Things To Consider

Netflix’s latest trending show, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, has sparked a cleaning fad at the ideal time with spring just around the corner and many wanting to get their homes ready to sell.

One of the most important and first steps to sell any home is to make it attractive and easy for others to envision it as their own.  Opinions of what makes a home attractive can vary immensely, so it’s best to put oneself in a potential buyer’s shoes and look at the home with a critical eye.

A great start to preparing any home for the market is to begin de-cluttering.  Simply start by disposing of anything not needed or wanted.  Keep in mind that if it has not been used in a year, more than likely, it is not needed. Many people like to use Marie Kondo’s Japanese art of decluttering and organizing known as the KonMari Method.  Helpful information can be found on her website at konmari.com.

Once a home is purged of unnecessary items, the next step is to do a little deep cleaning.  Remember that the competition is not just other pre-existing homes, but new construction homes as well. Serious sellers give their home a thorough cleaning while paying special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms.  It is amazing what a day of cleaning will do to make a home look shiny and new.  Clean ceiling fans and baseboards are a must.  Dirty damaged baseboards will age and kill the appeal of even the most luxurious of homes.  It is always a great idea to add a little white gloss paint to baseboards and trim for a cleaner, brighter appearance.

Many homeowners will make the extra effort to update their homes with the latest styles and colors; updating countertops, flooring, fixtures, and applying fresh paint.  While some people love a splash of cerulean blue or ruby red, seeing a lot of bold colors in a home may have most buyers scurrying away to avoid having to paint the home to better suit their own tastes.

It is a good idea to visit new construction homes to get a feel for what new homes look like in today’s market. This is a great way to view some of the competition and form plans for a few inexpensive changes to your own home.  Yes, some people think shades of beige and gray are boring choices, but if a home is too dated or too “busy” it will turn away buyers.  Most builders know what it takes to move property quickly. They know the latest trends and know how to make a home appealing to the masses.  Anyone planning to sell their home should take notice of what builders are doing and to which existing homes are selling the quickest in their area. This can be a good indication of current buyer preferences.

A few days of cleaning, organizing, and touching up the paint will cost little and make a huge difference, but don’t forget the exterior of the home and the landscape which should also be well kept.  Curb appeal is the first thing the buyer will notice.  A buyer shouldn’t be scared off before they have a chance to view the interior.  Then once inside, rooms should have only a few nice furnishings with no clutter to allow for a clean, spacious look. Remember less is always more and the goal is to sell the home as quickly as possible and at the best price obtainable.

Does your home have squeaky floors?

There are several solutions, but we will focus on the one method that has worked best for us in several different properties.  Alternative methods and ideas have been used as well, but we will discuss those a little later.  So, let us get started by talking about what causes floors to squeak.

Why Do Floors Squeak?

This can occur when….

• the subfloor was being installed and some nails missed the floor joist
• floors contract in the winter and expand in the summer
• floor joists are rotted or warped
• there are gaps between the subfloor and joist
• floorboards are rubbing together

The Method that Worked for Us

First, you need access to the crawl space.  If you have a basement there can be no ceiling drywall, such as in the case of having a drop ceiling.  If you are accessing a crawl space, remember to dress appropriately as some crawl spaces may have bugs, spiders, spider webs, moist areas, darkness, dampness, and hard to reach areas with limited head space.  Depending on the height of your crawl space, you may even need to slide around on your belly, so be prepared with proper clothing and a very bright flashlight. Plan ahead as to what you will do if you happen upon a snake.  Although rare, it is possible.  Be prepared not to panic in any situation and contact a professional if you do not feel comfortable in small spaces such as these.

If you have a basement where a drywall ceiling has already been installed, this method may not be the best alternative.

Materials Needed

• Some type of liquid nails or construction adhesive
• Caulk gun to hold the tube of liquid nails or construction adhesive
• Flashlight
• Eye protection
• Jumpsuit or any clothes and shoes that are both protective and okay to get dirty

Once you have located the squeak, then apply the liquid nails or construction adhesive along the subfloor and joist per picture below, takes about 1 day to hardened.

Regarding the above method, if there is a gap between the subfloor and joist, insert a shim before you apply the adhesive. See video below.

Other Alternatives to Fix Floor Squeaks

If the squeak is coming from underneath carpeting, you can pull back the carpet and apply screws where the subfloor is nailed to the joist.  You may also try the method in the video below.

If the squeak is coming from your hardwood or laminate flooring, you may try the method in the video below.  We have never tried this particular method, but have heard it works as a temporary fix.

And to finish, the video below displays additional options such as using baby powder and other means to fix the squeak.