It is not necessary to completely overhaul every bathroom in your home, remodel the kitchen, or put down new flooring to give your tired home a boost. Small, affordable improvements can get big results. 

• Decluttering every space in your home is probably the first place to start.  Getting organized is one of the best and simplest ways to improve your home’s look. Selling items on social media marketplaces or having a yard sale will also put money in your pockets for an added benefit! 
• A quick and easy fix-up for your interior is paint! Not only is it inexpensive, but it is also an easy DIY when you tackle one room per weekend. 
• After painting, why not add some crown molding? Purchase plaster-coated foam molding that can be cut with a handsaw and put into place with joint compound. 

• Spruce up your mudroom, kitchen, or bathroom floors with self-stick tiles. This type of vinyl flooring comes in many styles and colors, and you can create a pattern for some added style. 
• Simple kitchen updates can make a big difference:  a countertop makeover, new hardware for cabinets and drawer pulls, peel-and-stick backsplash installation, or new paint on the cabinetry. 
• While costing a bit more, if your bathroom needs a boost, ready-made sink cabinetry,  prefab tub/shower kits, or tub refinishing kits can be purchased at a local home store or online for thousands less than hiring a pro.  
• If a total exterior paint job is not in the budget, give the house a thorough pressure-washing and paint the shutters and front door. Brightening the landscaping with fresh mulch and seasonal annuals in containers are other dollar-saving ways to give the outside an update. 

Homeownership can be expensive, but your desire to make updates do not have to be.  If you are thinking of putting your house on the market soon, even the smallest improvements can make your home “show” better and sell faster.  Add some sweat equity, follow directions exactly, and many jobs can be done on your own.  Either way, you will benefit from the fresh, new look! 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Photo credit: HomeDepot

It sometimes takes a lot of work to get your landscaping just the way that you want it, but it’s worth it when you get to sit down and enjoy your hard work. The only problem is that sometimes it’s just too hot to spend much time out enjoying! This is especially problematic if your landscaping contains a lot of flowers that bloom during the summer months, since the cooler spring and fall won’t give you the same sort of satisfaction in your garden.

There are ways to make the heat more bearable, of course. A little bit of shade and a nice breeze can go a long way toward turning your landscaping or garden into a welcoming oasis for you to relax in. While there are a number of ways you can accomplish this, here are a few ideas if you find yourself unsure of where to start.

Things happen, and it seems that they usually happen on weekends or after normal working hours. What do you do until a professional makes a service call? Find the temporary solution to many emergency needs here: 

• Leaky roof:  Search for the leaking area in the attic while it is raining and call a roofing company or handyman as soon as possible. Cover the area with a heavy-duty tarp, using nails to keep it in place.  
• Broken window: Wearing work gloves and safety glasses, remove any broken glass pieces. Use heavy-duty plastic and weather-proof tape to cover the hole or cover the window completely, sealing it well to keep out rain or cold. 
• Leaking water pipe: Turn the water off at your water main. Stop small leaks with epoxy putty. Do not allow pipes to continue to leak or think the putty will hold forever. Have a plumber address the issues. 

• Water heater leak: The first thing that should be done is to turn off the water heater breaker or gas flow, then turn off the cold-water flow to the heater. Call your plumber immediately, then start cleaning up with towels or a wet/dry vacuum. If water has flooded the room, take photos before cleaning up, and call your insurance company. 
• Clogged drain: Using a plunger for clogs is better and safer than using store-bought drain cleaners. This video from Ask This Old House shows homeowners the proper way to clear drains. If none of those solutions work, calling a plumber is in order, as a backed-up drain will eventually burst and create a much larger mess. 
• Gas leak: Whenever you smell sulfur or the “rotten egg” odor, it is usually a gas leak. Get out of your home, turn the gas off outside by turning the valve control to a perpendicular position, and call your utility company immediately. Do not go back into the home until the leak has been checked and repaired. 

Keep in mind that these are temporary repairs! Neglecting to make repairs can cause extensive and costly damage to your home. The plumber’s bill for a leaking water pipe is much less expensive than replacing rotting floors. Taking care of emergencies as quickly as possible protects your investment and saves money in the end. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Photo credit: Simpson Windows and Doors 

In most home buying situations, you are not only purchasing a house, but you are also buying the neighborhood. There are many factors you cannot control, but to avoid regrets, consider these five things while house-hunting: 

• Affordability: The mortgage payment is an important part of your budget, but keep in mind that property tax is normally added to your monthly loan payment. Property tax is based on the assessment value of the property. The assessment value depends on different factors, and the home’s location is number one. Ask your Realtor® for past tax information, but the house may be reassessed after closing.  
• How you live: Satisfaction with your home’s location will depend on the general area. Are you a pet lover with four dogs? You need a pet-friendly community. Is your family a large one with lots of noisy backyard activities? Look for active families in the neighborhood. Do you need close access to theaters, restaurants, or shopping? Your new home does not need to be a long commute to things you love.  
• Schools: Communities in a high-rated school district normally have homes with higher price tags. As a parent, buying a home in a good school district is an investment in your child’s future, and if you do not have children, it is a wise financial investment as your home should at least keep its value as time goes by. 

• Safety: Everyone wants to feel safe in their home. Several websites offer crime stats, but it may be best to contact local law enforcement for current information about the area. 
• Utilities: Is high-speed internet or natural gas available in the neighborhood? Does your water come from the municipal water supply or a well? Your agent should have all of this information for you but asking the homeowner if they are willing to share how much they pay in monthly utilities will help you plan your monthly budget. 

Performing some “home” work is probably the best way to learn more about a community. Drive through at different times during the day or take a walk and pay attention to the sights, sounds, and–yes–smells of the neighborhood. You will be spending a lot of time there and being content in your new home is the most important location factor of all! 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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With the cost of heating and cooling a home throughout the year, homeowners want to have the most efficient HVAC units in their home that they can afford. Asking for recommendations for a specific unit can bring about a wide range of different answers, though. Those who are in the market for a new HVAC unit need a way to tell just how efficient different units are beyond all of the hype. That’s where SEER ratings come in.

An HVAC unit’s SEER rating should be one of the most important factors you consider when trying to decide on a model. Unfortunately, if you don’t really know what a SEER rating is or how it’s used, the rating can be kind of confusing. To help, here’s a basic rundown of what SEER ratings are, how they’re used, and where you can turn to get more information.

Having a smart home is becoming more affordable every year, and using automated devices is so convenient! However, many homeowners simply plug everything in and connect it to the home network, but this can be a mistake. Security should be a priority when buying anything for a smart home. Keep your smart devices secure with these tips:

• Expert Michael Horowitz suggests purchasing your modem/wireless router instead of leasing it from your internet provider. Ownership of the equipment allows more freedom to change settings and passwords and update the firmware.
• If leased equipment is already in place, use the router’s IP address, (most are found on a label on the router itself), and change the name of the router, the wifi connection, and create new passwords for both.
• Two- or multi-factor authentication is the next important step. Use a password keeper to create strong passwords and keep those passwords safe but accessible to you.
• Setting up a home network on your own can be intimidating, so hire a pro or ask a friend who has the know-how to help you. Having a home network will keep your “internet of things” connected separately, thus, less vulnerable to hacking or spying. Another benefit is if one device becomes infected with a virus, home computers and other devices that us a different network will not “catch” anything and remain safe from irreparable damage.
• Changing the router’s firewall settings is one way to add security from hacking, but purchasing a separate firewall is almost like having a double wall between your home’s network security and the bad guys!
• Privacy is a must: configure all “listening” devices to limit the data they record and share.
• Enable automatic updates on all devices during setup. If that is not an option, set a reminder to check for firmware updates at least once per week.

Finally, when you upgrade to any new devices, reset the setting of the old ones to factory default. Thus, if you sell or give away any of those items, your custom settings are not available to the new owners. You hold the keys to the security of your home’s smart devices and going through the process of good security setup may take some time, but the effort is worth it!

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Photo credit: PCMag

Having a good HVAC system in your home can really help you enjoy your living space throughout the year. A solid system will keep your home cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and just plain comfortable throughout the full year. Proper maintenance can keep your HVAC system running smoothly for years, ensuring that your home’s internal climate stays exactly the way you want it as time goes by.

This doesn’t mean that things can’t be better, though. You may not realize it, but there are actually several ways that you can modify your HVAC system to improve performance and create a better overall quality of life for you and your family. Different systems may have different options available, and they can affect the function of your system in different ways.

We spend a lot of time and effort keeping things clean, but are we thinking about how we can clean without damaging countertops, flooring, or other surfaces?  Proper cleaning keeps them looking good as new! 

Stainless Surfaces 

• Regular wiping with plain warm water is your first defense in cleaning any stainless surface, followed by a microfiber cloth or paper towel drying. Get rid of fingerprints with  a glass cleaner containing ammonia. 
• For scratches, use a clean cloth with a few drops of mineral or olive oil.  Wipe in the direction of the grain, and minor scratches will disappear. 

Countertops 

• Countertops need daily cleaning, but they need disinfecting as well. Some chemicals in sanitizing products could be harmful, so to give surfaces some TLC while killing germs, use white distilled vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or just good old hot, soapy water. 
• Mild soap mixed in warm water is great for general cleaning, as well as keeping germs at bay for granite countertops. Applying bleach, ammonia or even acidic vinegar can be harmful, so spray with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water if you need to disinfect. Having it resealed annually helps protect it, as well as maintain the germ barrier. 
• Quartz is a tough surface, but treat it gently; since it’s a manufactured product, using anything to scour away an errant stain will scratch the surface. Warm, soapy water is best to keep it sparkling.   

Flooring 

• Hardwood floors are fairly simple to care for: sweep often, and vacuum using the bare floor setting once a week. Chemical products for mopping are a no-no: a mop dampened with warm water and a mild soap is best, then rinsing any residue with a clean water mop. 
• Caring for tile is similar to hardwood using a damp microfiber mop and mild soap mixed with water.  As the floor is drying, buff with a dry microfiber cloth for a beautiful shine.  Unsealed grout can be cleaned safely with a paste of baking soda and water applied with a soft brush.   
• Mix a half cup of vinegar in a gallon of warm water when mopping vinyl floors. (The odor will vanish after it dries, or you can add some lemon essential oil to combat the initial smell.) Remove scuff marks by rubbing the streaks with a tennis ball, melamine sponge (sold as “magic” eraser/sponges), or clean pencil eraser. 

• Real Simple has some great tips for cleaning less common types of flooring such as bamboo, cork and natural stone flooring.  

Advertisers bombard us with messages saying that we need their products to keep our homes clean and sanitized, and while those things are important, not all of those products are safe.  Natural cleaners and mild detergents mixed in hot water clean just as well while protecting the material of each surface.  

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Maybe you’ve just moved into your new home and you’ve got a patio of your very own for the first time, or maybe you’ve had one for a while and just didn’t know what to do with it. Patios are magnificently flexible spaces, if not a little boring by themselves. Think of your patio as a three-dimensional canvas that you can literally create anything on that you’d like. From tiki hot tub paradise to casual outdoor dining space, patios are only limited by your imagination. Here are some things to think about when you’re trying to dress yours up!

Scammers are getting more and more creative with their swindling schemes, and older adults are no exception.  Some scams target the general population, but many aim specifically at senior citizens, and we should make our older friends, neighbors, and family members aware. This article features five common schemes: 

• Fake Social Security Claims:  This scam can begin with an official-looking letter in the mail or a phone call. The caller informs the recipient that there is a problem with their Social Security benefits or suspicious use of their SSN and could stop receiving their monthly deposits if the requested information is not provided immediately. Remind your older adult that the Social Security Administration will never call asking for more information unless they have applied for benefits. They should simply hang up and call their local SSA office or file a report through the SSA Inspector General Office website. 
• “Family Member” in Trouble:  Someone posing as a family member, most commonly a grandchild, will contact the elderly person and claim to be in serious trouble. The caller says that they need money immediately and will als0 stress not to contact their parents to avoid getting in trouble with them. In spite of their urgency, the senior adult should hang up or disengage and contact another member of the family, or call the person claiming to be in trouble to make sure everything is okay. 
• Homeowner Scams:  Older homeowners are targeted because they normally live in a home without a mortgage and a higher value than the purchase price.  Property tax scammers will offer to send someone to re-assess the value of the property to lower the taxes, but for a fee. No matter how official the correspondence may seem, the homeowner should always contact their local tax office to make sure they are not being had. 

• Deceased Spouse’s Fake Debt:  Fraudsters have no shame, and will go through obituaries, then contact surviving family members to claim that the deceased has an outstanding debt.  The best defense against this is to not give out any financial information, and most certainly do not pay anything. The estate handles any outstanding accounts, not surviving spouses. 
• Medicare Scams: Phone calls come daily–to those who are not even over 65–claiming to be a Medicare representative.  The most common claims the caller will make are asking to verify information, saying the account has a refund flagged, or offering free medical supplies.  Simply hang up without engaging in conversation.   

Though it may be difficult, stress to the older adult that their financial protection is as important as their physical well-being.  Giving a scammer any personal information can result in identity theft and financial ruin, so it is imperative that no matter their financial status, older adults understand not to trust any phone calls that initiate a financial or personal information transaction. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Photo credit: Senior Crossroads