Campbell River Real Estate Blog

You have many options when it comes to cleaning carpet in your Campbell River real estate.  There are so many carpet cleaners in our town that I have a hard time keeping up with them.  I have a company that I have been using for a few years that does an excellent job of cleaning carpets.  My neighbour, John, asked me for a carpet cleaning recommendation the other day and I gave him the name of one that cleans the carpet using steam cleaning. 

If you have pets, you may prefer a carpet cleaner that uses all natural steam rather than one that uses chemicals.  My neighbour has a dog and didn’t want to use a carpet cleaner that used any chemicals at all. Many people in my neighbourhood prefer chemical carpet cleaning to steam cleaning because they feel that the steam will shrink the carpeting.  I have been having my carpets cleaned for years without them shrinking or any damage so I recommend steam cleaning of carpeting. 

My carpets get cleaned every six months at my house.  My wife usually handles the arrangements but I was the one who found the carpet cleaner.  I met someone at work who had someone in the family starting a business.  I decided to take a chance and we have been happy ever since. 

The carpets can be cleaned either entirely, which involves moving the furniture.  The other way is to just get the traffic areas cleaned.  We usually get just the traffic areas cleaned once a year and all the carpet cleaned every year.  I like to get the carpet cleaned every fall and spring.  It tops off the spring and fall cleaning and we usually get this done after we are finished with this type of intense cleaning. 

My neighbour was happy with the carpet cleaner that I recommended to him and said that he will be using them again.  I was glad to see that I was able to help him out as well as someone who was running their own business.  Everyone was happy with this carpet cleaning recommendation and my neighbour says he will recommend them to others.

If your Campbell River real estate needs a paint job, you can hire painters to do the job rather than try to attempt it yourself. When you hire painters for a job like painting the outside of your house, the job will be completed in a lot less time than if you attempt to do the job yourself. This is because painting companies generally employ crews to paint the property, rather than just rely on one or two men. 

House painting is one of the most difficult jobs there is. If you have a large home with more than one storey, it is even more difficult because you have to go up and down on a ladder or use a scaffold. Painters will use several different scaffolds so that the crews can work all at once completing the painting job on your home. Painting your home yourself can take you weeks, whereas it will only take a company a matter of days to complete the job. 

There are some household jobs that are easy for people to do themselves. DIY projects are fun and there are various do it yourself television shows to encourage you to decorate and fix things in your home on your own. Some jobs, however, take the experience and manpower of a professional team.  Painting houses is one of those jobs. 

Many people get maintenance free siding so that they do not have to paint their homes. Others paint the homes every five years. In addition to painting the siding of the home, you also have to paint the shutters and windows. If you have a maintenance free exterior, you do not have to worry about painting the outside of your property. 

If you have a home that needs painting, you can opt to either try to carry out this job yourself, on your own or with the help of some friends, or you can hire a professional painting crew to complete the job for you. It is often better if you hire a crew so that the job gets done quickly and you save yourself quite a bit of time and trouble. Make sure that any painting crew that works on your property is licensed and insured.

Chances are that your Campbell River real estate furnace is working overtime during the winter months, something that you will want to consider when you are trying to save on heating costs.  There are certain things that you can do to take care of your furnace during the winter months and make sure that it operates efficiently. 

One thing that you will want to do is to change the filters every 30 days.  Many people do not realize the amount of dust that accumulates in the filters of the furnace, especially if it is running all of the time.  It is a good idea to change the filter every month so that you get rid of the dust and debris that float through the furnace and, as a result, keep it from operating effectively. 

Before winter begins, it is a good idea to get the furnace cleaned.  This can make sure that everything is running right and will clean out any dirt or debris that can be causing the furnace not to function properly.  If the furnace should break down in the middle of winter, you need to call out a heating contractor right away to get the furnace fixed.  Most heating contractors work on an emergency basis so that people do not have to be without heating during the cold weather. 

Taking care of your furnace is the smart thing to do so that you minimize the possibility of having to repair the furnace during the cold weather. You should make sure that the pilot light on the furnace is lit, as this is often the reason why the furnace goes out.  The fan that is on the furnace is also one of the reasons why the furnace goes out and should be looked at periodically to make sure it is in good working order.  For the most part, a furnace requires very little repairs and will work for many years if well maintained.  Be sure to change the filters of the furnace during the winter months so that it continues to work well and gives you warm air during the cold winter months.

Take a look at the outdoor lighting in your Campbell River real estate.  When was the last time that you updated the outdoor lighting?  Chances are, if you are like most people, it has been awhile since you changed the outside lighting scheme.  You may want to take a look at the different options that are open to you with regard to your outdoor lighting by going to your home improvement store. 

Lighting is something that really makes a difference in your home décor.  All too often, people ignore the lighting and focus on other aspects of their property, leaving lighting until last.  It is easy, however, to change the lighting without spending a lot of money. 

Just changing the light fixtures is one way to update your home from the outside.  If you have been living with the same light fixtures in the exterior of your home for some time, perhaps it is time that you gave your home an update and got some new light fixtures.  You can shop for them in a home improvement store and replace them yourself. 

In order to replace the light fixtures on the outside of your home, it is important that you turn off the circuit breaker before you start any work.  Once you have turned off the electricity flowing throughout your home, you can then follow the instructions to change the light fixtures.  You should use some electrical tape and have pliers on hand when you are changing the lighting around your home 

Changing lighting can make a big difference when it comes to your property.  It will make you feel good when you see that you have done something positive to your home that also updates it.  Light fixtures for the outside are not that expensive.  You can purchase light fixtures online at online lighting stores for even less money if you are looking to save. 

If you want to revamp the exterior of your home, you have many options from which to choose. When you decide to update the exterior lights, you can make a big difference in the exterior of your home for a lot less.  If you decide to install the light fixtures yourself, remember to turn off the inbound electricity to your home before beginning.  Updating the exterior lighting in your home can be done easily during a day or a weekend project.

Considering buying Campbell River real estate?  There are certain aspects that you should consider when you are looking for property.  When you inspect a home, take a look at the outside and see if it looks good to you.  If so, you will want to inspect the inside of the property as well.  Some of the things to look for include:

Size of rooms

You will want to make sure that the rooms in the property are of adequate size to fit the needs of you and your family.  Many agents will have the size of the rooms written down on specification sheets for you to see prior to viewing the home.  It is often hard to envision the sizes without seeing the rooms themselves.  Make sure that the rooms are of adequate size to fit your needs. 

Repairs that are needed

Take note of any repairs that you will need to make when you are looking at real estate property.  The cost of these repairs should be tallied in your head, especially those that are needed right away.  Do not look at the property with rose colored glasses and be sure to inspect for water damage as well as find out how old the appliances, furnace and other aspects of the house are.  Make sure the plumbing and electrical outlets work properly along with the heating unit. 

How many bathrooms

Check out how many bathrooms are in the house and take this into consideration not only for your own use, but for resale value as well.  Houses with one bathroom may be fine if you are buying a home for just yourself.  But it may be difficult to sell the property with only one bathroom.  If you have a choice between a house that is more up to date with one bathroom than a dated home with two bathrooms, you should choose the latter. 

Look past cosmetic effects

While new carpeting and paint looks attractive in a home, you should look past these and consider the age of the house, the updates that have been made to increase the value and any repairs that you will need to make.  You are better off buying a property with 1980s carpeting and appliances that has a new roof and furnace than property with brand new carpeting, modern appliances that has not had a new roof nor a new furnace since it was built 30 years ago.  In the long run, it is cheaper to install new carpeting and paint the walls than it is to get a new roof and furnace.

Your Campbell River real estate property should be properly winterized to avoid drafts and save on energy.  You will find that you use less heating energy when you take the proper steps to winterize your real estate.  Some of the tips that you can use to make your home more energy efficient for the winter months include the following: 

Caulk around the windows

In the fall, start caulking around the windows so that they are insulated against the cold.  Remove old caulking with a scraper and prepare for winter by caulking with indoor-outdoor caulking that will seal the windows for the upcoming winter months.  This does not have to be done every year, but should be done periodically to prevent drafts and water seepage from coming through. 

Insulate around air conditioning units

If you have window air conditioning units, be sure to use insulation around  them.  Often, there can be a draft coming through these units.  Also make sure that the vents are closed during the winter months as this can also cause a draft to come through the unit and make the house colder.   Taking these precautions can save on your energy bill.

Weather strip doors

Use weather stripping along the base of your doors to keep the draft out.  Weather stripping is easy to install, can keep the drafty air out of your home and keep it better insulated during the winter months.  You can find weather stripping kits in any home improvement center. 

Use insulated draperies

Putting up insulated winter draperies can also save on your heating bill.  Insulated draperies can keep some of the cold air out, especially when they are placed up against large windows, such as patio doors.  While you might want to use light, airy curtains in the summer and spring months, using insulated draperies during the winter will end up keeping your home warmer. 

Do all that you can do to winterize your real estate property to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. You can not only save on your energy bill, but you will find it more comfortable in your home.

If you want to add value to your Campbell River real estate, there are many ways in which to do this.  Many people feel that adding new carpeting or painting adds value to the property.  While carpeting, flooring, painting, new appliances and even light fixtures will update your property and make it more attractive to the buyer, they do not add any real value to your home. 

Some of the ways that you can add value to your home while updating it as well include doing the following: 

A new roof

Getting a new roof is one of the best ways to add value to your home.  A new roof increases the value of your property and can be done by either tearing off the old roof or simply putting shingles over existing shingles on an existing roof.  You should never re-shingle the house more than twice, however.  If your roof already has two sets of shingles on it, it may be time for a new roof.

New windows

Newer, insulated windows are one of the ways that you can both update your property, make it easier for you to clean your windows, save on heating costs and add value to your home - all at once.  New windows should replace those that are drafty such as older window units that have separate screens and storm windows.  This project will increase the value of your property. 

Maintenance free exterior

By adding aluminum siding, soffits and fascia to the exterior of the home, as well as gutters and downspouts, you are adding value to your home.  This is not as costly as you might imagine and not only eliminates the need for painting, but further protects your home.

Updating kitchen and bathrooms

Updating your kitchen with new appliances, cabinets and sinks is one way to add value to your home.  Updating a bathroom with a new tub, shower, toilets and sink is yet another way to increase the value of your home as well as make it more attractive when you go to sell the property. 

Other ways to update your home and also increase the value is to update the wiring, plumbing and get a new heating unit.  These can be costly endeavors, but will add to the value of the home.  Increasing the value of your home is usually not just a cosmetic project, but one that will make your home more energy efficient and call for less repairs in the future.

Do you have any dead trees on your Campbell River real estate property?  I had a dead tree on my property that had to be removed.  The tree was struck by lightning and looked like an eyesore.  It wasn’t going to get any better but I put off getting it removed because of the cost. 

It can cost a lot of money to get a large tree removed from your property.  This is usually done with special equipment that drills into the ground and removes the stump after the tree has been chopped down.  The tree that I had to remove was not that big and did not need to be professionally removed.  That is not to say that it was easy to do. 

I had my neighbour, John, who is in remarkable shape for a man of 65 years old; help me remove the dead tree.  We chopped down the remaining part of the tree until we got to the stump.  We then chopped down the wood that comprised the dead tree so we can use it in our fireplaces.  We then took a couple of shovels and dug down into the earth to reach the roots of the tree.  We had to remove the stump, which was not easy.  This took us more than a few hours.  Once we got down to the bottom of the stump, we used a hook and chain to put into the stump to pull it out of the ground.  We used a tow truck that another neighbour owns to remove the stump from the ground. 

The dead tree was an eyesore for quite some time in the yard and I was glad to have it removed.  Once it was completely gone, I had to fill the hole.  I used dirt to do this and then, when the dirt was settled, ended up seeding over the area. 

Today, the spot where the dead tree once stood is still noticeable, but the new grass is starting to make it blend in.  I planted another tree in another part of the yard to replace the tree we lost.

 We organize our closets of our Campbell River real estate each year around this time. It is good to keep them organized and the old clothes can be given to charity.  What we normally do is to go through our closets and keep everything that we wore throughout the warmer weather and chuck stuff that we have not worn in two seasons.  We do this every year to make sure that the closets stay organized and that we do not end up accumulating a bunch of stuff that we do not want. 

We usually have several bags of used clothes that we no longer want after we have organized our closets.  After this time, we then set the bags aside for charity clothes drives that happen in our area pretty much throughout the year.  During this time of the year, they are most likely looking for coats and other garments that will keep people warm from the cold. 

Once the closets are organized then we can wait until spring, at which time we do this again.  It is good to get rid of extra clothing and make sure that someone else can use it if you get a chance.  We never throw clothes away in our house and always make sure that we give them to those in need.  Closet organizing always makes our entire family feel good and the closets are then something to be proud of.  After we have successful organized our closets in our real estate property, we then usually celebrate by going out to dinner.

Your Campbell River real estate garage needs to be cleaned out and this is the perfect time of the year to do it.  Before it gets too cold, you should clean out your garage.  You can do this by a number of different methods including using a leaf blower to clear out the debris from your garage.  You can use a broom as well to clean out your garage. 

You should begin by taking everything out of your garage and making sure that you are not hanging on to stuff that you do not use.  You can either give it away to a charity drive or sell it and make a few extra dollars.  After you have gone through everything in your garage, you can then use a leaf blower to sweep out the debris from the garage or use a broom. You will want to get as much dirt up from the garage floor as possible. 

After you have finished sweeping out the garage and making sure it is free from debris, you should then use a hose to clean the garage floor so that all the dirt is out of your garage.  Allow the floor to dry and then you can put everything back into the garage in a neat order.  You will want to have as much order in your garage as possible so that you know where everything is and you can find it easily.  It will make you feel better to park your car in a neat and orderly garage.