7 Questions to Ask When Attending Open Houses

If you're a potential homebuyer, there are a number of questions you should ask the listing agent about each home. Open houses help you get a better feel for the space while learning more about it in the process. When you're ready to shop for a new home, here are seven questions to ask when attending open houses.

1. Why is the house for sale? Ask why the sellers are moving to find out the reason why the home is on the market. That may give you some insights into the timing and motivations of the sellers. 
2. How long has the home been on the market? If you ask when the home was listed, you'll gain insight into the house and the real estate market as a whole. The agent can put the number in context for you while disclosing information about the level of interest in the place. 
3. Does the house come with any problems? Inquire about issues to get an idea about the last time the house was updated. Given that home renovations can be costly, learn about problem areas ahead of time, and then check them out while you're at the house. 
4. Has the home's price been stable? By finding out how much the price has fluctuated since the house was put on the market, you'll find out whether the price is flexible when it comes time to make an offer. 
5. How many offers have been made on the house? Ask whether there's an offer on the table when you walk in the door. If you mention the pending offers on the place, the listing agent might be pleased to tell you about them, because your bid could drive up the price. 
6. What's the home's average cost for utilities? When you inquire about the estimated cost of utilities, make sure you have room in your budget. Get the agent to show you the most recent bills to get a better idea of monthly and yearly expenses. 
7. When are the sellers looking to close on this house? Learn the timeline for closing on the home to find out what the sellers want. If you know an offer could be chosen based on its time frame, you could gain an advantage if the owners want to sell quickly. 

With these seven questions in mind, you'll be ready to make a better assessment of each home. An open house is your chance to ask as many questions as you can about the property. When you're ready to make the most of the home-buying process, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me.

A Spring Cleaning Guide for Lazy People

If cleaning doesn't top your list of favorite things, we've put together the ultimate spring cleaning guide for lazy people (like me!). Minimal effort and big results? Yes, please!

A Recipe for Clean

Much like your oven, cleaning out your microwave may not exactly top your "fun" list. But while you're motivated to do some spring cleaning, you may as well get your micro all spiffed up, too. Fill up a microwave-safe bowl with water, lemon slices and a few tablespoons of cleaning vinegar (which is a bit stronger than standard white vinegar). Set your microwave for approximately two minutes or until the water boils and the door looks steamy. Open the door, then simply wipe everything down. The dirt and grime will easily come off the microwave walls. Shazam!

This Fridge Find Has No Expiration Date

If you haven't cleaned out your fridge in awhile, now is the time. Throw out any food or produce past its expiration date, and ditch all the crusty leftovers. Empty out your fridge and clean it up shelf by shelf. After it's all sparkly and clean, you may want to get yourself a few fridge shelf liners. The next time you tackle a fridge clean-up, you can take out all the liners and throw them in the dishwasher. You're practically done before you start.

Goodbye, Dirty Dishwasher

We often forget that the appliances that help us keep our home clean every day also need to be cleaned themselves. Our dishwashers are exhibit A. While you've got the cleaning bug, it's time to tackle cleaning your dishwasher. But it's way easier than you think. Simply toss in a dishwasher cleaner pod. Much like the detergent pods you might already be using, this one is specially formulated to deep clean your dishwasher. Create a recurring appointment on your calendar so you get a reminder each month to keep it up.

Pet Hair? Don't Care...

There are lots of tricks for cleaning up pet hair around your home. One of our favorite (and easiest!) hacks is to put on a pair of rubber kitchen gloves and wipe off upholstered furniture. After you clean up your sofas and chairs, you can keep the momentum going and do a sink full of dishes. Our favorite rubber gloves are a heavy-duty pair in a bright color.

Give Stuffed Animals a Bath

Spring cleaning is also a great time to tackle your kids' toys. Allergens and germs love your kiddo's plush animals, so it's important to keep them clean. Get a large mesh laundry bag (which might be labeled for use with sweaters or other delicates) and fill it with smaller stuffed animals and toys. You can then throw the mesh bag into your washing machine (on the delicate cycle) and either air dry or put them in your dryer on low heat. From here on in, try to wash your toys at least once a month or immediately after any kids are sick.

You May Actually Like Cleaning Your Oven

The bad news? You're going to need to give your oven a deep scrubduring your spring-cleaning adventures. But the good news is that from here on in, cleaning your oven is going to be a breeze. After you get all the gunk out, use oven liners to ensure that the debris stays away for good. This reusable nonstick liner can be placed on the lower rack of your oven to catch all the spills and splatters before they hit. Simply wipe off the liner after you're finished cooking, and you can use it again and again.

Do You Believe in Magic?...

...Because you will as soon as you try using a Magic Eraser on your walls. Cleaning your walls is probably not something you spend a lot of time on during the rest of the year, but they can get pretty beat up with an active family running around. This handy sponge can take care of scuffs, marks and dirt and make it all disappear in a flash. Walk around your house with one of these amazing little sponges and make your walls look gleaming and bright again.

Robot Vacuums FTW

Stick, cordless, pet hair, no filter -- we can't keep track of how many different types of vacuums there are. But for all the lazy cleaners out there, the only kind of vacuum you need is a robot vacuum. The Shark Ion Robot Vacuum can actually be controlled with an app on your phone or through voice commands. Send it out in your home and let it go to work on autopilot, keeping your floors and rugs clean. Smart sensor navigation means it does a great job of avoiding obstacles around your house, so you can basically sit down and relax while your whole house gets cleaned.

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