Spring Archives - CENTURY 21 MarketLink Realty

How to Sell Your Home in the Spring

May 11, 2015 By Casey Danton

Spring is an excellent time to sell. When you sell in the warmer seasons, you are given more leeway in how you can present your home.

Here are some tips to help enhance your home and increase the likelihood of selling in the springtime!

Open Windows: The bitter cold isn’t ideal for open windows. Having the windows open during a showing allows a nice breeze and a lot of natural light to flow into your home, showing off its best features. There is something so satisfying about seeing the sunlight reflect onto the floor, and the curtains blowing in the breeze. It gives a comforting and homey feeling, appealing to buyers’ interests.

Curb Appeal: One of the many benefits of selling in the spring is being able to show off your landscaping. It’s hard to see how beautiful a yard is when it’s covered with mountains of snow, so now that your lawn is visible, it’s important to get it into good shape. Make sure the outside of your home looks great.

Spring Cleaning: Your home should be tidy for the showing. Clear out cluttered closets and pantries, deep clean the carpet, polish the floors, and show off all the potential your home has!

Pre-Inspection: Winter may have prevented you from doing a full pre-inspection on your home, but the warmer weather welcomes it. Take a sunny afternoon to go outside your home and look at everything from the roof to the concrete. Make sure you take care of little repairs around the home and pay special attention to any foundation damage left over from winter.

Bright Colors: Gone are days of heavy throw blankets and comforters. Now it’s time to lighten up your home with bright colors and lightweight materials. Bring out the linens, colorful solids, and bright throw pillows to accent your home. All of these light layers and colors complement the natural light and breeze that comes from the open windows.

Spring is a great time to put your home on the market. Buyers will love attending showings and open houses on a warm, sunny, Saturday afternoon. Follow these best practices for selling in the springtime.

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Spring-Inspired Paint Colors

May 7, 2015 By Casey Danton

Spring is here and you may feel the need to do a little redecorating. Whether that is simply trading out your heavy blankets for light linens, or switching your curtains to a lighter cotton material, there are countless ways to bring the spring season into your home. If you really want to change up the look and feel of your home, consider repainting. There is nothing like a bright blue bedroom or serene yellow walls to add some life to your home. Take color psychology into account when you choose paint colors. For example, blue has been found to make people calmer, and green has been found to make people concentrate more.

Start the season with these spring-inspired paint colors.

1. Benjamin Moore Jet Stream: This soft blue is filled with hidden lilac undertones, resulting in a peaceful and serene blue. It creates a very soothing feeling, perfect for a bedroom or nursery!

2. Benjamin Moore Peony: If you want a bolder look, try this bold purple color. The color of some flowers, this peony purple will breathe life into whatever room it graces.

3. Sherwin Williams Classical Yellow: As the name suggests, this is a classic yellow. It’s pale in shade, but bright enough to put a smile on anyone’s face. Yellow is the signature color of spring, so why not add it to your home? It’ll brighten up any room in no time.

4. Sherwin Williams Julep: This color is a tad bit darker than your typical mint julep, but it still screams springtime! It’s the perfect mix of teal and green, giving off a deep, spring vibe.

5. Pratt & Lambert Moss Green: With just a subtle touch of green, this incredibly light shade goes with any room. It has gray undertones and would be a great accent color.

There are so many incredibly beautiful paint colors that can add a bit of the springtime season to your home. Whether it’s bold, or barely there, these colors may bring something special to your home.

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Here Comes the Sun: How to Prepare Your Home or Spring

February 25, 2015 By CENTURY 21

Open the windows. Come out of hibernation. Spring is just around the corning! Rejoice by getting your home in shape for spring.

1. Inspect air conditioning units: Hire a professional to install or examine your air conditioner. Clean the filters and replace them as needed because dirty filters make the system work harder, increasing energy costs.

2. Change the doormats: Doormats collect a lot of dirt. By the end of winter, your doormat has seen better days. Buy a new doormat to reduce the amount of dirt and grime that is carried into your home.

3. Prep the outdoor areas: Dreaming of lounging by the pool, playing soccer, or dining al fresco? Get your outdoor space ready. Take out the patio furniture, power wash your deck, and plan your gardening.

4. Inspect the roof: After a rough winter of holding heavy snow and ice, your roof may be in need of some TLC. Take a pair of binoculars and inspect your roof from the ground level. Check to see if there are any leaks, broken shingles, or other damages. If you spot something, hire a professional to come repair it.

5. Repair broken walkways: Snow takes a heavy toll on the grounds around your home. The snow and sleet may have caused cracks in your driveways, walkways, and sidewalks. To make sure that the perimeter of your home is safe, check for cracks and fix any problems.

These tips can make your home safer and help you get ready for spring!

Recommended Reading:

-How to Keep Your Home Cool Without Touching the Thermostat

-5 Ways to Create a Beautiful Backyard

-Landscaping 101: Great Grass Alternatives

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Just DIY It: 5 Natural Cleaning Products

May 5, 2014 By CENTURY 21

You know the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make natural cleaning supplies?” Okay, we made that one up, but there are so many ways to make natural cleaning supplies using things that you may already have at home.

5 Natural Cleaning Products:

1. Toilet Bowl Cleaner (Yahoo Shine): You need a measuring cup, a toilet brush, half of a cup of baking soda, 10 drops of tea-tree essential oil, and half a cup of distilled white vinegar. Pour the baking soda into the toilet bowl, add the oil, then add the vinegar. Let the water sit for several minutes then scrub it with the toilet brush. Flush the toilet and voila you have a clean toilet!

2. Natural Air Freshener (How Does She): You need a spray bottle, eight ounces of water, and five to seven drops of essential oils. Simply pour the water in the spray bottle, then drop in the essential oils. Screw the top back on and spray away.

3. Natural Laundry Detergent (Wellness Mama): You can make natural laundry detergent using just three ingredients! You need Washing Soda, Borax, and a natural bar soap of your choice. Grate the bar of soap or mix it in the food processor until it is finely ground. Mix two parts washing soda, two parts Borax, and one part grated soap then store it in a closed container. Use between one eighth and one fourth of a cup per load of laundry.

4. Homemade Dishwasher Detergent (Happy Money Saver): You need one cup of Washing Soda, one cup of Baking Soda, three packages of unsweetened lemonade drink mix, one cup of Kosher Salt, and one cup of water. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and start using your new dishwasher detergent. The lemonade makes it smell good and has antibacterial properties. We think that you could also try adding in a few drops of lemon juice.

5. Natural Multi-Purpose Citrus Cleaner (Lexie Naturals): You need a glass container, citrus fruit peels, one tablespoon of salt, vinegar, distilled water, and five to ten drops of essential oil. Cut the orange peels and put them in the glass container, add salt to the orange peels and let them sit for twenty to thirty minutes. Fill the containers with vinegar and water. You can do half vinegar and half water. Now put a lid on the jars and let it sit for two to three weeks. After you’ve waited two to three weeks, strain the solution and fill up a squirt bottle. If you want to add essential oils, you should add them now. Now you are ready to start cleaning!

These natural cleaning products will help you to save money and have a home that is both clean and green.

If you enjoyed this blog post you will also like our cleaning checklists:

-Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bathroom Bacteria Busters

-Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bedroom

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Everything’s Coming Up Roses: 10 Popular Spring Flowers

April 15, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Spring has sprung! We can’t wait for picnics, baseball games, dining al fresco, and gardening! You know what they say, April showers bring May flowers. We’ve rounded up 10 popular spring flowers that are perfect for your garden, centerpieces, or bouquets.

1. Daffodils: Plant daffodil bulbs in the fall and they will bloom in the spring and summer. Daffodils are bright and cheery flowers! Learn more about caring for daffodils here. William Wordsworth was fond of daffodils. Read his beautiful poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.

2. Roses: Roses come in a wide variety of colors and forms. They look beautiful planted or climbing a wall or fence. Stop and smell the roses! Learn more about roses, and how to plant them from Lowes.

3. Lilacs: Lilacs come in red, pink, yellow, blue, purple, and white. Plant multiple colors to add a pop of color to your garden. Learn more from Almanac - then start planting!

4. Tulips: Tulips come in a wide variety of colors including beautiful multicolor flowers! Tulips are perennials so they will grow back year after year, saving you time and money. Marianne Williamson once wrote, “A tulip doesn’t strive to impress anyone. It doesn’t struggle to be different than a rose. It doesn’t have to. It is different. And there’s room in the garden for every flower.” Learn how to plant tulips here.

5. Hydrangeas: Hydrangeas come in red, pink, blue, purple, and white. Sometimes the different colors show up in one plant! Hydrangeas are a classic, preppy, flowers that are commonly seen in beach towns like The Hamptons and Nantucket. Learn how to plant and care for them here.

6. Camellias: Camellias are beautiful! It has been said that there are 3,000 different types ranging in size, color, and form. Camellias are the official flower for Alabama. They are beautiful in gardens and bouquets. Camellias were frequently mentioned in the classic book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Learn how to garden Camellias here.

7. Peonies: Peonies come in red, pink, yellow, and white. They are perennials and some have been known to live for 100 years! The famous writer, Henry Mitchell once wrote, “The fattest and most scrumptious of all flowers, a rare fusion of fluff and majesty, the peony is now coming into bloom.” The Almanac has great tips for planting these beautiful blooms.

8. Dahlias: Dahlias come in all different colors and varieties. The poet, Lord Holland once wrote, “The Dahlia you brought to our isle your praises forever shall speak ‘mid gardens as sweet as your smile and colour as bright as your cheek.” Learn how to plant them here!

9. Irises: In Greek mythology Iris is the personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. Irises are perennials. They attract butterflies and hummingbirds and look beautiful in flower arrangements. Learn how to plant them here!

10. Azaleas: Did you know that Azaleas are called, “the royalty of the garden?” There are white, purple, red, orange, pink, and yellow azaleas. Bicolor azaleas have different patterns on the same plant! The Azalea Society of America has interesting facts and tips about azaleas.

Fill your home and your garden with fresh flowers this spring. Read our Recommended Reading to learn more ways to style your home with your favorite blooms!

Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bedroom

April 4, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Your bedroom is one of the most important rooms in your home. There is something so wonderful about coming home to a clean and comfortable bedroom and our newest spring cleaning checklist will help you get there!

Stay tuned for the next checklist!

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A Day in the Garden: Paint Palette

March 28, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Use this bold and vibrant color palette to decorate your home!

What: This palette is inspired by one of our favorite springtime pastimes, gardening.

Where: Let your garden inspire your outdoor decor! Section off your deck or patio with a large area rug in honey to provide a contrast to your wood furniture. Paint a piece of furniture chartreuse to create a fun and bold pop of color. Combine patterned and solid pillows with shades of honey and cerulean. We recommend displaying potted plants in similar shades such as: hydrangeas, daffodils, peonies, and snowball bushes.

Why: Nature makes people feel calm and regenerized.

How: If you like vibrant colors, try cushions in bubblegum and chartreuse. To tone it down, keep the accent pieces simple and elegant in shades of cerulean. For a monochromatic look, play with different shades of one of the colors with minimal accents in the remaining colors.

Would you paint your home with this palette? What colors in your garden inspire your decor?

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Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bathroom Bacteria Busters

March 14, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Open the windows! Let in the fresh air! Spring has sprung!

It is time for picnics, long walks, froliking outdoors, and spring cleaning. In order to help you organize, we’ve made a series of printable spring cleaning checklists. To save the best for last we are starting with the least dreaded room to clean – the bathroom.

Stay tuned for the next Spring Cleaning Checklist: Closets!

What recommendations do you have for cleaning the bathroom? What room should we make a checklist for next?

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