to your home’s foundation, there’s no time like the present. 

A pro-active approach to caring for your home’s foundation is not only economical, it can also save you a lot of money—and headaches—down the road. 

1. Check the drainage around your home by ensuring that gutters and spouts drain away from the foundation.

2. While plumbing leaks under the house foundation are not uncommon, homeowners can have a plumbing pressure test done to make sure there are no leaks under the slab.

 

3. The ground moisture around the home’s perimeter should remain as constant as possible. Periodic use of a sprinkler system and soaker hoses in the summer time is recommended, but can also be done in the winter if the weather is dry.If you’re pressed for time, contact a reputable foundation repair company to have an inspection conducted inside and outside the house. Most of the solutions are affordable and extremely important to the well-being of the structure. Source: www.premierfoundationrepair.com

 

 

Christine Cleek

ABR, CRS, SFR, E-Pro

Broker, Owner

Rising Star Real Estate

850-217-0990

Chris@RisingStarRealty.com

www.RisingStarRealty.com

 

 

2016 Voted in the TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL

REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN FLORIDA

 

2015 Trulia TOP RANKED Real Estate Agent 

Based on Client Reviews & Ratings!

 

Featured in  January 2014 FLORIDA REALTOR MAGAZINE 

This prestigious award honors excellence among the top 1% of 

agents in the country based on 2014 sales and client reviews. 

 

Visit Rising Star Real Estate on FACEBOOK!

Join my Network on Linkedin!

Follow me on Twitter!

 

Tidying Up: Ways to Get Ahead of House Clutter

We get it – a bit of clutter is inevitable in the houses of even the most organized homeowners, especially if you have kids. Fortunately, there were some proactive ways to help you stay on track if you constantly find yourself battling the monster that is messes. Here are some tricks to help keep the smallest rooms in your home organized and clutter-free.

Pantry Organization

Fill Mason Jars – Clear, glass jars with flip-top lids (or clear, airtight plastic containers) are perfect for stashing kitchen ingredients. No more digging through Ziploc bags when you need to find the chocolate chips or chopped pecans. Store these items in a jar where they’ll stay fresh and you can easily spot them when you need them.

Organize with Magnetic Spice Jars – All those tiny bottles of spices are easy to knock over and can make quite a mess in your pantry. Plus, they take up valuable shelf space because they don’t stack neatly. Keep your herbs and spices organized with magnetic spice jars. Hang the jars on the side of your fridge or conceal them on the back of the pantry door with the help of magnetic paint.

Break Out the Baskets – Keep your meal planning nice and simple. Plan and shop for multiple meals at once, then store all non-perishable foods for each meal in individual bins or baskets. Label each basket by day or meal and place them in a prominent spot in your pantry for easy access. When it’s time to cook, everything you need for that meal is ready to go in one place.

 

Closet Organization 

Group Like Items – Organize similar items together to make things easy to find and keep tabs on what you have. For example, organize clothes by groups such as: work shirts, casual shirts, dresses, slacks, shoes, long-sleeved shirts, short-sleeved shirts, etc.

One-In-Three-Out – This is the secret to decluttering your home. When you bring in anything new (clothes, shoes, accessories, toys, etc.) donate, recycle or sell three items of the same category.

Hang Bags on Hooks – Keep your accessories neat and organized in your closet with durable hooks (like shower curtain hooks). Simply latch the hook over the clothes rod in your closet then hang your purses, belts and other accessories.

 

 

Christine Cleek

ABR, CRS, SFR, E-Pro

Broker, Owner

Rising Star Real Estate

850-217-0990

Chris@RisingStarRealty.com

www.RisingStarRealty.com

 

 

2016 Voted in the TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL

REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN FLORIDA

 

2015 Trulia TOP RANKED Real Estate Agent 

Based on Client Reviews & Ratings!

 

Featured in  January 2014 FLORIDA REALTOR MAGAZINE 

This prestigious award honors excellence among the top 1% of 

agents in the country based on 2014 sales and client reviews. 

 

Visit Rising Star Real Estate on FACEBOOK!

Join my Network on Linkedin!

Follow me on Twitter!

 

What to Ask Your Landscaper Before They Dig In

If you’re designing a new garden, patio or outdoor living space, you’re likely going to work with a landscaper. Aside from the cost of the project, there are some important conversations you should have with your landscaper before they break ground. Here are four questions to help.

Can I see examples of your work? It’s an error to assume someone will get your design ideas without seeing past examples of their work. They likely have a stack of examples, so all you have to do is ask.

How long will the process take? Make sure to have a clear time window (dates are preferable) so you know how long your landscaper expects the job to take. This will also help hold them accountable should the project run longer.

 

When will the plants reach maturity, and what will that look like? In all likelihood, some of most of the plants your landscaper is putting in aren’t at full maturity. Should you expect fully matured plants in one year? Three years? Ten? And what will these plants look like then?

How much maintenance will the space require? If you’re not a gardening buff yourself, it’s important to let your landscaper know this, especially if you plan to do all of the upkeep yourself. This way, they can help design a low maintenance space if that’s what you require.

 

 

Christine Cleek

ABR, CRS, SFR, E-Pro

Broker, Owner

Rising Star Real Estate

850-217-0990

Chris@RisingStarRealty.com

www.RisingStarRealty.com