Oil stains on kitchen rugs usually meant throwing them out for me! Then I found this simple natural cleaning hack. Sprinkle the stain liberally with baking soda. Work it in with a wet cloth. Let the rug dry overnight, shake and voila, stain gone. Baking soda absorbs the grease. It’s wonderful for this as well as being a great gentle abrasive and deodorizer.

Nail polish spill on the rug? Don’t freak. Use a microfiber cloth with rubbing alcohol. Blot as much as possible with paper towels first. Drizzle with rubbing alcohol and blot with the microfiber towel. Repeat as necessary. Rinse by blotting with a clean microfiber towel and cool water.

How can the washer get dirty? But it does. Spray the entire inside liberally with vinegar in a spray bottle. Scrub thoroughly with a sponge with a gentle scrubber side. Rinse well with a small bucket of warm water, especially at the top where water doesn’t reach during a normal cycle. Add two more cups of water to the drum and run a normal cycle with hot water to reach all the places you can’t by hand. 

You can make a simple laundry stain remover with only 2 ingredients. Mix 1 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide with ½ cup liquid dish soap (I recommend blue Dawn®) in a clean spray bottle. Work into the stain by rubbing the fabric together or gently with a toothbrush. Launder as usual. This also works well on carpeting. Blot with cool water to rinse.

Your kitchen sink and drain are two of the most germiest places in the house. Here is where we need to use bleach. Always work in a well-ventilated area, wear rubber gloves and a face mask if you have any breathing problems. Fill the sink ¼ of the way with cool water. Let stand for 15 minutes. Let the water slowly down the drain. Carefully wipe down the sides of the sink. Rinse well and towel dry to prevent water spots.

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Before you get the keys to your new home, there are a few steps you’ll need to go through first. After you’ve got your credit and finances in order, got pre-approved for a mortgage, found a reputable real estate agent to work with, and found the home of your dreams, the actual real estate transaction can begin.

If you’ve never entered into a real estate contract before, these are the steps you’ll typically go through in succession.

Making An Offer

All negotiations for the purchase and sale of real estate in California will typically be done via a written contract by way of a Residential Purchase Agreement. Your offer will be submitted to the seller through this completed document, which will include a number of components that can be negotiated, including your offer price, closing date, deposit amount, and contingencies, among others.

Be prepared for any one of these things to be negotiated by the seller. An offer is often followed by a counteroffer by the seller, which you can then counter again until an agreement can be reached that meets both parties’ needs.

Your real estate agent will make sure that the necessary contingencies are included in your purchase agreement to protect you. The most typical ones include financing and home inspections, which provide you with a certain amount of time after an offer is accepted for you to arrange for a mortgage and have a professional home inspector come into the home to identify any deficiencies, respectively. All of these items, as well as disclosure requirements and agreed-upon fees, are specified in the Residential Purchase Agreement.

Once the offer is accepted, all parties – including you, the seller, and real estate agents/brokers – must sign and date the contract. At that point, the contract is legally binding.

Entering Into a Representative Contract With Your Realtor

The California Association of Realtors (CAR) offers a standard contract that buyers enter into with their representing real estate agent: the Buyer Broker Representation Agreement. This form is an agreement between buyers and their real estate agents/brokers. It outlines what the real estate agent will do for you, and how you will be represented.

The agreement doesn’t make you obligated to the real estate agent for any services, even if the agent helps you find a home and a successful purchase agreement is entered into with a seller. Buyer representatives typically get paid through the seller or listing broker.

Even though it’s a contract, the Buyer Broker Representation Agreement can be canceled by the buyer or the agent at any time. There’s also an expiry date specified on the form, which outlines how long the agent will be representing you for.

Paying the Deposit

Once the purchase agreement is accepted and signed by you and the seller, you’ll have to provide the seller with a deposit check within the next day or so. This money is kept in an account by the listing broker, and is kept separate from any of the brokerage’s other accounts. On average, these deposit amounts are typically anywhere between 1% to 3% of the purchase price of the home. This money goes towards the down payment for the mortgage.

If, for whatever reason, the deal falls through, the deposit amount is either returned to you or kept by the seller, depending on the reason for the fallout. For instance, if you were unable to obtain approval for a mortgage and a financial contingency was included in the offer, you would typically get the deposit back. On the other hand, if no contingencies were included in the agreement and the home was sold firm, the seller often has the legal capability of keeping that deposit money.

Fulfilling the Contingencies

The majority of offers come equipped with contingencies, which can include any one of the following:

• Financing
• Home inspection
• Appraisal
• Clear title

After a purchase agreement is accepted by both you and the seller, you will be given a certain amount of time to fulfill the contingencies included in the offer. During this time, the home is said to be  ‘escrow.’ This is the time for you to get approved for a mortgage from the lender, get a home inspection completed, have a lawyer ensure the title is free and clear of any liens or other issues, or have the home appraised. 

Once these contingencies are fulfilled, the deal is done, and the title is transferred from the seller to yourself. However, if one or more contingency cannot be fulfilled by you, the deal is dead, and the home remains under title of the seller. 

Closing Day

If all goes well, the deal will close. This is when the title of the home is legally and officially transferred from the seller to yourself, legal documents are signed, the down payment and closing costs are paid, and the keys are handed over.

You will also be given a copy of an HUD-1 Settlement Statement, which specifies all the little detailed costs of the mortgage, including the interest rate, escrow fees, mortgage insurance, and title insurance fees, among others. A final copy of this document is a part of the closing of a real estate transaction. The lender is required to provide a Good Faith Estimate of the total amount due upon closing within three days of the loan application being received.

An Initial Escrow Settlement Statement is also due at closing, or within 45 days of closing, which outlines the amount that needs to be paid to cover taxes, insurance premiums, and other fees that need to be paid out from the escrow account throughout the mortgage’s first year.

The Bottom Line

The real estate transaction can be a very detailed, complex, and lengthy process, and it often is. That’s why a deal of this magnitude should only be made with the help of an experienced real estate agent licensed in the state of California. With this guidance and expertise, the transaction should be a smooth and streamlined one.

“Going . . . going . . . gone!”

They’re the infamous words buyers and sellers will hear at auctions. These platforms have long been used to buy and sell a host of different goods, including real estate. Buyers are hoping to snag a good deal, while sellers are looking to get their properties off their hands in a short amount of time.

Property auctions can offer sellers a quicker sale and can help maximize what the home goes for. On the other hand, auctions are better suited for specific types of properties that aren’t as easily marketed and sold the traditional way.

Once that gavel falls, the deal is legal and binding. There’s no turning back. The question is, should you consider selling your home at an auction?

Let’s weigh out the pros and cons to help you make the best decision.

PROS

You’re in the Driver’s Seat

In an auction scenario, it’s the seller who sets the terms – not the buyer. There are no clauses that come along with the home. The property is sold in as-is condition without any haggling about the condition or home inspection contingencies. Once the sale is done, it’ done. The property is transferred over to the buyer without the seller having to worry about any issues that negatively affect the home. Without any clauses associated with the bid, the seller has the most control.

Staging Isn’t Needed

In the traditional world of real estate, professional home staging is an important step. Getting the property ready for the market can help attract buyers in the neighborhood, help the home sell faster, and command top dollar come sale time.

When selling at an auction, staging isn’t necessarily called for. While sellers need to sign a disclosure statement, they typically don’t have to make any changes to the home before putting it up for auction.

The Reserve Price Protects the Seller

Just because a home is being sold at an auction doesn’t mean that the seller has to risk selling for a few dollars. By setting the reserve price – which is the lowest bid accepted – the seller is protected financially. This reserve price is set based on the current market value and comparable sales of similar homes in the area that have recently sold.

Sellers have the right to refuse any bids once they are in. Essentially, properties with higher equity can be well-suited for auction sales. If the property is close to being paid off, an auction might be the ideal platform to sell.

Quick Process

The speed at which auctions proceed is another reason why some sellers choose to go this route. Usually, auctions are advertised within 30 days of when they are scheduled, and deals typically close within 30 to 45 days after the date of the auction. Such a quick turnaround time means that less money is needed to cover property insurance, property taxes, and maintenance costs.

CONS

Potentially Low Auction Attendance

Properties being sold at auctions are not necessarily as widely marketed as homes that are listed in the MLS. Just about every real estate agent and buyer has access to the MLS, offering sellers a far-reaching outlet upon which to showcase their properties.

Instead, sellers are relying on the auction company to effectively market their properties, and the auction itself. Auctioneers are tasked with promoting the auction in order to generate a large attendance where a bigger crowd of interested buyers will compete to outbid each other. The more qualified people at an auction, the better for the seller. However, if the auction company is unable to generate such a crowd due to inadequate marketing and promotion efforts, the odds of receiving higher bids is a lot lower. Not only that, low attendance can also be affected by bad weather and other factors that are out of the auction company’s control.

High Costs

Auction companies typically charge a premium of around 10% of the final purchase price of the property in order to cover their services. Buyers are aware of this extra fee that they’ll have to pay, and will keep that in mind when they place a bid. Depending on the auction company, this fee could also be charged in part to the seller. Compare that amount to the average real estate commission of 5%, which is half of what is paid out to auctioneers. 

Heavy Competition

Auctions usually cover many different properties, each of which is essentially competing against each other for the attention of the buyers present. Such a situation gives buyers an easier way to compare homes against each other before they make the decision on which property to bid on. Buyers who bid at auctions usually want to get a good return on their investment, and aren’t necessarily trying to find a certain home for their primary residence. The competition at an auction can put downward pressure on prices in order to stimulate the interest of a buyer.

The Bottom Line

Regardless of whether you go the auction route or choose to sell the traditional way, make sure you get advice from your real estate agent. Either option will require solid guidance from an industry professional. After all, the goal is to get the best price possible upon the sale of your home, while making sure the entire sale process goes smoothly without a hitch.

Put a pot of Mums on each step leading to your front door. They bloom in sun or shade. Keep them blooming longer by watering when dry and removing spent flowers. They come in a wide variety of colors and sizes and will bloom till the hard frost.

Paint or etch your house number or name in a pumpkin. Put it on top of a display of heirloom pumpkins and large gourds. These are available now in grocery stores and home centers. They come in a wide variety of colors, textures and interesting shapes. Mix colors or go monochromatic.

Find some wide flat pumpkins in unusual colors. Place these on your buffet table as platforms for serving dishes. Different sizes will show an interesting display on the table. You can also use mini pumpkins for candle holders. Hollow out a hole and melt a little candle wax to hold them firmly. You can use larger pumpkins and top with candles in mason jars for illumination along a walkway or stairs. There are many paint effects to use on the jars for a shimmery look.

Hollow out a large flat pumpkin to use as a planter. Line with plastic and fill with potting soil. Vary the plants. Mix herbs and flowers for an interesting fall feel. If you don’t want to have a growing plant just use florist foam and buy fresh cut fall flowers to make your arrangement.

Paint different sizes of pumpkins. Use gold and black paint for a shimmery classy effect or bright poster paints for kids. Craft stores have pumpkins in many colors to use for your displays also.  Duct tape comes in many colors and patterns now. Let the kids go crazy decorating!  Do a rectangular pattern, stripes or circles. Make faces or scary designs. Do a cool mummy with white tape.    

Stud oranges with cloves in interesting patterns and tie with raffia. Arrange in a large bowl for a fragrant centerpiece. Use oranges along with other fall themed fruits like apples and pomegranates. These will smell nice and last in a nice crystal bowl centerpiece for several days.

Make a pumpkin tower. Find three pumpkins in graduating sizes in different colors. Use a large footed dish or planter for the stack. Place sphagnum moss in between to steady them and give contrast.

Simple is often best. Use a large vase and fill with colorful branches of fall leaves. This makes a lovely centerpiece with great height.

For a simple centerpiece use interesting and colorful gourds. They last forever and are so interesting, mix with orange and white mini pumpkins.  Use a rustic canvas or burlap runner down the length of the table. Line the runner with small gourds in different shapes and sizes.

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Bamboo has become one of the most popular “green” and environmentally-friendly materials used in many aspects of home construction and decor. This sustainable material is not only durable, it’s also attractive, and can be taken outdoors and incorporated into a wonderful landscape design.

While experts agree that actually planting bamboo isn’t necessarily a good idea (as it can grow extremely quickly and become overpowering), there are plenty if other ways to use this natural material to create a beautiful appearance to your outdoor landscaping.

1. Trellises For Climbing Plants

Many climbing plants need some sort of support in order to branch vertically, and a trellis is an ideal structure for this purpose. Rather than opt for a wire trellis, bamboo works just as well, yet adds an added level of natural beauty. You can easily find pre-built bamboo trellises at your local gardening store, but you can also make them yourself to fit the exact look and height that you want to achieve.

2. Walkway Edging

You can easily define your yard’s walkways and pathways using bamboo posts placed very closely together. How high you make the edging is entirely up to you. You can choose to keep the bamboo posts the same height for clean lines, or you might even want to consider a jagged edge by using different heights for each post.

3. Footbridges

If you’ve got a rather large property with trickling brooks, bamboo poles can be used to construct a footbridge over top of these waterways. Bamboo’s incredible strength and durability can withstand the weight of all the traffic that crosses on top, yet it’s extremely light and easy to work with. If bamboo is strong enough to handle all the foot traffic of major footbridges such as the Kampong Cham bridge in Cambodia – which is the longest bamboo bridge in the world – it’s surely strong enough for your residential setting.

4. Walkways

If bamboo is strong enough for a footbridge, it’s certainly durable enough for a walkway. Bamboo is a great alternative to conventional stone or concert walkways, and makes a sharp-looking surface, regardless of whether your outdoor decor is modern or traditional in nature.

5. Fencing

There are plenty of materials that you can choose from to construct a fence around the perimeter of your yard, but bamboo is probably one of the best. Aside from being attractive, it’s also very durable and resistant to infestation from termites, making it likely to last longer and require little maintenance compared to other types of wood.

6. Railings

Your staircase needs a railing, but instead of opting for the typical aluminum or other type of metal, consider going for something a little more in-tune with the surrounding natural setting, like bamboo. Installing railings by using bamboo poles can really create a truly unique look. You might even want to use it for your interior staircases too!

7. Privacy Screens

Creating defined spaces in your yard or adding a level of privacy from the neighbors is easy with the introduction of a screen made out of bamboo poles. All you need is a saw and some wiring to create a delightful design to your liking. You can keep a little bit of space between the poles for semi-privacy, or abut each pole right up against each other for maximum privacy. 

8. Patio Roof

For some shade in an ultra-sunny backyard, a patio roof is a convenient addition as opposed to a typical umbrella. Bamboo offers a much more affordable option compared to other building materials when constructing a patio roof, while creating an esthetically pleasing structure at the same time.

There are plenty of ways to include bamboo in your yard instead of planting it. Consider any one of the above ideas to design a visually stunning yard you’ll be proud to show off to your guests.