Flooring Design Trends

The floor can be the most important piece of décor in your house

• Panel woods, which a were popular trend to follow in the previous years has been replaced by rustic conventional wood floors.

• If your wanting a more edgy & modern look to your bathroom, then stained concrete floors can be a practical option.

• For outside floorboards, natural tiles have replaced stone and marbles because not only does it give an earthy vibe but has a heavy texture.

• Vinyl flooring has become a popular demand because of its easy-to-clean characteristics and its abilities to mimic highly expensive tiles.

• Install Bamboo in a bold shade.

We're Having A Heat Wave!

How to Stay Cool

1.Soak a towel in cold water, wring it out & wear it around your neck

2. Fill your bathtub with cool water and get in. You will remain cool for quite sometime after you get out of the tub.

3. Fill a bucket with cold water and soak your feet. This helps cool you off instantly.

4. Eat Spicy Foods! Though eating hot food may sound like a bad idea, this is what people eat in regions of the world where hot weather is the norm. It causes you to perspire, and when you sweat, your body cools as the perspiration evaporates.

TOP 10 Ways to Add Value to Your Home

10. More Space- More Light

Dark and dungy are no good.  Light opens the area and gives the illusion of a larger space!

9. Adding a Home Office

Millions of Americans work from home and its increasing every year. This has become more of a necessity than a luxury.

8. Curb Appeal

A good first impression can add 5 to 10% to the value of your home. You want it to be welcoming.

7. Add a Sunroom or Upscale Patio

Not only would it add square footage to the home, it’s typically half the price of adding an extra standard room.

6. Add a Deck

According to Remodeling Magazine more than 85% of your cost of putting in a wooden deck can be recouped on a resale. Adding a built-in fire pit and raised benches enhance it even more.

5. Paint

A coat of paint can do wonders to brighten up any area of the home. People crave color!

4. Landscaping

It’s not all about just greenery, it includes lighting, fences, rock features, paths and ponds and more. Spice up your area around the outside of the house and add significant value.

3. Remodel Your Basement

Basements are an open area and can be turned in to almost anything; play rooms, bar room, extra guest rooms or even a whole place of storage- you can never have too much of that!

2. Bathrooms

Adding or updating a bathroom adds a huge increase in value. The average bathroom remodel can get you back the majority of your investment.

1. Kitchen-

An updated kitchen, if done correctly, can give you an almost 100 percent return on your investment. This is by far the heart of the house so give it a lot of attention.

Let’s Talk About Mold

______it’s dirty.

__________it’s stinky.

______________It’s toxic.

It’s everywhere.

AGH! It’s scary! ARG! It’s annoying!

Sometimes it’s obvious. Sometimes you smell it. And sometimes you just have an intuition that it’s there.

So what do you do?

Well, I sat down this week with Mold Inspector, Mr. Fuzzy Green-Professional Mold Inspector of Lenexa, and got the low-down for all our Homeowners out there.

Homeowner: Hey Mr. Green! Thanks for chatting with us today. Mold has become an increasingly bigger and bigger issue for Homeowners across the globe. We get a lot of them asking us what they can do if they suspect mold. Can you explain briefly exactly what you do?

Fuzzy: As a mold inspector our job is to inspect a property for mold contamination, identify the type of mold and its toxins, and determine the source of the mold growth and a scope of work for proper remediation. On top of this, in our inspection we report areas that could be susceptible to future mold contamination and give recommendations on how to fix and prevent mold from growing.

Homeowner: When a homeowner is previewing a property, what signs would they see that indicate the presence of mold?

Fuzzy: If there are no signs of visible mold, indications would include a musty odor, water stains on the ceilings and walls, cracked tiles and deteriorated grout in the kitchens and bathrooms, any water stains/damage below sinks and/or soft spots near or around any sinks, tubs, toilets or drains.

Homeowner: What are common causes of mold growth?

Fuzzy: There are two main causes of mold growth, Poor ventilation and moisture.

Homeowner: How can a homeowner prevent mold from growing?

Fuzzy: First defense against mold growth is to alert the landlord of any water leaks. Other prevention steps would be to be sure to use the bathroom fan when showering, don’t leave wet rags or towels beneath the sink or in laundry room closets and try to allow the unit to “breathe” by opening windows regularly.

Homeowner: Let’s say a one suspect’s mold in their home. They call you to come inspect. What can they expect? What happens during the inspection, how long does it take, etc.?

Fuzzy: It depends on the situation. Inspections can last from 30 minutes for a partial inspection (inspection of a specific area) to three hours for an inspection of the entire property.

·         During the inspection I will be using a moisture meter as well as sight and smell to find signs of moisture intrusion. If any moisture intrusion is found I will then inspect deeper to determine if there is any microbial growth.

Homeowner: Do you have anything to add?

Fuzzy: Yes, it is important for everybody to know that mold is everywhere; it’s in the air we breathe. There are thousands of different types of mold; out of the thousands there are approximately 100 that produce toxins. This is why it’s important to determine the type of mold. While you do not want any type of mold to be growing where you live or work, drastic action needs to be taken when toxic molds are present.

 

Homeowner: Thanks Mr. Green! Keep up the good work.

                                                            Written By: The Rental Girl

Prevent Water Damage While On Vacation

1. Check your home for leaks before you leave. The seals around your windows must be in good condition and check that there are no dislodged or damaged shingles on your roof. Re-caulk seals & replace shingles if needed.

2. Inspect the hoses that connect to major appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines & ice makers. Make sure there no kinks; replace any old or damaged hoses.

3. Clear all debris out of your rain gutters, and check the downspouts for any blockage.

4. Examine your sump pump & check that its in good condition and clear of debris. Make sure water is going outside. Install battery-powered backup source in case there is a power outage while your gone.

5. Ask someone to check your house periodically while your gone; show them where the water main is located in case a pipe brakes or bursts.

6. Turn off the water at the main, if there is no one to check your house.

Quote of the Week

" Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work"   
                      
                         {Aristotle}

Renovation Loans gives Homebuyers an Edge

If homebuyers are willing to look at older homes or damaged properties with aesthetic characteristics like paint color, hardware and floor coverings, they may discover a diamond in the rough! A Renovation Loan lets you buy in the neighborhood you want and gives you the money to upgrade the property how you want. FHA renovation loans are called 203(K) loans. How much money you want to borrow and the kinds of improvements you plan to make will determine which of the two 203(K) types you need.

ServiceOne Restoration is a certified 203(K) Contractor in the KC area and can assist the homeowner in working through the process.