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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8 Mistakes That Are Making Your Home Unhealthy

Defeat allergens: here's how to control the dust, mold, pollen and other contaminants that are making you sneeze.

1: Not Keeping a Barrier Between You and Your Bedding

Use zippered dust-proof casings for pillows and mattresses. The pore space of such casings is so small that dust mites and their waste products can't get through.

2: Forgetting to Change the Filters

Changing the filter is an essential part of keeping dust out of the air and preserving the life of the machine. Change the filter once it's showing wear and tear or every six months if you're using a HEPA filter.  Never run your heating or air conditioning system without filters, and be sure to change them at least every three months.

 

3: Not Ventilating Your Bathroom

Running the exhaust fan (and making sure it's vented to the outdoors) helps remove moisture from this naturally humid room.

 

4: Too Many Textiles

Carpeting, rugs, pillows, upholstered headboards and chairs are all dust catchers. Consider minimizing furnishings and upholstery to a minimum to reduce the amount of dust mites.and for an easier-to-dust environment.

5: Not Following Your Nose

If you detect a musty smell in your home, inspect closely until you find the source of the smell. The sooner you find the mold, the easier it will be to remove.

6: Wearing Shoes Inside the House

Not only is wearing shoes indoors a health risk, but it can also increase allergens. Wet leaves bring in mildew and pollutants from grass get trapped on the bottom of shoes. Take your shoes off outside, or put them in a washable tray as soon as you walk in the door.

7: Letting Your Pet Sleep in Your Bed

Your favorite part of the day may be snuggling up to your fur baby, but pet dander traps allergens — which means you're inviting those allergens to your bed. If you can't resist the cuddles, then you should completely shave your dog. Just kidding — just be sure to bathe them once a week.

8: Letting the Trash Pile Up

You could attract some unwanted guests (like mice and roaches) inside your home if you let your trash pile up. Their droppings can worsen your allergies, so make sure you stick to a routine of taking out the trash.

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Virginia: Top 5 on the Best State to Retire

The Best and Worst States to Retire

• With more retirees responsible for their own financial security, choosing the right retirement destination can make all the difference.
• WalletHub compared the retirement-friendliness of all 50 states. Here are the spots that ranked the highest.

In retirement, just like in real estate, it's "location, location, location."
With more and more retirees responsible for their own financial security, choosing the right retirement destination can make or break any lazy-day fantasies.

To that end, WalletHub compared the retirement-friendliness of all 50 states using criteria such as cost of living, crime rate, tax-friendliness on pensions and Social Security income, number of health-care facilities, access to public transportation as well as the weather and proximity to golf courses and museums. This is retirement after all.

Some of the states that ranked the highest were no surprise — Florida snagged the top spot. Others, like South Dakota and Iowa, were less expected. Among the least desirable were high-tax states like New Jersey and Rhode Island.

Here are the 10 best and worst places to retire, according to WalletHub. (And if you are thinking more outside the box, here are the world's top 5 retirement destinations.)

Overall Rank (1=Best)	State	Total Score	Affordability' Rank	Quality of Life' Rank	Health Care' Rank
1	Florida	66.79	1	5	20
2	Colorado	66.17	23	8	2
3	South Dakota	65.89	2	32	6
4	Iowa	62.46	26	11	9
5	Virginia	62.02	18	9	21
6	Wyoming	61.66	4	30	29
7	New Hampshire	61.51	29	14	4
8	Idaho	61.39	11	20	25
9	Utah	61.14	22	24	12
10	Arizona	60.67	21	21	17

Worst States to Retire

Overall Rank (50=Worst)	State	Total Score	Affordability' Rank	Quality of Life' Rank	Health Care' Rank
41	Alabama	50.55	3	48	48
42	Hawaii	50.31	49	36	3
43	New Mexico	49.76	39	42	35
44	Louisiana	49.15	17	41	46
45	West Virginia	48.29	16	43	49
46	Arkansas	46.89	20	50	45
47	Mississippi	46.28	10	49	50
48	Rhode Island	45.14	48	46	22
49	New Jersey	44.94	50	28	33
50	Kentucky	43.06	38	47	47

 Source: WalletHub

5 Telltale Signs It’s Time to Update Your Kitchen

Does your kitchen feel cramped? Are your appliances mix-matched in color and style? If you answered yes, it may be time to give your kitchen the update it so desperately needs. Let’s take a closer look at the five telltale signs it’s time to update your kitchen.

Old, Mismatched Appliances

 

Is your fridge black, but your microwave stainless steel? Your kitchen will look newer and more cohesive if you have appliances that are all the same style and color. Kitchen appliances have brand new technology such as ovens with convection baking and roasting options and refrigerators that dispense filtered water. By choosing upgraded appliances that are all the same style, your kitchen will look and feel like it belongs in this day and age.

Crowding

Trying to cook in a kitchen that feels cramped is no picnic. Many homes built before 1980 have kitchens separated from the dining area and are designed for only one cook. For today’s open-concept driven style, you’ll need to broaden the kitchen and give yourself more counter space. Think of how much more enjoyable cooking with the family will be with all the added space.

Worn Out Cabinets

Bowed shelves, paint chipped doors and stained cupboards are huge red flags that you need a kitchen upgrade. Hardware and finishes naturally wear down over time, so just a new coat of paint on your cabinets may not be enough to give it a full update. Swap out cabinet handles with modern ones to give your cabinets a fresh look.

Outdated Countertops and Faucets

If you have white or off-white laminate countertops, it’s time to make the change and upgrade to newer and more durable countertops like granite or quartz. These countertop options are easier to clean and will last longer. Upgrade your faucets to make them more functional with features like a built-in sprayer with a lever handle.

Cracked or Stained Floor

Your once white laminate flooring may not be white any more. Many people are now implementing hardwood flooring into their kitchens by replacing their linoleum and ceramic tile. You need kitchen flooring that is durable and still looks beautiful, so get rid of your cracked and stained floor and play up your kitchen with modern flooring.

What project will you do first to give your kitchen the boost it needs?


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