Selling My Home in Knoxville Archives

5 Winter Home Maintenance Tips

is your home prepared for the upcoming winter months?

The colder temperatures this past weekend reminded us that winter is coming! Whether you’re a fan of those crisp and cool East Tennessee mornings or not, being prepared is important. I posted a few winter home maintenance tips below that I thought you could all benefit from.

Clean the Fireplace

Everyone loves to cozy up next to a warm fire on a cold winter evening. It’s also relatively easy and inexpensive to maintain your fireplace. Cleaning the fireplace is essential before you start using it this fall and winter. After a particularly cold winter, there’s a good chance that creosote (an extremely flammable oil produced by coal or wood ash smoke) will build up on the interior of the chimney. If it’s not removed, it can catch fire when you light your fireplace. To get your fireplace fire-ready, hire a chimney sweep to get rid of the creosote and other build-up.

Inspect Your Roof

Your roof endures the brunt of the wintry conditions. Ensure that you check your roof regularly for any signs of damage and don’t leave the repairs for later! Harsh weather conditions can cause your roof tiles to break and create exposed areas where leaks and holes can form. Water leaks can cause extensive damage, especially if they aren’t addressed right away! Have a roofing professional check your roof if you notice any signs of damage and let them perform the necessary repairs sooner rather than later.

Service Your Heating System

Cold temperatures cause the heating system to work overtime in the winter. Have your heating system checked by a professional if you hear strange noises coming from the vents, or if you suddenly notice cold spots in parts of your home. This could indicate a problem with the ventilation. Don’t wait for the heating system to totally breakdown before you have it serviced. It’s always a good idea to have a heating professional perform regular maintenance on your system to keep it in proper working order.

Check Your Insulation

Attic insulation protects your ceilings from air leakage and makes sure your home doesn’t lose heat. If your insulation is worn from years of weather or pest infestations, the heating system is working double time to counter cold air coming from the attic. You could also be spending a lot more money heating your home than you should be. Installing insulation yourself can present numerous hazards, so allow a qualified and experienced professional with the correct safety equipment to properly install new insulation and keep your ceiling intact. Do not cut corners here!

Be Prepared for Snow

The snow may not be here yet, but snow and ice build-up can be dangerous. Make sure your household has all the necessities to help prevent any dangers this coming winter. For your safety, and for the safety of your family members and neighbors, it is important to have a snow shovel and salt ready to remove any ice or snow on your walkways. Also, make sure your flashlights are working, your mobile devices are charged and you have a backup heating source in case your power is lost due to snowy or icy conditions.

All of us at HMG wish you a fabulous holiday season! And as always, don’t hesitate to reach out if you need us.

6 Landscaping Tips to Boost Curb Appeal

6 Things You Can Do To Make People Fall In Love With Your Home!

You’ve heard it before: You only have one chance to make a great first impression! This is especially important when selling your home. Put yourself in the mind of a potential buyer: How will they feel the first time they pull up to your home? Does it scream “Buy me!” or “Drive on by?” The appearance of your landscaping should not be overlooked when placing that “For Sale” sign in your yard. A well-kept lot with neat landscaping goes a long way with buyers. It shows that you care about the property and have taken good care of it. Here are a few tips to help keep your yard looking its best without breaking the bank…

1. Keep it neat!

Mow, trim, and cut should be your three buzzwords here. A little bit of yard maintenance goes a long way. If you can’t handle the maintenance yourself, consider hiring a landscaping company to avoid the perils of a scraggly and overgrown yard. On the same note, be sure that bikes, toys, trash cans, garden tools, etc. are all stashed out of sight.

2. Plant native plants.

Add some new life to your yard with native plants. They’re aesthetically pleasing, practical, and ecologically valuable for landscaping. Native plants are the hardiest plants. Learn more about plants native to the Knoxville area at: http://www.se-eppc.org/pubs/east.pdf

3. Define borders and add mulch.

Clean edges trick the eye into thinking that the entire landscape is neat and well-kept. Outlining the border of a garden bed with spray chalk, followed by the use of a mattock or pulaski to chip away any encroaching lawn will help create a well-defined area. Afterward, add a layer of mulch to refine the look! It will help keep the weeds at bay while your home is on the market, AND will even out the overall landscaping look.

4. Get rid of the dead weight.

This goes along with number our first point but deserves its own mention. Be absolutely sure to remove all dead or dying shrubs and perennials. If there was any sign of disease or infestation in your landscaping, dispose of these items in black trash bags; DO NOT compost them with other yard waste.

5. Inspect sprinklers and irrigation.

You can have the most beautiful yard on the block, but if it’s not watered correctly then what’s the point? Be sure your sprinkler system and timers are working. It’s the least you can do for your landscaping! This inspection should be one you perform each spring/summer.

6. Light it up!

Remember, buyers might do a drive-by in the evening. Consider adding some landscape lighting to boost curb appeal and add value to your home. Solar pathway lighting and accent lighting that highlights landscaping features are both relatively simple ways to step it up in the yard department.

If you’re considering selling your home and need some advice on getting it ready to put on the market, don’t hesitate to contact us for a no-obligation home evaluation. You can also visit our website to get a free online home value estimate.

8 Things To Do Before You Pack!

ways to make your move less stressful…

So your house is sold and the closing date is set. Now it’s time to coordinate your move! While this is typically a stressful part of the home selling process, the right preparation goes a long way to making your move as smooth as possible. Here are some key items to address before you even think about packing any boxes…

1. GET ORGANIZED

Create a “master list” of everything that needs to be done before, during, and after the move to make sure you don’t miss a beat.

2. FIND A MOVING COMPANY

If you’re using a moving service, get estimates from a minimum of three companies. We’ll be happy to provide you with some referrals if you don’t know any good moving companies in the area

3. DE-CLUTTER

Try to get your house organized and de-cluttered so it will be easier to pack when the times comes.

4. PURGE

Get rid of the things that no longer serve you. Take an inventory of your belongings and determine what you want to keep. Donate, sell, or trash the unwanted items. Some organizations like KARM will even come to your house and pick up any large items you want to donate.

5. NOTIFY

Notify the post office, banks, credit card companies, utility companies, past employers (for tax return purposes), subscriptions, family and friends, etc. of the address change and estimated move-out date. Schedule utilities and installation appointments at your new home BEFORE you move into your new place.

6. FIND RELOCATION RESOURCES

If you’re moving to the Knoxville area, contact us and request a relocation package. It will give you a good start towards understanding what’s available and where things are.

7. EMBRACE THE CLOUD

Moving is the perfect time to make sure all of your computer and electronic devices are properly backed-up in case anything gets lost or damaged during the move. Use a cloud-based system (i.e. Dropbox or iCloud) or a portable hard drive to backup all of your files.

8. VISUALIZE YOUR NEW HOME

When the going gets tough and the move gets tricky, remember to take a deep breath. Before you know it, you’ll be sleeping soundly in your beautiful new home!