 When it comes to floor coverings, carpeting is a popular choice for many reasons: it's comfortable to walk on, helps insulate a room, and can be cost-effective. But it's also much easier to damage than stone or hardwood materials—and harder to clean. Here are the biggest cleaning mistakes to avoid if you want to keep your carpets in great condition: Letting Spills Dry Many household substances are mildly corrosive and can cause permanent damage to your carpet by bleaching out color or leaving frayed-looking spots. It's important to deal with spills as quickly as possible—even minor ones. The longer a spill is left to fester, the deeper it penetrates carpet fibers, making it harder to remove without using harsh chemicals. Vigorous Scrubbing Dealing with a spill or stain by scrubbing the damp area will damage your carpet. The scrubbed area will show up clearly as worn patches once the carpet has dried. Treat soiled areas by gently blotting out the dirt with a cloth dampened by warm water or a mild detergent mixture. Inexpert Use of Chemicals Sometimes it's necessary to use a spot remover for heavy stains, but always follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. If you're not sure how much of a cleaning fluid to use or how much to dilute it by, don't just guess; you could easily cause permanent damage. If in doubt, test the solution on a hidden corner of the carpet first. Excessive Wet-Washing While a small amount of liquid can help shift stubborn stains or soiling, take care not to get your carpets too wet. This can risk shrinkage or other distortions, and the textile fibers may not dry quickly enough to prevent mold from setting in, causing discoloration and musty smells. Cleaning Too Often A full shampoo or deep clean can help bring a carpet back to life and leave it looking as good as new, but it's best not to do this too often. It should be a special treat, not a regular routine, or you risk wearing out the carpet more quickly. A professional clean once or twice a year is ideal, so long as you vacuum weekly and attend immediately to any spillages.
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 Whether you're purchasing your first home or your third, knowing that the house you live in belongs to you fills you with a sense of accomplishment. Along with this feeling of pride comes a large array of benefits. Here are five advantages of home ownership:
You Can Choose the Home That Fits Your Lifestyle Purchasing a home often provides the opportunity to select from a variety of different houses to find one that fits your lifestyle. For example, if you're looking for a nontraditional home, you can buy a condo, town house, or patio home, or if you don't want to take care of the lawn and landscaping, you can purchase a home that has a homeowners' association who can do it for you. Remodeling Is Your Choice Do you want to remodel your outdated bathroom or old-fashioned kitchen, or add an extra bedroom to your existing home? One advantage of homeownership is that you are free to design your home exactly as you like. Make sure to consult with your local government for necessary permits and other legalities. You Have the Liberty to Expand Your Outdoor Living Space Owning a home often includes the land on which it was built. As a homeowner, you are free to decide how you want to use your outdoor living space. For example, you might build an in-ground pool in your backyard, install a swing set for your kids, or construct a large deck for entertaining. You're Building Home Equity A house is typically one of your most valuable financial assets and only continues to build equity the longer you live in it. Your home's equity is the monetary difference between its fair market value and the outstanding debts you owe on it. Other factors, such as residing in a sought-after neighborhood with limited housing supply, can quickly boost your home's equity. The Monthly Payments Are Consistent A fixed-rate mortgage keeps your principal and interest payments constant for the life of the loan. Your real estate taxes and homeowner's insurance may fluctuate a bit, but typically you can depend on the same payment every month. Better yet, you have the opportunity to rid yourself of any principal and interest payment by paying off your mortgage in full. Mortgage rates are at historic lows. Now is a good time to buy or list your home. Contact me today!  Home sellers, the real estate market is hot right now. Here are three key indicators to help you know when it's the best time to sell your home: Price Appreciation One important indicator of the market is the rise of home prices. If home values are consistently increasing, that's a good sign you're in a seller's market. When an area has a high demand for homes, prices rise as buyers compete for available houses. Inventory Levels A key indicator to watch out for is inventory levels. This is a common term to real estate agents, but it may be foreign to the average buyer or seller. Inventory is measured by the number of months it would take for all existing homes on the market to sell, assuming no additional listings were added. Inventory levels below six months indicate a seller's market, while anything at or near six months means a neutral market. Average Days on Market What real estate agents refer to as Days on Market (DOM) is another indicator. The DOM is the number of days a home is listed before being sold. A low number of average days on market indicates a seller's market, because homes are quickly being sold as soon as they are listed. Knowing if you are in a buyer's or seller's market is important for those looking to sell their home and for those looking to buy. In a market that favors sellers, homes sell at or above market value and sellers may not have to market their homes as much. Buyers must be prepared to make an offer at or above market value and be flexible when negotiating the price and terms of a sale. As a professional real estate agent, I keep my finger on the pulse of the local market. Contact me to sell or buy a home, and I can give you more information. |
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December 2024
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Marybeth Rojas - Broker
1350 Old Bayshore Hwy. Suite 520
Burlingame, CA 94010
Telephone (650)796-5565
www.marybethrojas.com
www.avantproperties.us
DRE#01352623
1350 Old Bayshore Hwy. Suite 520
Burlingame, CA 94010
Telephone (650)796-5565
www.marybethrojas.com
www.avantproperties.us
DRE#01352623