Your Summer Checklist

Summer’s just around the corner and we’ve got a few household tasks you should knock out before it gets too hot. Tackle these projects and you’ll be more than ready for impromptu party-throwing.

Prep for Spring With These To-Dos

Get your home in tip-top shape with these quick and easy spring spruce-ups. From cleaning your patio furniture to giving your exterior some fresh curb appeal, take your home straight into the warm-weather months with our quick refresh tips.

Inspect Outdoor Cushion Covers

Indoor/outdoor cushions and pillows take a beating, so give them a good once over to make sure they’re still in decent condition. Consider removing covers and washing them. If some are in really rough shape, you may be better off replacing them altogether.

Wipe Down Outdoor Furniture

This one sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how often it’s overlooked. While rain showers wash away some dirt and pollen, a thorough wipe down, including the nooks and crannies, goes a long way to keeping outdoor furniture looking its best.

Clean Outdoor Rugs

An outdoor rug will last a lot longer if you periodically vacuum it, hose it off, then let it dry out thoroughly. Even when it’s considered an “outdoor” rug, it needs the occasional TLC, too.

Pressure Wash the Patio

If you like instant gratification, pressure washing is going to be your new favorite hobby. Seriously. And a pressure washer doesn’t have to be intimidating. When you rent one, the rental center will show you how to use it. A few minutes of pressure washing can remove YEARS of dirt and grime off your patio and walkways.

Re-Paint Your Front Door

Summer sun and heat can do a number on a wood door, warping and cracking its surface over time. Re-painting your door not only helps seal the wood and protect it from the elements, but it gives your entry a nice little facelift.

Get That Grill Ready

If you cook out often, a deep clean twice a year is necessary to keep your grill in top form. It’s amazing what a good scrub-down of cooking grates, burner protectors and the cook box will do for your grill. And don’t forget to keep the grill’s exterior wiped down, too. Note: Always disconnect the gas before you do a deep clean!

Repair Damaged Screens

Even the smallest tear in a screen can let dozens of mosquitoes and flies into your screened-in porch or patio. This year, shut them down by fixing those screens once and for all. It’s surprisingly easy to do with just a few tools.

Switch Direction on Ceiling Fans

Most fans are designed so you can flip a switch at the base of the fan to change the direction of the rotation. In the summer months, the blades should run forward — or rotate counter-clockwise — to move the air down, creating a breezy effect.

Re-caulk Windows + Doors

Keeping your home cool and comfortable during the summer months can be a challenge. Keep your air-conditioning costs down by re-caulking windows and doors in the spring. Maintaining a properly sealed house helps keep the cool air in which means lower energy bills for you and your family.

Update House Numbers

If you plan on doing a lot of entertaining this season, make sure your house numbers are in full view. Consider replacing them with numbers that are larger in scale, and position them under a light fixture for better visibility after the sun goes down.

Update Fixtures

Spring is a good time to consider upgrades and check exterior light fixtures to make sure they’re functioning properly. If you plan on doing a lot of outdoor entertaining you’ll need proper task lighting, as well as fixtures for walkways, entries and ambiance.

Guest Room Spruce-Up

Consider upgrading your guest room’s bedding or adding a few new accessories to freshen the look. Guests will feel completely pampered and totally impressed.

Selling Your Home As Pet Friendly

One of the many benefits of owning your own home is the freedom to find your ‘furever’ friend. By pointing out the aspects of your home that make it ‘pet-friendly’ in your listing, you’ll attract these buyers rather than alienate the 61% of American households that have a pet!

If you are one of the many homeowners looking to list your home for sale, how do you stand out to the millions of pet parents searching for their dream homes?

Whether a dog person, a cat person, or someone who prefers the company of another pet species, 99% of pet owners say that they consider their animal to be family. When finding a home, 95% of animal owners believe it is important that a housing community allows animals.

A recent study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed that there are many aspects of the home buying, selling and owning experience that have been greatly impacted by American’s love for their pets.

This should come as no surprise as $66.75 billion was spent on pets in the U.S in 2016, with $70 billion projected for 2017. NAR’s President William E. Brown shed some light on the impact of pet owners and their home search,

“In 2016, 61 percent of U.S. households either have a pet or plan to get one in the future, so it is important to understand the unique needs and wants of animal owners when it comes to homeownership.  

REALTORS® understand that when someone buys a home, they are buying it with the needs of their whole family in mind; ask pet owners, and they will enthusiastically agree that their animals are part of their family.”

The Power of Pets When Choosing the Right Home

  • 89% of pet owners say they would not give up their pet due to a housing restriction
  • 81% of Americans say their pets play a role in their housing situation
  • 31% of animal owners have refused to put in an offer on a home because it wasn’t a good fit for their animals
  • 19% of Americans say they would consider moving for their pet
  • 12% percent have moved for their pet

New home builders have actually begun installing retractable pet gates that tuck away neatly inside door jams as a highly requested feature in new homes to attract pet-parents, according to Builder.com.

So, if you are a homeowner looking to sell in today’s pet-friendly environment, point out the features of your home that will attract pet owners:

  • Fully fenced in backyard – (91% of pet owners ranked this as the most important feature of a home to accommodate their pet)
  • Locations of dog parks/walking paths/pet-friendly beaches in the area (71% ranked this as the top feature of any neighborhood they would consider)
  • Proximity to veterinarians/groomers/pet supply stores (31%)

Bottom Line

Americans love their pets and will look for pet-friendly features in the home they wish to buy, so take advantage of this knowledge by pointing out your home’s ability to meet their needs.

Replace Your Plans To Add On With A New Layout Instead

Instead of building out, a California family reconfigures the floor plan to make the garden part of the living space.

Andrew and Amy Faulkner had spent some time and effort on plans to extend their master bedroom and add a bathroom to their family’s 1961 home in Mill Valley, California. “But the local planning department didn’t approve our proposal,” says Andrew, a graphic designer and artist. Architect Erika Shern helped them change gears and keep the same footprint but reconfigure their existing space, a choice that in the long run saved them time and money.
Instead of knocking out the back wall and extending the house, the couple solved their problem by working from within. “My office got smaller to accommodate a powder room and a master bath beside the master bedroom,” Andrew says. “The bedroom was changed around and we added French doors that open up onto the back deck.” The doors give an indoor-outdoor feel to the bedroom. “We have so much more light and the garden is now part of our living space,” Andrew says.

The entrance to the additional bathroom is off the master bedroom. The stand for the television was designed by Andrew’s late father, Winthrop Faulkner, who was an architect and furniture designer in Washington, D.C. Ringo takes catnaps in the afternoon sun.

The desk nook was created when the shower stall in the master bathroom was pushed into the office space. Lily the cat likes to use the office window as a door.

The pocket door between the master bedroom and bath was a great space saver.

The new master bathroom has a large walk-in shower and lots of storage.

“We both loved the house the way it was,” Andrew says, “but we only had one bathroom upstairs that we shared with overnight guests and visitors. We wanted to have a master bathroom and separate powder room, so we started to make plans to move things around.” The original bathroom was divided to create a powder room and part of the new master bath.

The master bedroom opens onto the newly designed back deck, which is now used for entertaining and as a place for the family to hang out.

On the recommendation of their contractor, the Faulkners turned a low retaining wall into a bench for more seating.
The succulents were removed from the garden during construction and replanted into the back of the built-in bench seats. Metal flashing and waterproofing were added inside the planter boxes for better drainage.
Lily the cat has found a shady place to sleep outside.
The hot tub is easily accessible from the bedroom.
The hanging lights are solar-powered.
“We both love midcentury furniture and thought the house fit our aesthetic,” says Amy, an elementary school teacher. “Our furniture fit in here perfectly, as well as our art.” The coffee table was custom-designed by Andrew’s late mother, Jeanne Hawes Faulkner, who was an interior designer.
The Faulkners replaced the working fireplace with a gas unit. “We lose a lot of heat through the large, single-paned front windows,” Andrew says. “The gas fireplace heats up the whole room and it’s better for the environment.”

A tube amplifier and speakers sit on top of a blanket chest that has been in Amy’s family for many years.

No changes were made to the front room or the kitchen. “The kitchen was one of the selling points of this house,” Amy says.“The things we liked about the kitchen include the bamboo floors, the bamboo cabinets and all of the updated appliances,” she says. “The island is the gathering point in our kitchen when friends come over.”

The entrance to the house was originally at the back. “We added stairs to the existing front deck to make a more logical entry,” Andrew says.

The small powder room in the main hall off the living room is perfect for guests.

The house was originally confined to one floor, but the previous owner opened up the basement by adding steps and turned the lower floor into a bedroom, bathroom, TV room and laundry room.

Nineteen-year-old daughter Izzy personalized her bedroom downstairs with photos and other mementos.
A piece of wire mesh above the bathroom shelves is used by Izzy to hang her earrings.
Izzy has always loved languages and design, so she combined the two by using the pages from a German tourist guide and a Russian psychology book to decorate her walls. The framed print is from a book of Russian typography.
Andrew was convinced that the new plan to rearrange the bedroom, bathroom and office would satisfy their original expansion plans. “Just trust me,” he said to Amy. They both took their chances and are thrilled with the results.