Tag Archives: Sibcy Cline Home Services

9 Ways to Add Value to Your Home

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how to a. value to your home


Your home – not only does it provide shelter for you and your belongings – but is also an investment of your money. Here are nine tips to increase your home’s value with updates, repairs and cosmetic changes:

1. Create More Space in your Home
Buyers look for open spaces in homes. You may be able to take down a non-structural wall to open up space and create a better flow in your home. Or, you might be able to have an addition. to increase square footage.

The number of bedrooms has a large impact on a home’s value. If your neighboring homes have four bedrooms, your home should have the same number.

If you live in an area where many homes lack a garage, consider adding one. The most valuable garages are attached to the home, but you may need to opt for a free-standing one. 

2. Landscaping
Neat and tidy landscaping looks appealing. If you have weeds and bushes that have grown too tall, you need to pull and prune. By planting attractive trees, bushes or flowers, you can add value to your home. HomeGain.com cites that an investment of $400 into landscaping can bring a return of four times that amount.

3. Light the Way
Lighting is important to home buyers and can add even more appeal to your home. Make sure your lighting features are up-to-date. Read more about lighting here.

4. Maintain
Have your “to do” list of repairs for your home and check those items off as you keep your home in good repair. (Repair plumbing leaks, inspect the furnace, weed the flower beds, etc.)

If you live in an older home, make sure the plumbing and electrical is up-to-date. Maintaining basement and foundation issues is important. Leaks and cracks need to be investigated. 

5. Think Green
“Green” energy efficiencies are desirable by home buyers and can save you money. 

6. Front Door and Curb Appeal
A home’s first impression starts with the front door. Make your front yard and porch look fabulous. 

7. Flooring
An upgrade in flooring will add more value when it is time to sell.

8. Upgrade the Bath
Some easy bathroom improvements include cleaning or replacing the grout, updating doorknobs and cabinet pulls, replacing faucets, and installing a new toilet.

9. Paint
Painting is one of the most economic ways to update your home. Be sure to use a neutral color if you planning to sell your home. It will appeal to more home buyers.

Need help with your home maintenance or renovations? Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services. They can put you in touch with many service vendors!

 

Selling Your Home? Paint Tips to Help Get Your Home Ready!

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Tips on painting rooms in your home

Getting your home “market ready” is an important step to make it stand out among other available homes for sale. Here are painting tips to make your home look its best:

Touch Ups
Take a tour of your home and make note of the walls and trim areas that need to be touched up inside and out. A few neglected spots might be a signal to potential buyers that the home is not well maintained.

Are Your Colors Neutral?
If your painted walls are in good condition, you will also need to access whether the color is appealing to the masses. Although you may have enjoyed an expressive color, the person moving into your home may not. It is best to neutralize those “avant-garde” colors. A DIY repainted room usually costs under $100.

Exterior Paint
Go conservative with color. White and neutral colors are the safest choices as these colors will appeal to the largest number of buyers. Make a buyer’s first impression positive!

Select Your Paint Carefully
A high-quality acrylic latex paint can last for 10+ years and offers prospective buyers a “no maintenance” situation when moving into your home. Less work for them might mean a faster sale for you.

Prepare and Know Your Surface
Taking the time to properly preparing your surface before painting will result in a quality finish and thus impress buyers. Make sure you understand what type of paint your surface requires before you paint!

If DIY is not your thing, contact Sibcy Cline Home Services. They can recommend local painters to help you out.

Home Improvements: What to Do and What to Avoid

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Shopping cart in a hardware store

Planning on updating your home? Before you make changes, consider if the updates will bring value to your home when it’s time to sell. Here are some tips to consider:

Kitchen
If you have a kitchen that has seen better days an update may be the right thing to do. A total renovation can be expensive so consider cosmetic changes before committing to any major updating.

Budget Friendly Changes:
1. If cabinets are in good condition, paint them and add new hardware. (If the cabinet face needs updating, have them replaced and then painted.)
2. Update the hardware and/or sink.
3. Missing a backsplash? This is an easy update to make. See how to here.
4. New appliances can make a big change in a kitchen. Just do not go overboard with the brand.

Bathrooms
Bathrooms are one of the most popular home-improvement projects for home owners. And, it’s a project that can pay off! Keep your renovation simple with paint, new lighting and fresh caulk. If you keep your update under $5,000, you might turn a profit when selling.

If you need more extensive work in the bathroom, do not go overboard with the tub, shower and floor.

Lighting
Avoid fancy “to taste” lights and chandeliers. Trendy lighting can be “in” one day and “out” the next. New lights can be relatively inexpensive and make a large impact. Consider replacing light bulbs with brighter, more efficient ones. While you are at it, purchase new light switch covers.

Wallpaper
Although you may love your wallpaper selection, the next home buyer may not. Stick to paint – it’s safer.

Tiling
Over-personalized tile may be a mistake for a home renovation depending upon the taste of the next homeowner. Keep your tile installation neutral. Then add a colorful or quirky rug to place on top.

Bedrooms
The number of bedrooms is important when selling a home. If you have been considering converting a bedroom or widening a bedroom into another, think again. It might be better to put renovation dollars into another project.

Windows
If the windows are efficient and in good shape, consider adding trim to give that wow factor. Molding works wonders.

Interior Doors
Have your doors and their hardware seen better days? Think about replacing doors them. Having matching doors will make your interior spaces feel more cohesive and appealing. (Consider fire resistant materials for bedroom doors.) Watch this video and follow instructions from the Family Handyman if you enjoy DIY projects.

Carpet
Before installing wall-to-wall carpet, think about using hardwood or laminate flooring instead. People prefer these type of materials over carpeting. A new carpet will only remain “new” for a short period of time.

Front Door
New doors can be expensive. If your front door is in good condition, consider updating the hardware. Add a new welcome mat and you will be set.

Landscaping
Curb appeal is very important when selling your home, but there is a fine line of overdoing landscaping projects. High-maintenance gardens could be daunting to prospective buyers. Keep it simple: add new flowers and plants and be sure to pull weeds. Add walkway lights.

Sun Room Addition
This type of home addition can be expensive and you usually only recoup half of what you spend.

Hobby Rooms
Rooms converted for hobbies (ie: sewing rooms, man caves, home gyms, themed bedrooms, etc…) take a generic room and change its focus on that single hobby or interest. What you spend for your enjoyment may leave few interested buyers in the future.

If you do want to pursue having a hobby room, consider changes that are easy to remove when you sell.

Built-In High-Tech Installations
Customized electronics and built-in technology can quickly become outdated and bring down the value of your home. A home theater is a safe bet, but avoid adding a custom fish tank or expensive techie items.

New Deck
A new deck costs an average for $17,000 (per Remodeling’s Cost vs Value Report.) If your deck is in good condition, consider staining or painting it to freshen it up. Add lighting to your deck to create ambiance. This can be a DIY project.

Garage
Garage conversions will not work in your favor. People want garages for their cars and storage. If you make it into a bedroom, study, gym or other type of room, home buyers will want it converted back. Simply paint the garage floor to freshen it up and add storage shelves if needed.

Pool/Hot Tub
A luxury item such as a pool or hot tub are great to enjoy during hot summer days, but when selling your home, they might not pay off. In-ground pools are expensive, require maintenance and treatment. The same goes for a hot tub. Remember, not everyone wants to take care of a pool or hot tub.

Ultimately when making changes to your home, you need to ask: “Am I remodeling for my quality of life or to increase my home’s value or resale price?”

Need assistance with your home update project? Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services. They have vetted pros who can help!


Quick Tips for Kitchen Redecorating on a Budget

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Tips for updating your kitchen

Here are a couple of great tips for updating your kitchen on a budget:

CHANGE THE LIGHTING
One of the most common problems with older kitchens is harsh or insufficient lighting. Luckily, this is also one of the easiest problems to solve! While it may seem like a daunting task to switch out a hanging light fixture, there are plenty of online guides that will take you through the process. Many homeowners are surprised to find that it’s easy to do. Light fixtures can be very affordable. Most local home improvement stores carry a nice selection of modern fixtures in inexpensive to moderate price ranges, so chances are good that you’ll find something you love.

SWITCH OUT HARDWARE
Another quick fix that will have your kitchen looking great is a hardware upgrade. We’re talking about the hinges, handles and knobs on the faces of your cabinets. For $15 to $30, you can buy all new hardware and install it yourself in an afternoon. Brushed copper or brass is very popular right now, but the most important thing is that you pick something that complements the color of your cabinetry and works with the style of your kitchen.

REPLACE THE FAUCET
With a wrench and some silicone caulk, you can have your new faucet installed and running in half an hour. High-arching, single-handle faucets are most popular, as these styles have technical advantages over their flat, double-handle counterparts. High-arching faucets give you more room to maneuver dishes and pots and single-handle faucets allow more control over water temperature. These are a little more expensive, but a great faucet should cost you around $150 – a small price to pay for serious utility. Bonus points if you pick out a faucet that is functional and unique.

UPDATE THE COUNTERS
Unfortunately, replacing your counters is a big job that requires a real investment. If you’ve just moved in, and are strapped for cash, you may wish to wait until your finances are a little bit more stable. In the meantime, you can still have good looking counters with a little bit of ingenuity.

One option is to cover your counters with a butchers block. If you look around, you can even find butchers block wood that is cut specifically to the size of your counters. Simply rest the block on top and voila – beautiful wood counters. Remember to invest in mineral oil for proper maintenance.

The other option is to paint your counters. This is a little trickier than painting a wall, but easier than you might think. “The Kitchn” blog has a great step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

Once you’re finished, take a look around. We’re betting that you won’t even recognize the kitchen that was there when you moved in.

Not into DIY? Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services for specialists to help with your kitchen updates.

Your Winter Home-Maintenance Check List

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Caulking WindowWinter is just a few months away. Now is the time for homeowners to take the time to perform one last check of their homes before cold weather really sets in for the next few months. Doing so can help to keep everyone in the house safe and warm, while also saving money and averting potential issues.

Pipes
Perhaps the biggest financial risk homes face during the winter are burst pipes. When that happens, water can spill into the walls and cause a lot of damage long before a problem is even detected. It’s always wise for homeowners to assess where they stand with their water pipes.

Pipes that run along the outside of a home or along the ceiling in the basement and are uninsulated could be at risk. Wrapping them in an economic, specialized material or even towels can help protect them even if a home’s heating system stops working. Wrap your pipes and keep your home at 65 degrees or more. Also, know where your home’s water shutoff is located, so you can quickly shut off your water in an emergency.

Other Insulation
When insulating pipes, it’s also important to make sure you aren’t losing heat through uninsulated attics or other spaces. Since heat rises, you may lose a lot more heated air through ceilings. When attics are properly insulated along floors, they not only help to save on heat, but also prevent potential ice dams from forming undetected on the roof because a warmer roof can lead to snow melting under its surface.

Up on the Roof
When thinking about the roof, it’s a good idea to make sure all tiles or shingles are in good shape; and all gutters are cleared of fallen leaves and other debris that can lead to backups and more potential ice dams. A quick trip up a ladder might be all it takes to identify problem areas before they become major issues.

Inspect Your Home’s Exterior
Inspect the exterior of your home and look for any cracks and holes along the edges of window frames and doorways. Fissures can be filled or covered with caulk, which will help keep the heated air inside this winter. While any individual crack or hole is going to be small, some experts estimate that the collective area of all of them across an entire house can amount to the size of an open window.

Need Help?
If you are not comfortable climbing onto the roof or doing other home-related activity, reach out to Sibcy Cline Home Services. They can make recommendations of vetted vendors to you.

Sibcy Cline Employee Spotlight: Linda Damato

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  • Title: Home Services Coordinator
  • Hometown: Chicago 
  • Current home: Glendale 
  • Favorite local hang-outs: Bluebird Bakery and Piccolo Wine Room in Glendale  

As a home services coordinator with Sibcy Cline, Linda Damato is part matchmaker, part problem solver. When homeowners call Linda with a need—a renovation or repair—she knows exactly the right vendor to connect them with. And with 17 years of experience in matching homeowners to vendors, she has more success stories than she can count.  

“We look at the service needed and the time frame, along with other factors, and provide a match with a vendor. Then we follow up to make sure the client is pleased,” Linda said, explaining the process of coordinating services for Sibcy Cline clients. The goal is to gain “clients for life” by giving buyers and sellers of homes support through every stage of their homeownership journey.  

Sometimes that support can come in the smallest of ways, like recently when Linda assisted a seller whose home was vacant and being prepared for showings.  “The basement light was out and the agent called us,“ She said, “And I knew a handyman who was painting in a home near there who could run over and fix it quickly. Within an hour, the basement light was working. That’s the beauty of it—we knew who was nearby and could help.”  

Another success that Linda enjoys is seeing clients who remain with Sibcy Cline for years, even when their original agent is no longer with the brokerage. “They stay with us because they love the brand. That makes me so happy.”  

Although Linda admits that she didn’t know what a “home services coordinator” was when she applied for the job, she now loves what she does. “The very best part of my job is helping buyers and sellers through their adventure. I love the excitement of a first-time buyer telling me their ideas for making this house their home. It’s rewarding to be a small part of making the client feel comfortable with their choices.”  

Being involved with helping buyers and sellers is something that isn’t new to Linda—she was a REALTOR for 8 years in Chicago (her hometown) before moving to Cincinnati with her husband Joe for a job transfer. “It was between St. Louis and Cincinnati,” she said, “and we chose here.”  

Linda now lives in Glendale in a 100-year-old home. “I’ve done a lot in the last year—painted every room, [renovated] the bathroom—and used Sibcy Cline vendor partners for all of it,” she says. “I was like most people during COVID, who were home all the time, looking around, thinking: what can I do to make my home better?”  

One of Linda’s favorite “hangouts” is in her garden. “Whether pulling pesky weeds or making lovely flower arrangements for friends, I find it therapeutic,” she said. She also enjoys cooking for family and friends, a pursuit she once channeled into teaching cooking classes at the Glendale Lyceum and owning a deli/wine bar business called Taste of Tuscany. “It was everything I love—cooking, eating, wine—but it wasn’t the same as doing it for friends and family.” 

With her strong appreciation for making a house a home, Linda is not surprised that there has been such high demand for home renovations in the past year. “When your home looks good to you and feels comfortable, it just makes you feel better,” she said.  

If you are looking for help in renovating your home, you can reach out to Linda or any of our coordinators through our Home Services website.

8 Popular Home-Staging Trends

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home stage tips when selling

Thinking of selling your home? Read about some current decor trends for staging your home:

(1) OUTDOOR SPACES 
Do you have an attractive “outdoor room” that needs to be highlighted? Show off how this space can be used for entertaining purposes. Set out a few dishes to set the table for an outdoor meal or barbecue. Add a hammock with a book and a comfy blanket.

Look at some of our outdoor rooms on Pinterest here. Go here for porch ideas.

(2) KITCHENS: BRIGHT AND WHITE 
A new trend for kitchens is white and bright. If you are not willing to paint your cabinets, perhaps consider showing off spare, white accessories that will make your kitchen seem brighter.

(3) GOLD/BRASS 
Gold and brass are back in style! Think framed mirrors and brass bar carts. Use these types of accents sparingly. Get some inspiration here.

(4) NAVY BLUE 
Navy blue is an easy color to work with and is popular. This is a strong, neutral hue to use as an accent wall. Navy blue looks great with yellow, tan and chartreuse.

(5) BLACK 
Black elements can be found in lighting, framing or a statement piece of furniture. It’s good to use as a focal point. See ideas using black here.

(6) DINING ROOM – NO MATCHY MATCHY
Is your dining room an empty space? Do not worry about staging this room with a full suite of matching furniture. People are using unique pieces in their dining rooms. Chairs do not have to match the table. The side board can be an old dresser. Get some ideas here.

(7) HOME OFFICES 
Home offices are coveted rooms. If you have a home office, be sure to showcase it. If not, think about converting a rarely used corner of a spare bedroom into a mini office. Many people have used their dining room tables staged as desks when selling their homes.

(8) NATURAL ELEMENTS 
Live, indoor plants, macrame and Scandinavian-style furniture are current design trends that reflect natural elements. Plants add energy to rooms and a neutral look is calming and appealing to home buyers. (Think IKEA designs.)

Need help staging your home to sell? Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services. They can put your in touch with professional stagers who can provide consultations or temporary use of furniture.

 

Seven Home Improvement Ideas to Help Sell Your Home

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If you are considering making improvements to your home, think towards the future with changes that will appeal to buyers. Projects to focus on are the kitchen, bathrooms, floors and paint. Here are seven improvement ideas to consider:

One – Lighting
Make rooms light and bright. Add lighting under cabinets in your kitchen to make the room look more inviting. Consider recessed lighting.

Two – Kitchen
If you are not up to a large renovation, one improvement to consider is replacing older appliances such as the dishwasher and refrigerator. If the cabinets are not appealing, consider sanding and painting them.

Three – Closets
Buyers want walk-in closets. If you cannot make your closet larger be sure to make it look as spacious as possible when selling.

Four – Bathroom
Recaulk the tub. (Use caulk-be-gone to get rid of the old caulk. Fill the bathtub with water after you have caulked to stretch it while it dries.) If you have old wallpaper in the bathroom, remove it and paint the walls. Old shower doors should be removed or replaced.

Five – Paint
Fresh paint makes a big difference in rooms. Use neutral colors if you plan to sell. Paint the trim with high-gloss white paint.

Six – Moldings
Details, like moldings, add charm and character to rooms.

Seven – Floors
Hardwood floors are very popular with costs ranging from $3-$8 per square foot. (Add another $3 per square foot for professional installation.) If you have carpet, have it professionally cleaned.

Need help with your improvements? Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services. They can put you in touch with vetted, professional home-service vendors.

Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Home

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cleaningSpending time at home, you may be inspired to tackle spring cleaning. Here are some useful tips to make this job less painful and complete in a short amount of time:

Top To Bottom
When cleaning, work top to bottom from the ceiling down. This forces dirt and debris downward so you do not need to re-dust. Remove cobwebs from ceiling corners and fans. Then dust furniture. Finally, clean the floors.

Room By Room
Tackle cleaning room by room. You will feel more of a sense of accomplishment when you do so.

Kitchen 
One of the biggest areas for spring cleaning is the kitchen. Cleaning a refrigerator both inside and out doesn’t have to be a time-consuming process as long as you plan ahead. Slowly remove items as they’re used – without replacing them – so that there’s less clutter to take out. Once your fridge is decluttered it will be a lot easier to remove all of the shelves and drawers and give them a good scrub without having to spend a lot of time removing and replacing food and drink items.

Clean out the microwave oven. It tends to gather dirt. In a bowl, combine a cup of water, cup of vinegar and two tablespoons of lemon juice. Place the bowl in the microwave for two minutes on the high setting. Follow up by wiping the interior with a soft, damp cloth.

Wipe down kitchen cabinets. Be sure to take a look at your pantry and toss old items. Have a junk drawer? Be ruthless about organizing it.

Clean your trash receptacle and pay attention to lid hinges. De-crumb the toaster.

Bathroom 
The bathroom is another area that requires a deeper clean over a given time. For showers with grout, it may be wise to first rub the affected areas with a high-grit sandpaper to clear off the top layer, and then carefully apply bleach to those stained areas to ensure there’s no leftover mildew. Once this is done, allow some time to dry and then apply sealant.

For faucets and shower heads covered in soap scum, scrubbing with balled-up aluminum foil will clear off debris with ease, without scratching the metal.

Change out the shower curtain or wash your fabric and plastic liners in a gentle cycle. Organize the cosmetics drawer and medicine cabinet.

Unexpected Places To Clean
Spring cleaning isn’t just about getting at the “problem areas.” You need to address less-considered parts of your home as well. For instance, countertops and cabinets can get a little dirtier than people might expect and cleaning them off with a high-power cleaning product, then sealing them, can help them stay much cleaner for years to come.

Here is a tip on cleaning windows: clean them on a cloudy day. Sunlight won’t dry out cleaners when applied, making the wipe-down more effective.

Winter Clothing
Now is the time to clean and store all winter items. Pack up gloves, hats and scarves. Coats should be stowed. If you do not have room in your closet for winter sweaters and other heavier clothing, now is the time to pack them away. If you have clothing you did not wear this year, consider donating their items.

Need help with your spring cleaning efforts? Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services. They can put you in touch with local vendors to help get your home clean top to bottom.

Brought to you by Cinch Home Services, an industry leader with over 30 years of creating success for clients and providing peace of mind for customers.  

Get Your Home Ready For Spring Now!

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Hands of worker using a silicone tube for repairing of window

It’s been a mild winter so far this year. Perhaps now is a good time to focus on some spring-oriented house projects to prepare for the upcoming warmer months (as well as have your home staged to be “market ready” if you are planning on selling). Here are some projects to tackle inside and outside of your home:

PROJECTS INSIDE THE HOME

How are the “Holders” Doing?
Are the towel racks and toilet tissue paper holders sturdy? If not, unscrew the item and see if it needs a more secure wall anchor like a toggle bolt.

Door Hinges
If you have squeaky doors, get some powdered graphite and squirt it into the pin where the hinge turns.

Floor Boards
If floor boards make noises then you need to secure them down better. You can also add talcum powder in the seams to lubricate boards that rub against each other.

Shut-off Valves
Check your sinks and toilets to make sure the shutoff valves are not rusty. WD-40 can help.

Shower Ceiling
If the paint is not looking so great above your shower, scrape it off, re-coat it and then use high-quality exterior-grade paint. This type of paint should take the heat and moisture better in this room.

Windows
If it is warm enough, this could be a great time to clean the windows inside and out. Be sure to check for any gaps.

Loose Handles
If any cabinet doors have loose handles, you can probably tighten them up easily with a screwdriver. Or, if the screw will not tighten, stuff a toothpick (coated with glue) into the space or use a larger screw.

Safety First!
Be sure to change your batteries to smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Outlets
Test your ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets found in the kitchen, bath or outdoors. Make sure the device trips and resets correctly.

Clothes Dryer Vent
Vacuum lint out of the vent pipe where it connects to the dryer. Wipe off lint from the dryer vent.

Drain Hoses
Inspect the hoses for the clothes washer, dishwasher and ice maker.

De-Clutter
Now could be a great to go through closets and drawers and de-clutter. Donated unused items such as housewares and clothing. Other items may be placed into your recycling bin. (You’ll need to check to see what is recyclable or not.) And, you may want to pass on some items to a friend, relative or neighbor who could use them.

Paint
If the paint on your home’s interior walls is out of date, chipped or in bad shape, think about adding a new coat.

A Big Clean
Now could be a great time to plan a thorough cleaning of your home. Wipe down walls and floors. Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures. Vacuum and mop floors. Carpets may need to be professionally cleaned.

___________________________

PROJECTS OUTSIDE THE HOME
(WHEN IT IS WARM ENOUGH!)

Check Gutters
See if any gutters are loose or have leaks.

Check Roof Shingles
Inspect for damaged shingles from the winter. Shingles that are cracked, buckled, loose or missing granules need to be replaced. (Use binoculars to check!)

Concrete Slabs
Fill any cracks with concrete crack filler or silicone caulk.

Hose Faucets
Check for freeze damage from the winter. Turn on the water and place your thumb over the opening. If you can stop the flow of water, the pipe inside the home is damaged.

Air Conditioning
Have your air conditioning serviced once it is warm. Coils should be cleaned. Interior filters should be changed regularly.

Have a Wood Deck?
Remember the wood needs to be protected with a sealant to keep in good shape.  A thorough power wash can help make the deck look ship-shape, too.

 

Need help with any of these home-related activities?
Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services. They are in touch with many vetted service vendors and can make recommendations to you.