As we barrel forward ever faster into the future, older rental properties such as apartment buildings tend to seem more and more out of date. In a world where perfectly framed photos sell real estate, now is the time to give your property a face-lift. Doing so can immediately boost your property’s value and appeal, and land you the type of tenants you want – and need.

Refinish Metal Surfaces

Does your lobby sport an elevator? Do you have a metal walk-in plate near the entrance? It doesn’t take long for these metal surfaces to look dirty, dinged, and sprinkled with disease. Refinishing surfaces like the elevator button plate can make your tenants feel more at-home in your building, and cement the contemporary look you are trying to achieve in the refresh of your design.

Give Concrete A New Look

Gone are the days of old, ratty carpet. Before you replace the low-pile carpeting your building has been sporting for decades, get with the times and consider going the route of concrete polishing Manhattan NY. With the right team, you can quickly give the whole lobby an attractive overhaul, leaving it feeling clean, contemporary and easy to maintain.

Change Lighting Fixtures

This may not be immediately apparent, but switching out old light fixtures can make a world of difference in the way your building looks – both from the outside, as well as when a potential tenant walks inside. Instead of the basic hanging fixtures, consider implementing recessed lighting with energy-saving LED bulbs, complemented by an exciting hanging fixture in the lobby or common area. Consider the way that lighting highlights the character and features of your exterior as well, and capture this in any photographs you want to take for marketing purposes.

Breathe New Life Into Older Spaces

While it may seem overwhelming to take on a full remodel or redesign of your apartment building, a few simple changes and refinishes can make a huge difference in creating the value and interest you need in your property.…

Even if you don’t consider yourself a green thumb, patio gardening is a great way to get in touch with your earthy side. If you haven’t given it a try yet, here are a few benefits that might give you a reason to give it a shot.

Portable Beauty

Patio gardens are the perfect places for hanging baskets, window boxes or pots. No matter the size of your patio, you can almost always find a pot that will fit your space. The wide variety of container plants Princeton FL climate supports provide many options to make your patio an inviting haven. If you move frequently, potted plants make it easy to take your garden with you. You can also rearrange your garden as often as you like, without harming the plants.

Healthier Air

Plants help purify the air we breathe. Have you ever walked into a forest and taken a deep breath of all that fresh air? You can establish a similar atmosphere on your own porch. Plants produce life-giving oxygen and help offset the carbon dioxide our industrialized world creates. Whether you have a little space or a lot, even a few plants can help make the air around your home a little easier to breathe.

Better Mood

Research suggests that gardening can help lift your mood, providing relief from stress, anxiety and depression. Patio gardening can also give you an uplifting dose of fresh air and sunshine, help you connect with others over a shared hobby and can give you an opportunity to expand your creativity.

If you have a porch, front steps or backyard patio that could use a little sprucing up, why not give patio gardening a try? For little more than a few dollars and a little investment of time, you can have a flourishing garden that will boost your home’s beauty and maybe even lift your spirit.…

Video games have nothing on back yards. Electronic entertainment has its place, but most kids would rather run, jump, tumble and explore in a real-world setting rather than do so digitally. That’s why every summer, American back yards are filled with children participating in sports, playing make-believe and engaging in other fun activities. There is one similarity that your lawn shares with video game landscapes, however: both have an element of danger. While there are no aliens, zombies or monsters lurking in your yard, there are plenty of hazards that await unsuspecting kids. Here are some tips to make your yard a safe place.

Create a Safety Zone Around Grills

Kids love to run and play, but it needs to be done at a safe distance away from outdoor cooking. If a youngster accidentally knocks over a grill, it could cause fires or burns if the unit is still warm or filled with hot coals or grease. One study found that more than 15,000 children a year suffer grill-related injuries. In addition to installing a no-play zone, never leave a grill unattended and always keep flammable items locked up where kids can’t find them.

Eliminate Obstacles in the Yard

Cuts, bruises and broken bones may occur when kids play in a yard full of stumps, holes and exposed roots. Hire a service for stump removal Orlando FL or in your area, and also be sure to keep dangerous garden tools and lawncare equipment off the ground and in a secure spot. Hoses are another tripping hazard, so keep them rolled up and out of high-traffic zones.

Remove Toxic Plants

Kids have a lot of curiosity, and it could get the better of them if it causes them to eat or chew on poisonous plants. Some, like pokeweed, honeysuckle and spotted laurel, have colorful, yet highly toxic, berries that could entice youngsters. Eradicate any such plants from your property.

Keeping kids safe can seem like a never-ending task. Following these tips, however, will help to protect them while playing in the yard.…

Homeownership is so much more than paying your mortgage on time. There is a large amount of maintenance and upkeep associated with owning a house. You have to maintain the inside and the outside of your house. This includes trimming trees, cutting the grass, and pulling weeds. When someone arrives at your home, the first thing they see is your lawn. A clean and neat lawn and landscaping add pop to your house. Before you contact Landscape Maintenance Lakewood, read this blog to find out the benefits to hiring a professional. 

Hiring a professional to landscape your lawn saves you time and effort. When you hire someone to manage your lawn care, you do not have to spend hours outside working on it. You may be lucky enough to have a great looking lawn that provides a foundation on which to provide it proper care. You may, however, have a lawn that is riddled with weeds and problem areas. You may have trees that need to be pruned properly and grass that needs special care. Professional services can handle these needs for you. 

Lawn equipment can be expensive, especially if your lawn needs special care, such as aeration. If you have the equipment, you also need a place to store and maintain it. While you may pay a little more for professional services, you do not have to buy special equipment. If you are not trained in lawn care, it may take a lot of trial and error before you get it right. That means you may spend a lot of money on products and equipment that are not right for your lawn. When you hire a professional, it takes all the guessing out of it and you do not waste time or money on things you do not need. 

A well-managed lawn provides additional benefits to you and your house. Grass is cooler than concrete or asphalt, and it can act as a comfortable spot on a hot day. Trees can provide so much shading that they reduce the temperature by as much as 40 degrees. When your grass is healthy and lush, it can hold on to water that might have just run off into other areas and cause some sort of damage. Grass absorbs carbon dioxide and creates oxygen from it, which is helpful for the air we breathe. Grass can also capture dust and other pollutants from the air to help make the air cleaner. A well-manicured lawn is also a noise reducer. Grass and plants can help minimize noise pollution. …

Investing in real estate is a great way to expand your horizons in life. Whether you have a single piece of residential property, a multi-family building, or a commercial space that rents to local businesses, you need to stay on top of maintenance. Conducting annual inspections on each piece of property you own can help you spot problems before they worsen and make important adjustments to each space as needed. Follow these tips to create a strategy of your own.

The Easy Points

There are some tasks that are easier to take on than others. Starting with the simplest of actions can help you feel a sense of accomplishment early. For example, you can begin your inspection in the lower levels of the building like the basement. Take a close look at dark, dank corners of these floors. You want to look for signs of mold or mildew, anything that might develop in areas where sunlight does not reach. If property managers are staying current with these routine tasks, an annual inspection shouldn’t show much mold.

The Involved Steps

The roof of your building needs to be inspected at least once a year. The exception to this is when there is a storm or intense pattern of weather. Damage done to your roof should be addressed immediately in order to preserve the integrity of the building. Should an inspection reveal damage, it is important to contact Elmhurst property services that center on roofing. Don’t delay on this, as roof rot and water damage can lead to more serious issues.

The Long-Term Picture

When conducting an inspection, you need to think about the future. If something looks fine now, will it also look fine next year? Preventative steps will help you add value to your property now instead of constantly fixing issues when they arise.

Protecting and preserving your investment properties is all about creating a strategy. Develop a plan for your own annual inspections and stay on top of all your maintenance tasks.…

Your home should be a sanctuary you can relax in. It should reflect your personality while feeling cozy and inviting. There are many ways to decorate your home, but if you want to create the perfect space to relax in, use these three tips.

Use Natural Light

Natural light makes your space feel more open and inviting, so incorporate it whenever possible. You may want to use decorative accent windows to let in plenty of light while adding a customized touch to your décor. If you want to control the amount of natural light that enters your home, try installing blinds or curtains.

Choose a Cohesive Color Scheme

Using a bunch of colors in your home can make the space feel cluttered, so you may want to use a cohesive color scheme throughout your home to tie various rooms together. Try to limit your color choices so the hues you choose don’t overwhelm your décor. For example, if you have white walls and navy blue furniture, you may want to use yellow accents throughout your home to incorporate bright pops of color. If you use many colors to accent your color scheme, your rooms may not tie together nicely.

Select Comfortable Furniture

The secret to a relaxing room is comfortable furniture. Choose a plush sofa that you are comfortable curling up on during any season. Add a few armchairs and even a loveseat so you have plenty of seating for guests. Comfortable furniture goes a long way in making your space feel warm and inviting.

Decorating your home should be fun but many people get overwhelmed by the number of choices they have. Use these three tips to narrow down your choices so you can design a cozy, inviting space you can relax or entertain guests in. They will help you create a space you can be proud of.…

Whether you’re moving your family’s home, into a new apartment, or even into a college dormitory, changing living situations can be a stressful task. There are many steps to take before you can comfortably live in your new place, so below find three tips to make the moving process smoother.

Don’t Pack at the Last Minute

Packing always takes a lot longer than people originally think. Instead of saving it for the last minute, pack gradually over the span of weeks, not days. If you are an extremely organized person, you could first create lists of things you won’t need until you’ve arrived at your home, such as home decorations, certain pieces of furniture, off-season clothing, and everything in guest bedrooms. Renting a space in a climate-controlled storage Canon City will give you a safe place to keep these things in the meantime, while you continue to box your belongings.

Buy a Variety of Packing Materials

According to many organized individuals, there is an artform to proper packing. Purchase a variety of packing materials, including boxes of several sizes, paper and bubble wrap for cushioning, and sturdy tape to keep everything from falling apart. Make sure you buy an abundance of materials; it would not be good to run out in the middle of packing.

Leave Moving to the Professionals

It may be tempting to save money and rent your own truck to move; however, loading and unloading a moving truck is no easy feat. The amount of money you may save isn’t worth the cost of professional movers. Not only will you be spared the heavy lifting, but professionals should know how to safely load and unload without damaging your furniture and boxes of breakable items.

With the right preparation, moving doesn’t have to be a headache. Get it all done efficiently and safely, and you will be enjoying your new home in no time.…

Wondering how you can tame the landscaping of your large front yard? Look at your yard as an opportunity, a blank canvas to make a great style statement. Here are three great tips that will help you add personality and sophistication to your home’s landscaping.

1. Rejuvenate Your Lawn

Your lawn likely takes up the majority of your large yard, and that’s why it’s vital that you keep your grass in excellent shape. Since you have a lot of area to cover, it’s best to install a watering system to make sure the entire lawn stays lush and green. Expert installers of irrigation systems Newport MN will provide your lawn with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy, all the while reducing the work that you have to do!

2. Create Living Borders

Delineating the borders of your property is an excellent idea for making a large front yard look more managed and contained. Create flowerbeds along your property lines to define the space. The best plants for these borders include a combination of bulbs, herbaceous plants and tall grasses which will give these beds some interest no matter the season.

3. Plant Island Flowerbeds

Island flowerbeds are great for breaking up large expanses of lawn. The plants you put in an island bed are similar to those that would go in a floral border. To set your island beds apart, though, you could use bricks or concrete pavers to edge the beds. Add some extra interest by placing a few solar-powered lanterns around these beds to highlight them at night.

Updating your front yard is a great way to add curb appeal and class to your property. Follow these tips and you’ll be able to quickly and easily turn your large front yard into the showpiece of the entire neighborhood.…

Are you getting ready to sell your home in Albuquerque? Before you get filled with anxiety regarding the selling process, you should know that there are ways to prepare your home for a quick sale. Here are three quick interior and exterior updates that will make all the difference in getting your home sold.

1. Make Exterior Repairs

The exterior of your home is the first thing potential buyers see when they reach your property, which is why it’s crucial to make a great first impression. If your exterior walls are in need of attention, you need to take care of this before the for-sale sign is placed in your front yard. Expert stucco wall repair Albuquerque NM will refresh your exterior walls, enhancing the appearance of your home as a whole.

2. Refresh the Landscaping

Your landscaping is a significant contributor to your home’s overall curb appeal. Luckily, it’s easier than you may think to give your yard a quick refresher before the first open house. Start by removing all landscaping debris, including sickly trees and shrubs and any tree stumps that you haven’t yet removed. After that, you should spread a fresh layer of mulch in all flowerbeds and maybe even address patchy areas of grass with some new seed or sod.

3. Deep Clean the Interior

Before buyers come through your front door, you need to give each interior room a thorough cleaning. You can start by decluttering – remove excess personal items throughout the house, and don’t forget to thin out the closets, too. Once the clutter is removed, give every surface a comprehensive cleaning so that buyers are able to focus on the positives of your home’s interior.

The Albuquerque real estate market is competitive. By following these tips, you’ll make your home stand out from the moment it hits the market and ensure a quick sale.…

Congratulations, you’ve signed the paperwork and received the keys to your new home. Embarking on a journey as a new homeowner is an exciting time. It can also be stressful, especially if this is your first home. These tips are designed to help you ease into your life as a new homeowner so you’re prepared for the exciting adventure ahead.

Get to Know Your Home

As you settle into your new place, pay attention to your surroundings and take note. Having a homeowner’s binder with pertinent information such as insurance coverage and your mortgage agreement can be useful if you ever need it. You may also want to set up a schedule of people to inspect your HVAC unit, seal your driveway, and maintain your landscape in Weston CT. Taking note of what needs done and setting up a process right away can keep your home in good condition right from the start of your homeownership.

Build an Emergency Fund

At some point you’ll run into a home emergency that needs taken care of right away. Whether it’s a broken furnace in the middle of winter or a leaky roof, these emergencies can be stressful if you aren’t prepared. That’s why it’s a good idea to start an emergency fund to help you cover anything that may go wrong. While it may also be tempting to start renovation projects right after you move it, unless you have a solid emergency fund in place it’s a good idea to wait on these projects until you’ve lived in your home for awhile.

Invest in Tools

Now that you’re a homeowner, it’s time to consider investing in quality tools. Tools will come in handy for everything from hanging photos to fixing leaky pipes. If you aren’t sure which tools to invest in, the most common tools homeowners should have on hand include an electric drill, stud finder, hammer, measuring tape, ladder, and fasteners.

With these tips, you can enjoy life as a new homeowner without added stress.…