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 Who knows if the severe weather will be tonight, this week or even anytime in April? It pays to be prepared, so grab these free printables and prep yourself and your family for our Oklahoma spring. If you're looking to sell and get into a home with a shelter, contact Ally for a spring listing discount.
Confession of a deal hunter: I use this awesome money-saving browser extension to find a lot of my deals. Online fanatic here. No crazy spam, signup not necessary, it just hunts the coupon codes. You can get an account if you want but it's not required. Use my link to sign up if you do choose to get an account: https://www.joinhoney.com/ref/dovalf  While this won’t work instantaneously on a clog (usually) it’s the flossing your pipes need to get that water-slowing, stink-causing grime outta there. We usually do treatment three days at a time, once a quarter. What is also awesome? It is safe for septic systems. You can get this and every other Zep brand product only at Home Depot.
 This weather is gross and getting grosser. Our own AC unit is falling behind. With 114 degree heat expected, most units can't keep up - whether they're new or old. And you don't want to be in the heat if yours gives out because you know all the AC companies will be booked. The best way to stay cool is to give a little TLC. Here are some tried-and-true ways to reduce the strain on your air-conditioner. Get Cheap-o Filters
Grab some dollar filters and temporarily swap them out. If you'll die of allergies, at least downgrade to a medium range filter. Too fancy (think allergy filters) and you restrict airflow and strain your system. Look for a MERV 9 or below. Plan to Netflix and ACTUALLY chill out at night Sun up = AC temp up. Sun down = AC temp way down. For optimal performance you should run the AC at night to cool things off (maybe even a little chilly) and turn it as high as you can tolerate during the day. Close Up Shop Leave your blinds down and closed. Hunker down and pretend like no one is home. Better yet, venture out to use someone else's great AC. Catch a movie, huddle up in the library or take a swim. Pull Down Your Heat Crown Got an attic? Us, too. Miss me with that 200 degree air circulating in the dusty catacomb of Christmas lights and rubbermaid bins. It's Oklahoma, so your living space is likely baking under a sweltering attic crowned by a dark roof. Pull down your attic access and crack the garage door 6 to 10 inches to create a passive vacuum to draw hot air out of the attic. This should go without saying, but don’t park hot cars in the garage. Yes, the cars will be hot. But leave them out. You wouldn't put hot soup in your fridge, right? If you would, you're a domesticated monster and I don't know you. I'm Your Biggest Fan! Use ceiling fans for in rooms someone is actually in. Presumably eating ice cream and imbibing Netflix. Check to see that the blades are driving the air down. As in down ON. TO. YOU. Someone is gonna chime in with the "heat rises, cool air sits low" and try to talk me out of the down gust method. Fourth grade, we got it. Here's why it works: A ceiling fan creates a wind chill effect and that makes YOU feel cooler but it doesn't actually make the room cooler. If your fan isn't set to jet engine speed, are you even an Oklahoman? P-U! Heat stinks! Use bathroom exhaust fans to draw out heat at the end of the day or during peak hours in an upstairs bathroom. CAUTION: One normal bathroom fan can clear out an entire house full of air in about 30 minutes. Or, if you grew up mid-nineties, "for 'bout thirty five, forty five minutes". Exhaust fans are for getting rid of the hottest air after the peak temperatures have passed, but if you leave it on all day it will make your air-conditioner work double time. Get'cha a Hillbilly HVAC In harder to cool areas, make a DIY air-conditioner using a box fan and a few ice packs laid at a 45 degree angle against the base of the fan. The ice packs will sweat, so put down a towel and don't let them drip into the electric part of the fan. Hose Off Got gunk? Your AC needs to breathe cool air in your house, but if it can't fill its lungs, you're SOL. Free up air intake capacity by using your garden hose to spray off any dirt and debris from the fins around your AC unit. Common offenders: lawn clippings and leaves. Most hardware stores also sell fin combs to help you straighten out any bumps and bruises on the fin cage. Spiders, snakes, rabbits and rodents like to live under AC units, so wear shoes and/or bring your gun. Shoes optional. Re-Wrap It Chew-happy pets, ruthless rodents and the sweltering Oklahoma sun often damage the insulation around the refrigerant lines. Uninsulated lines can cost you about 10°F or more of cooling power. Friends, that's the difference between an uncomfortable 80 and a frigid 70 (read: ticked wife, happy wife). While you’re picking up air filters, grab some AC line insulation. It's cheap and easy to install. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Armaflex-1-2-in-x-6-ft-Rubber-Self-Seal-Pipe-Wrap-Insulation-HST05812/100550644 Get Shady Don't plant a tree right now. It'll die. And so will you. Go to Lowe's and get a sun sail to install 4 feet away from your outdoor AC units. For the long term, plant a tree or other landscaping to provide shade. https://m.lowes.com/pd/Easy-Gardener-11-8-ft-W-Green-Shade-Sail/50403930
There's no denying it: Homes that are staged well definitely stand out. Not only does the right amount of decluttering, organizing and accessorizing make your home more attractive, it can actually increase its value. According to the National Association of Realtors' 2015 Profile of Home Staging Report, 32 percent of buyers' agents believe their clients are willing to offer one percent to five percent more for staged homes. What's more, 81 percent of agents said home staging made it easier for buyers to visualize the property as their future home. If that's not enough to convince you, take a look at these before-and-after photos to really illustrate how powerful home staging can be.
1. Cool kitchenAttractive barstools and place settings make you want to sit right down for lunch! The hardware upgrade on the cabinets makes a big difference too.2. Dining room do-overA fresh coat of paint and right-sized furniture create an appetizing room that's welcoming without being over-the-top. (Removing that potty chair from the picture was a wise move as well.)
3. Room with a viewThis living room went from sad to sophisticated with the help of the right furnishings and accessories. Who could focus on that stunning view with those flimsy outdoor chairs in the way?
4. The personal touchHomeowners are often advised to keep their rooms neutral and remove many of their personal effects. But by adding a few well-placed items to the countertops, this kitchen just became a lot more enticing.
5. The beauty of decluttered spaceOrganizing and decluttering go hand-in-hand with home staging. It's a shame to bury a fireplace behind so much stuff.6. Updated decorMany consumers have a hard time envisioning themselves in a space if the decor is too distinctive or distracting. Keeping items current and appealing to all is a way to attract as many buyers as possible.
7. Bedrooms don't need to be boldWhile you may love the idea of an extreme shade, not everyone wants to wake up to dramatic hues. In addition to lightening the wall color, moving the bed away from the window enhances the view.
8. Brighter bathroomNothing makes a bathroom sparkle like clean, cream-colored walls. Fresh-flowers, white hand towels, and an elegant soap dispenser take this bathroom from drab to eye-catching without any remodeling required..
9. Gorgeous guest roomThis stunning space was packed with potential but failed to live up to it. In addition to new chairs, the right lighting and taking the photo from a better angle transformed this room.
10. Wall art adds a wow factorThe right wall hangings can take a room from comfortable to curated with minimal effort.
11. Less is moreHome stagers will often suggest placing some of your items in a storage unit to make your rooms appear more open and spacious. This photo illustrates why that's such a smart idea.
12. Accent on colorThe walls can stay neutral but adding a pop of color through accent pieces like throw pillows and well-placed chairs pull a room together.
13. Let there be light.This attic bedroom went to dim and dreary to quaint and cozy with the addition of a nightstand and table lamp. The complementary geometric patterns bring interest to the small space without overwhelming it.14. Empty just isn't as appealingEven if an empty room looks great on its own, showing buyers how to show off the space is inspiring.
15. Every detail countsIn case you needed any additional convincing that home staging makes an enormous difference, this montage of makeovers should do the trick.
Transporting teachers back from the Capitol? Download the OneEdmond pickup signs at the button below.
Make sure the teachers can see you. Four copies are suggested for your vehicle, affixed to the inside (as safe visibility allows) of your:
 “I’m not quite ready - can you use my photos? I took them with my new camera!”
When I say no, and let them know I photography package is offered at no cost to the seller, I inevitability get the next question: “Why isn’t my camera good enough to shoot photos of my own home?” It might be. But not likely. Lots of people got fancy cameras for birthdays or holidays, but a DSLR camera does not a photographer make. My goal is to sell your house in a reasonable amount of time at a price acceptable by you, and to do that, I need to showcase it in its best light across many platforms. I do that through the use of professional photography. We‘ve all seen these amateur photos (a fine collection is available over at https://badmlsphotos.com). A house is a tricky technical thing to photograph – even though it’s not moving, there are many angles and lighting situations to be captured and edited. So, why shouldn’t you photograph your own property? First, you have to have the appropriate lenses to fully feature the property. An 18-55, fixed 50 or telephoto are not usually going to give you the angles you want with the lighting you need. And those are the lenses most commonly sold as parts of DSLR kits. You need a few specialized lenses with highly rated shutter speeds and auto focus properties to be able to capture the scene. You should also have a tripod – this is it hard to get, but you should also have a hot shoe to indicate level photographs to avoid converging verticals. Do you have a light meter? Do you have a remote control for your camera to avoid being in the picture? Again, all of that equipment is available, but between lenses and accessories, you are looking at about $2000 additional (minimum!) to be able to properly photograph your own property. After you have all the equipment, you have to learn how to use it – there are many different modes and programs you must use on the camera itself to capture the property. Toss in a few more hours. After you capture your property, it’s common to go into production mode in a complicated software like Adobe Lightroom or adobe Photoshop to even out the lighting and sharpen the photos. So you have probably spent $3500 by now, and who knows how long in Photoshop and Lightroom. Can it be a fun learning adventure? Sure. But usually, it is not worth the time and effort when ALL of my listings include photography services. I hear from homeowners who want to feature photographs from additional seasons, or even photographs of their decorating style or things they love best about their home. Not usually a great idea. Your home is going with you, what is left is your house. And by your house, I mean someone else’s house – they are going to buy it and make their home within the space. Don’t present ideas that may turn off a buyer who doesn’t share your aesthetic. I bet you take beautiful pictures, but please leave the house photography to your agent and their professional. Remember, at #SmartMove professional photography is included at no cost to you.  What do you mean you don't hold open houses? I thought all agents did that. And you don't do flyer boxes either? What kind of real estate gig is this?
Let's clear one thing up right away - we will ABSOLUTELY hold an open house if the client insists upon it. But, because we work in the best interest of the client, it's best to know a few key tidbits first:
If you're ready to say adios to the open house and hello to your cash at the closing table, let's partner to get your house sold. Call (405) 821-1225 or email ally@smartmoveok.com #SmartMoveRealEstate #OKC #Edmond #SmartSellsBetter #SophisticatedRealEstate Are you really ready to buy a home? Get the entire overview with the free buyer's guide.
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AuthorAlly is a realtor and research enthusiast living in the greater OKC metro area. Archives
April 2019
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