Walker Realty Group, LLC 1508 Coleman Road, Suite 101
Knoxville, TN 37909
(865) 240-3647
WalkerRealtyGroupTN(at)gmail(dotted)com
Walker Realty Group, LLC 1508 Coleman Road, Suite 101
Knoxville, TN 37909
(865) 240-3647
WalkerRealtyGroupTN(at)gmail(dotted)com

Knox Happenings Newsletter – September 2019

September is typically a busy month for homeowners.

Kids go back to school. Work increases at many businesses as the fourth quarter looms. Major home renovation projects are in the midst of wrapping up, and smaller projects may be about to start!

The weather will start cooling and leaves will begin to fall. Be sure and take some time for yourself. Relax, enjoy some football and spend time with family and friends.

Being Safe with the Chemicals in Your Home

You would have to visit your local pharmacy or science lab to rival the number of potentially dangerous chemicals in the average home. You likely store everything from fertilizers and acidic cleaners, to gasoline and corrosive drain openers.

Obviously, it makes sense to ensure that everyone in your home uses and stores these items safely.

For example, laundry detergent packs – which have become popular recently – are attractive to children. Be sure to keep the lid locked and the package out of sight. Do the same with all laundry products. Even exposure to fabric softener pads can cause skin irritation, especially to a child.

Always read and follow the labels on household chemical products. Use and store them as directed. Make sure the labels remain affixed to all packaging.

Keep corrosives, such as harsh cleaners and drain openers, separate from other chemicals and in a place where, should they leak, they will cause minimal or no damage.

Also, never put a chemical in anything other than its original container. You don’t want to take the chance that, for example, paint thinner stored in an old water bottle is mistaken for water!

5 Unusual (But Effective) Home Staging Ideas

“Staging” your home is all about making the space in your home as appealing as possible to buyers. You may already know the basics, such as eliminating clutter, and removing personal photographs. Here are some other tips that are less well known yet very effective:

A chandelier. Surprisingly, installing a chandelier is one of the simplest ways to make a foyer, dining room or living room look dramatically more eye-catching. You can buy a nice chandelier for only a few hundred dollars.

New linen. This is something many home sellers don’t consider, but should. Believe it or not, new linen makes a big impression on buyers. Before listing, replace any worn linen – sheets, coverings, and towels – with new ones.

Pedestal sinks. It may not be practical for you to replace a bathroom sink. However, if you are doing a renovation, keep in mind that pedestal sinks – especially in small washrooms – are a big hit with buyers.

New appliances. A brand new fridge, stove and dishwasher are motivating selling features to buyers. New appliances can make the whole kitchen look brand new, or at least much fresher.

Avoid multi-use rooms. Have a spare bedroom that doubles as a home office? That’s a turnoff to buyers. Whenever possible, stage each room so that it has a singular purpose. A guest bedroom, for example, should only be for sleeping.

Want more tips on how to stage your home so that it attracts buyers? Call us today.

Will the Neighborhood Go Up in Value?

When you purchase a home, you hope it will continually go up in value – just like a good investment.

However, there’s something else that you also want to see increase in value: the neighborhood. In fact, the neighborhood plays a key role in what the home will be worth in the years to come. If the neighborhood goes down in terms of desirability, so will the market value of the home.

So, when you’re shopping for a new home, get a feel for the value of the neighborhood, and whether or not it’s on the upswing.

How do you do that? One way is to simply take a walk. Look at the properties. Are they well maintained? Is the landscaping groomed and attractive? Those are signs of “pride in ownership” – a clear indication that owners value their homes and the neighborhood.

Another way is to do some research. Has crime gone up in the neighborhood? Are there improvements planned, such as new parks? Is the neighborhood attracting the kind of people you want as neighbors? How do the neighborhood schools rank?

Notable, Quotable, Quotes!

“If we magnified our successes as much as we magnified our disappointments, we’d all be much happier.”
Abraham Lincoln

“Winners take time to relish their work, knowing that scaling the mountain is what makes the view from the top so exhilarating.”
Denis Waitley

“Consider the postage stamp. Its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.”
John Billings