Jul 11, 2019 | Residential
There’s nothing quite as disrupting to our everyday life as having your kitchen remodeled. Removing your means of cooking homemade meals can not only be frustrating, it can also be costly. The average time-frame for a full kitchen renovation varies greatly depending on different factors, but you can pretty much guarantee at least a month or two. Trying to stay sane during this hectic time can really take a strain on even the most patient of people!
The key is to plan ahead and know your limitations. Recognize that this is temporary and the end result will be worth it. With that in mind, here are some tips to make the process easier and take as much stress away as possible.
Plan Meals Ahead: This is essential for a smooth-running environment! Start planning meal ideas and gathering recipes that are easy to prepare and cook. Prepare freezer meals that can be stored in a garage deep-freezer or at a neighbors house. Fast-food is going to become your friend whether you want to accept it or not, but making wise choices can help alleviate some of the guilt. Set aside funds in preparation for the added expense of eating-out so the cost isn’t too much to bear.
Create a Mini-Kitchen: A life-saving idea that isn’t too hard to achieve is to set-up an area in your home with cooking & kitchen essentials. You’ll need a table, some storage (plastic drawers & cubbies work well) and easy-to-work with appliances (mini-fridge, air-fryer, microwave, toaster oven & instant-pots are great options). Use your storage area to keep paper-products, utensils, cooking supplies and spices in place. Keep a trashcan next to the space for easy clean-up and prepare to use plastic/paper plates & cups for this short time (the less washing-up created, the better!).
Breathe: Yes, this seems simple, but living through a kitchen remodel can be very trying and super-stressful! Take a breather, Remember this is temporary and the end result will be totally worth the struggle.
We’ve done many kitchen renovations over the years and enjoy them immensely. Give us a call or send us a message any time for a FREE consultation and quote!
Mar 28, 2019 | Residential
Spring has finally arrived and the weather is beginning to warm up, making it the ideal time to put your home on the market. Getting your house sale-ready can seem quite intimidating. From the heavy cleaning, to mass organizing & of course the de-cluttering, you can become overwhelmed in a heartbeat! At P&R, we have devised a quick & simple to-do list that will point out the important areas that will make your home shine to its full potential, gaining you top dollar for your efforts!
To Do:
- De-Clutter: This definitely deserves the #1 spot on our list. It is essential to make your home seem roomy, bright and clear. Pack away as many toys, knick-knacks & unnecessary appliances as possible. For larger items, consider renting a storage unit to minimize the amount of furniture and create the feeling of plentiful space.
- Landscape: Making the outside of your home inviting and appealing is high up there with de-cluttering. Curb appeal can make or break a potential buyers interest! Have your exterior power-washed and make your front porch stand out with a welcoming sign or wreath & some colorful plants. Clean up flowerbeds and keep your lawn trimmed & tidy.
- Deep Clean: Take the time to really deep clean all the spaces of your home that might usually be overlooked. Bathrooms & kitchens need to shine and if appliances are included in the sale, make sure they do too! Decide whether the carpets need to be professionally cleaned or if replacement is the only logical way to go. Get those baseboards, stairways and blinds looking their best & don’t forget to organize kitchen drawers and cabinets.
- Paint: Inspect every wall for damage. Fill any holes and retouch dings & marks. Determine if a full paint-job is preferable over retouching immense amounts.
- Fixes: Check that everything is in working order in each room of the home. Every outlet should have power, every door and window should open seamlessly and listen for any unusual sounds that might need addressing.
- Upgrades: Knowing if an upgrade is preferable over leaving “as is” can be a stress! Consider if you’ll make a profit or return from the expense and whether not doing the upgrade will hinder your selling potential. Weigh your pros & cons to find a definitive answer.
- De-Personalize: Pack away family portraits and kids beloved artwork pieces. Potential buyers want to imagine themselves in the home and not be bombarded with personal items. Make sure you home seems open to anyone who may potentially live there.
- Pets: Pets are family, this we know, but not all buyers will have them. Take into consideration that some people might be automatically deterred by a home clearly harboring our furry-friends. That’s not to say to send your pets away during sale time; just use your judgement. Consider moving pet items into a garage or another out-of-the-way space before showings and invest in an automatic air freshener to help mask any lingering pet smells.
- Lighting: Create ambiance with subtle lighting that is consistent throughout the home. Make sure that all lightbulbs are in working order, and consider switching to LED bulbs for energy efficiency & low maintenance.
- Refresh: Finally, walking into a home that has a pleasing aroma can really make a difference! Baking fresh cookies before every showing sounds amazing, but totally not doable. Instead, add some essential oil diffusers or wax-warmers throughout the home to give off a clean & refreshing scent.
It doesn’t have to be an all-consuming and exhausting task to get your home ready to sell. Carve out a weekend or two to get the majority of the items accomplished, or save yourself the time and headache by hiring a professional who can dedicate their team to getting the job done efficiently and for a great price. Not only will this make your home stand out and sell quicker, when it comes to time for home inspections, mostly all of the “little” things will have already been seen to!
Our Repairs & Maintenance Services is also the perfect way to have the up-keep of your home taken care of before any of the above even arise.
So give us a call or email today and let’s get your home ready to sell for big bucks!
Feb 27, 2019 | Residential
Keeping up with the latest in modern technology and convenience; Smart Homes are the newest craze to hit the home and business world. They simplify your life while saving time, money and energy.
What is a Smart Home?
Smart home technology has grown in leaps and bounds over the last couple of years, It is now one of the hottest commodities to have in your home. With the click of a few buttons from your wireless device, or via voice commands through an electronic hub (Amazon Echo & Google Home are two of the most popular), you can have your entire house performing tasks with ease. From lighting to music, setting alarm systems and controlling your electronic devices (TV’s) and even security cameras and thermostats, these wonderful gadgets can work to make your life simpler and effortless. With safety in mind, they can ease your worries of forgetting to lock doors, garage doors accidentally left open and can even set timers for your lights while on vacation!
One major builder Royal Oaks Homes now integrates all of their new-builds with Smart Home Technology as standard! This major selling point has been growing in trend and many home builders are adding certain Smart Home amenities to their new homes. This is a growing trend which seems to be quite the selling point for future home-buyers.
Getting Started
Starting simple is the best way to go. With little cost you can start with a few Smart Lightbulbs or Plugs connected to your lights, and have all or part of your home lighted using smart technology. Your lights can be set to turn on automatically at certain times of the day, or you can voice-command your Hub to turn the lights on as you enter your home.
From there the ideas are limitless and growing every year. You can add as much or as little Smart Home Technology to your house or business as you see fit, and new products & ideas are coming out frequently.
Take the stress and guesswork out of installing a whole-home system with P&R Property Consulting Group. We have a great team who are skilled in retrofitting your property in a timely manner and a doable budget. We will not only set your system up but we make sure our customers are fully aware of how everything works before leaving.
Contact us today and let’s get your home “Smart”!
Oct 3, 2018 | Residential
Bathrooms and kitchens are undoubtedly the rooms in your home that stand out the most and bring the best potential for a return on your investment.
In one of our previous blogs we looked at Kitchen Renovations and how amazing they can be. Now it’s time to delve into bathrooms and how they can really transform a space.
- A fresh coat of paint: Maybe one of the easier jobs, but it certainly can make your bathroom look clean and updated. Pick a paint that is durable and will stand up to heat and water.
- Updated tubs and showers: Maybe you want to lose the tub and replace it with a huge steam shower? Or maybe a jetted-tub is more your style?
- New flooring: Get rid of that dated linoleum and use a modern Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) with amazing water-resistance. Or maybe some beautiful slate tiles to really give that ‘wow’ factor.
- Window updates: Add more natural light with a larger window. Etched or textured glass adds privacy without jeopardizing your light.
- New light fixtures: A beautiful light fixture can make a huge difference in your bathroom, especially if working on a budget!
- Countertops and sinks: Think about updating your countertops with some of the many new & trending surfaces. Durability and water-resistance is key for a bathroom.
- Tiles: You can really add some personal style with your tile choices! Go for some color or unique patterns that will really stand out.
- Modern amenities: Budget not a problem? Think of all the luxury components you can add. Heated floors, switchable privacy glass for windows & fancy steam-spa showers to name a few. Let your imagination run wild!
Bathroom renovations are definitely one of our favorite jobs to work on. Our P&R Team can help you come up with a plan that will suit your budget and time-frame, for no upfront cost to you!
Contact us today!
Sep 19, 2018 | Residential
Thinking of selling your home and need some ideas to make it stand-out? Or maybe it’s just time to do some renovations and add some pizzaz? Whatever the circumstances, curb appeal is the first impression of your home, and it counts!
In the real-estate world, it is noted that potential buyers decide if they want to buy a home within 8 seconds of seeing it! This is huge in terms of curb-appeal.
Whatever your needs may be, we at P&R Property Consulting Group can help. From small maintenance jobs, to larger renovations, we can do it all.
Tips & Ideas:
- Plan in advance: Flowers and shrubs take time to bloom. If you know you are looking to sell in a few months time, plan ahead and plant seeds and shrubs that will be in bloom throughout the year. Seeds are of course less costly, and for a few dollars you can have hundreds of beautiful & colorful flowers surrounding your home.
- Refresh paint: You don’t have to have your entire exterior painted to make your house look updated. Clean and paint your shutters. Have your front door make a statement with a bold, yet pleasing new color.
- Power wash: A clean exterior and driveway have a huge impact on curb-appeal.
- Add new mulch: Flower beds look amazingly updated with a fresh load of mulch. The bright (non-faded) color helps everything “pop”.
- Create a welcoming entrance: Add solar lights along your front pathway. Trim bushes and trees. Flags and wreaths add some whimsy.
- Lighting: Make sure all outdoor lights are working and in good condition.
- Hide the trash cans: Unsightly and large, place trash cans in a garage or add some trellis/fencing to conceal them at the side of your home.
- Add flower bed edging and borders: Flower beds and borders add a ‘finished’ look to your yard and keep the mulch or stone in place.
- Make sure your house number is easily seen: A newer and larger home number sign makes your house easier to find.
With a little hard-work, the outside of your home will be welcoming and pleasing to anyones eyes without costing an arm and a leg!
Contact us today and let’s get started making your home the best on the block!
Jun 6, 2018 | Residential
Getting ready to list your home and needing a few updates or renovations?
Or are you in the midst of selling your home with boxes everywhere and no time for dealing with all the little fixes that your home inspection report came back with.
Contracts have been signed and now the clock is ticking!
We would love to help and be your go-to for all your home-selling renovation and inspection needs. We can knock that list out of the park on-time and in-budget, and will provide an updated Inspection Report once finished!
- Walls patched and painted
- New light fixtures and fans
- Smoke alarms fixed/replaced
- New window screens installed
- Updated flooring
- Kitchen and bathroom remodels
- Electrical and plumbing issues fixed
- Landscaping refreshed
- Pressure washing
- Water heater repairs or replacement
- Roof issues repaired or replaced
Having a team that can do everything, efficiently and on-schedule, helps control your worries during a stressful time.
Selling a home is one of the most demanding events a person can go through. We want to be there to see that your home-selling experience goes as planned and to see that all our customers get the most out of their sale!
Contact us today for a FREE Quote and to learn more about what we can do for you.
