Use Caution When Removing Leaded Paint

Experts are warning again about the dangers of removing leaded paint products in your home. If your home was constructed prior to 1978, there is a 75% chance that there is leaded paint somewhere on the walls. Take heed, as this would be true of many of our homes in the older Portland Homes for sale. Leaded paint is not harmless until you go to remove it. Take all precautions when sanding or removing the paint. 

Check with your city’s building department regarding any regulations regarding the removal and disposal of leaded paint chips and air dust.

Faced with strict local removal and disposal regulations, many painters prefer to leave lead removal to licensed subcontractors. “Abatement is more than just having the equipment and sucking up the dust,” says Portland, Ore., painting contractor Kathleen George. “You need to understand and follow all the rules. I prefer calling in a pro so that I can focus on painting.”

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Time To Upgrade That Old Fireplace

According to the National Association of Home Builders, fireplaces rank among the top three features desired by new homebuyers, but unfortunately, traditional fireplaces can send up to 8 percent of valuable furnace-heated air out through the chimney, making them really fun to look at but inefficient as heating sources. You can transform your firebox in your Portland Home into an efficient room heater by adding an insert, installed by a factory-trained professional (to ensure proper venting and best efficiency results), will draft-proof an open fireplace while the unit’s shell keeps heat in the room.

Check out the possible tax credit and the savings on your monthly heating bill and it might be time to look into installing a new fireplace insert.

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Return on Home Improvement Investments

When we are getting ready to sell our Portland home, or even if we are just wanting to update our homes we need to know which improvement has the best return in value. Obviously some updates will bring in a better return in value than others. First and foremost is kitchen remodels which is always 100%. Doing high end kitchen remodeling is not always the best way to go either. Mid range or minor remodels of kitchens most often brings in best return in value according to Remodeling Magazine. Most potential buyers don’t care if the new refrigerator is a built in Sub Zero type or something less. The same is true with having the 8 burner stoves, under-mount sink or travertine floors. Granite counters are not necessary. Simple laminates, newer faucets and sparkling sinks sell. Buyers don’t want leaky faucets or stained sinks. With regards to the cabinets; resurfacing is the best option and replacing the doors and/or hardware is the best way to go.

The national average of recouped cost is more than 100% for bathrooms. New floors, fixtures and lights payoff. Buyers will shy away from buying a home if the roof needs to be replaced. Some other suggestions: Patch cement cracks in the sidewalks, resurface asphalt driveways, plant some flowers, caulk the windows and doors, replace doorknobs and locks, repair and paint broken fences. Overall, buyers want to buy a home that has no deferred maintenance, newer appliances, updated plumbing, electrical and heating (including a/c), modern conveniences and is ready to occupy.

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Portland Homes: Tree Maintenance

We all spend much time checking the overall condition of our  Portland homes, garages, patios and just about everything around our property to be sure everything remains in good shape. Now with winter almost upon us, how many of us have really checked out the condition of the large trees in our yards? We check our roofs and gutters, the siding and the windows, doors and driveway but we also should check the condition of the trees and their limbs. Many accidents happen in the winter when heavy rains and snow begins falling putting extra weight on the limbs and branches causing them to break under the stress. Even the main trunk should be checked regularly for problems that might cause the tree to fall over easily, even though it may look sturdy enough. Pests and disease can eat away at a large tree and weaken it over time.  If you are not familiar with the different diseases and pests that can harm a live tree, seek some professional advise and you might save yourself many problems later on when the tree finally gives way to heavy winds and rain, or snow.

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How Long Do You Keep “Stuff” in your Home?

Not knowing how long to keep different things contributes to household clutter. Being very unorganized can cost you time and money also. Find out when things should be tossed out before spending time packing them for a move for example. Learn what documents you should keep and which ones should be shredded or tossed. Same with old medicines and prescriptions.

Most of us keep closets and drawers full of old clothes that should have been tossed years ago. Makeup?  Toss it out if its a year old or more. Same with spices in the kitchen. Toiletries usually are used up by the expiration date, but if not, use the 1 year toss out rule.

A good way to save on everything you use is to get everything organized. All clutter will cost you time and money. If you don’t know where something is, and you need it, you will go out and purchase a duplicate, costing extra money. When you have to look and look for something each time you need it, this is costing you valuable time.  If you can get your items organized, your life will become much simpler and finding the things you want easier.

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