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Top Tips for Giving Your Bedroom a DIY Facelift

01/27/2019 by Debe Leave a Comment

Top Tips for Giving Your Bedroom a DIY Facelift

Is your bedroom overdue for a makeover? If your space is looking more weary than restorative, there are plenty of things you can do to breathe new life into your boudoir. Here’s how to give the space a whole new appeal, DIY-style.

Tailor-Made — By You!

Giving your home a customized look can be daunting, but there are some changes you can make with minimal skills and tools. For instance, shiplap walls provide a beautiful update most homeowners can tackle, and the look can work in nearly any design style. Try installing an accent wall to get started, and you can always expand your project later. Another idea is to change up your headboard. Wall-mounted headboards are all the rage, and it creates a nice, modern, floating effect. Looking for a smaller project that packs a wallop? Consider changing the hardware on your dressers. New drawer pulls, handles and knobs can make an old piece of furniture new again. Consider taking your old hardware to the store while you shop, to match up the size. That way, you can avoid having to patch the old holes and drilling new ones.

Upgrade Your Bedding

Little feels more refreshing than settling into a well-chosen bed at night. If you sleep poorly, wake up frequently, or experience stiffness or pain in the mornings, it could all be due to your mattress. Prevention.com notes that mattresses have a lifespan of just five to 10 years, and it’s also important that your mattress meshes with your sleep position. While it may not seem like a big deal, poor quality sleep can lead to all sorts of health concerns and reduce your quality of life. There are plenty of mattress options out there, so explore websites such as ConsumersAdvocate.org before you make a selection. That way, you can ensure you make the best choice for your comfort, and you’ll look forward to snuggling into your refreshed bedroom.

Restful Wall Color

One of the easiest and most satisfying ways to alter the look of a room is to change the wall color. Doing a great job will make you feel proud and content, so be thoughtful about the process. Ensure you prep the surface properly and choose good quality supplies for the best results. If you haven’t painted a room before or your skills could use some brushing up, you can review Martha Stewart’s step-by-step pointers for achieving a perfect paint job.

As far as colors, select shades which promote serenity and rest. Lavender, gray, sage, blue-green, and beige all tend to be relaxing and restorative. Feeling creative? You can spice things up a bit with a faux finish, such as sponging, glazing, or adding a lime finish. When it comes time to select your other decor and your accent colors, some experts suggest repeating the second hue at least three times throughout the space.

Add Patterns for Pop

Bringing your bedroom to life is quick and easy when you start mixing patterns. The key is to change up the sizes, use at least three patterns, and begin with the largest, boldest pattern first. For ideas, look at a favorite piece of fabric, your wall art, or gather cues from nature. Stick with consistency in the richness of your selections, and also be attentive to fabric textures. Certain textures, such as damask, panne velvet, and ruching, are strong enough to act as patterns.

Rethinking Your Rug

You might be surprised to learn what’s underfoot can make a big impact on how restful your bedroom feels. When it comes to selecting a rug that promotes rest and relaxation, Elle Decor recommends going big. Larger rugs help dampen sound, which means a quieter sleep environment. Also, aim for rugs with a natural feel, such as wool, cotton, or silk, and avoid patterns that are distractingly bold or large.

When it’s time to rethink your sleeping environment, you can do some great DIYs. Create a bedroom that feels welcoming, warm, and personal with some well-thought-out changes and simple updates. You’ll sleep easier in your new, improved space.

Thanks to our ‘DIY Dad,’ Eugene Williams for contributing this post. Visit his website for more wonderful DIY tips.

Debe Maxwell | RE/MAX Executive | The Maxwell House Group | CharlotteBroker@icloud.com | Top Tips for Giving Your Bedroom a DIY Facelift

What You Need to Know about the 2019 Mecklenburg County Tax Revaluation

01/25/2019 by Debe Leave a Comment

Charlotte homeowners have been bracing for big increases in the tax value of their properties since our last revaluation was done during The Great Recession. So, as you can imagine, the revaluation of real property is going to be considerably more than the ‘normal’ increases since we went from them being performed during the lowest of lows to now, the highest of highs.

Sales prices have continued to be on the rise, therefore our valuations are going to reflect that. Charlotte’s real estate market has boomed out of The Great Recession with some 70 new residents moving here each and every day.

Mecklenburg County’s property website has been slowed to a crawl as tens of thousands of residents close one eye to take a peek at their new assessed tax values. Thousands have lined up to file their appeal of the county’s valuation decision.

Why now?

Mecklenburg County reassesses property values every eight years, as does all of North Carolina. Because property taxes are a primary source for our local government, this scheduled re-calculation is a must to keep the County operating at its highest capacity.

Property taxes pay for things like public schools, community colleges, libraries, local government employees’ salaries, parks & rec, sanitation, sewer, police and fire protection, roads and other local needs. Each of these items can have its own percentage rate that is multiplied by the assessed value of your property to determine a portion of your bill. The taxes you owe for each item are totaled to determine your final property tax bill.

The Country has systematically put a price tag on every property within its borders. This value is used to calculate property tax paid to the city and county government. The property tax rate, also called a multiplier or mill rate, is a percentage by which the assessed value of your property is multiplied to determine your new tax bill. Homeowners in the city of Charlotte pay $1.31 for every $100 of assessed value — or about $5,240 for a $400,000 home.

You will receive your new valuation this month in the mail; there is no need to pay your 2019 bill at this time. Actual tax bills will go out beginning July 19, 2019. Your taxes will be due on September 1, 2019, and to avoid penalties or interest, must be paid by January 7, 2020.

The county tax assessor’s office prepared the Board of Commissioners that residential property increases would average more than 40%. I’ve spoken to many clients this week, all of whom are reporting a 33% increase in residential taxes. The new commercial tax valuations are the ones that are significant with many being 100% or higher.

Check your property tax value

If you haven’t checked the site yet or don’t know where to go to check the value of your property, visit the Mecklenburg County’s property records website and enter your address.

This will take you to a page that has the details of your home and a breakdown of the valuation (land, building, extras). The new value is in the top right hand corner. Note the hot link on the right hand side (red arrow under Assessment Details) will take you to the letter that the County is sending.

This information is valuable if you need to appeal or have the county correct any misinformation you find. Contained within the letter, you will receive an “Informal Review Form” and that MUST be completed within 30 days of receipt of your new valuation.

If you opt to appeal the valuation formally, you may file a Formal Appeal with the Board of Equalization and Review (BER) by May 20, 2019.

The new valuations (Notice of 2019 Real Estate Assessed Value letter) were mailed Wednesday, so they should start hitting our mailboxes today.

Next Steps

Contact the County Assessor’s Office at AssessorQuestions@MeckNC.gov or call (980) 314-4226 if you have questions regarding the new assessment. And, of course, I am not a CPA or tax attorney so, if you have further questions, please contact your financial planner, tax attorney or CPA.

Home Maintenance & Inspection Schedule – Annual Checklist

12/21/2018 by Debe Leave a Comment

Today is officially the first day of winter and we are reminded of the harsh treatment our homes receive from Mother Nature each and every winter season. Owning a home is a dream come true for many and keeping that dream home in its top condition requires a little preventative maintenance. Just as we have an annual physical with our physicians, consider yourself your home’s doctor – at least the one that oversees all maintenance!

You may not be able to do the work but, if you need a vendor to help with any of the items on the checklist below, let me know. I have a great list of vendors who often help my clients – and myself – with needed home repairs found during our seasonal inspections.

Call or text (704) 491-3310 if you need the name of a great contractor for your maintenance needs or if you would like a printable .pdf of this list, courtesy of Homes.com.

Have a wonderful winter & a fantastic New Year!

2019 Home Maintenance & Inspection Schedule

How to Remodel Your Bathroom on a Budget

11/14/2018 by Debe Leave a Comment

How to Remodel Your Bathroom on a Budget

When it comes to remodeling a bathroom, you want to plan appropriately. Things can get expensive quickly, so you want to keep your budget tight and ensure that you have the best ROI for the projects chosen. If you’re planning to redo your home’s bathrooms, here is what you need to know to get the most from your money.

Think About ROI

One of the big rooms to remodel before putting the house on the market is the bathroom. While building a new bathroom may not give the best return, adding additions and renovating can. Painting, especially a calming color like blue, can show an increase in sale price by over $5,000. It’s inexpensive, and you can do it yourself well. If you get a contractor to redo a bathroom, it may cost almost $20,000, but you’ll see, on average, a 70 percent return. It’s worth doing the bathroom well, but to avoid that hefty price tag, you want to do it smart. Create a budget and stick to it by deciding what you can do by yourself and what you need a professional to manage. A good idea of how to establish the absolute maximum you should spend is to determine the value of your house and divide it by the number of rooms you have. This figure should be no more than the value of a single room.

Make It Efficient

There is almost never enough room for storage in bathrooms. Between chemical storage, shampoos and soaps, and the many towels, we end up needing to be creative. Having additional storage options can see a good ROI, and it doesn’t take much effort to make it happen. You can add or create pullout shelving in your existing cabinets for extra storage. More complex projects could be done to make the room appear larger and offer more space to move about it. A corner sink takes up less room and can allow for further development, such as putting in a towel hamper or a new shelf. You can do other easy installs yourself, such as adding towel bars on the back of the bathroom door to maximize room. Bars and shelving aren’t expensive, especially if you install them yourself to save the cost of additional labor.

What to Do Yourself

Determining what you can do yourself depends on how adventurous you are and your level of experience. If you have done some projects in the past, you may be able to branch out and update your toilet, replace a sink, or even install a shower door. Make sure you do your research before you begin, as there may be permits you need to acquire for bigger projects. You need to really plan before you start, even down to what color scheme you will be choosing, as you certainly don’t want your tile to clash with the countertop. You may find that things like replacing faucets and shower heads are easier than ripping out and laying down a new floor. Adding shelving is less intensive than adjusting plumbing, so think about what effort you’re willing to put into this remodel. You’ll need basic equipment as well, like a safety mask, gloves, electric tools, buckets, and spackle. This is not something to take on lightly, so compare the price of buying tools and taking time to accomplish the remodel with hiring a contractor.

Hiring a Contractor

When it comes to complicated matters, it really is best if you hire a professional. Not only do they have the tools and experience needed, but you can injure yourself if you fiddle with plumbing and wiring and something goes awry. Things like redoing your shower or tub, installing a lighting fixture, or replacing a toilet should be left to those who have ample experience. Only tackle what you are 100 percent certain you can handle with no risk to yourself.

If you are thinking of remodeling, don’t panic. It will be work, but at the end of the day, it can be greatly worth it. Be sure that you plan to get the best ROI possible, and know when you need to hire a professional to keep things safe.

Many thanks to guest writer, Eugene Williams
http://diydad.info/

*How to Remodel Your Bathroom on a Budget

Five Home Maintenance Tips for Charlotte Homeowners to do in the Fall

10/13/2018 by Debe Leave a Comment

Five Home Maintenance Tips for Charlotte Homeowners to do in the Fall

Trying to save money? During my years of experience in the real estate industry, I’ve learned that home maintenance is so much more affordable than emergency repairs. Here are five routine maintenance projects to do this month that can help prevent unexpected costs and save you money year-round. Here are Five Home Maintenance Tips for Charlotte Homeowners to do in the Fall.

1. Clear out gutters

Water from clogged gutters can overflow and leak into your home. Heavy, ice-packed gutters can tear away from your house in the winter. Grab a ladder, gloves and hose and clear gutters out while the weather is still warm.

2. Caulk & weatherstrip windows & doors

Drafty windows and doors can suck money right out of your budget from high energy bills. Check the caulk and weatherproofing strips around doors and windows to make sure they’re not dried and crumbling. If they are, they’re easy (and cheap) to replace.

3. Clean the fireplace

Have your chimney professionally inspected and potentially cleaned annually to prevent creosote, a flammable byproduct of wood burning, from building up. It can create a fire hazard and elevate the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Before each use, make sure your damper closes tightly and clear remaining ashes from the bottom of your fireplace.

4. Check your filters

Clogged furnace and air conditioning filters not only make your HVAC system less efficient, they also can spread unhealthy pollutants and allergies in your home. Dark and mucky filters should be replaced. You don’t even need tools for this one!

5. Flush the water heater

Neglected water heaters have a way of getting back at you when you least expect it (and that way is usually soggy and expensive.) Clear out sediment particles that collect over time by regularly flushing out water through the drain valve. If you have a tankless water heater, now is a great time to have it serviced.

Looking for your own home you can maintain with tender-loving care? Let’s talk! Call or text (704) 491-3310 and let’s sit down and discuss homeownership and the exciting steps to get you into your dream home!

Thinking of selling your home this fall or winter? Visit www.ListMyCharlotteHome.com or call/text (704) 491-3310.

Hurricane Preparedness – Is Florence Going to Show Her Face in Charlotte? Another Hugo Perhaps?

09/11/2018 by Debe Leave a Comment

Is Florence Going to Show Her Face in Charlotte? Another Hugo Perhaps?

September 22, 1989 – Hurricane Hugo, the storm by which all other storms are measured here in Charlotte. Being 150 miles inland, we never thought it possible to be faced with the level of destruction we experienced, nor the costs of $9-Billion to clean-up and repair/replace.

During the disaster, Charlotte reported sustained winds of 69 mph and gusts up to 99 mph, causing tremendous destruction to a region that virtually never sees such impacts from a tropical system, especially a hurricane. Some were without power for more than 3 weeks so, being prepared is key for us all today.

Forecasters say that Florence is vastly different than Hugo – both in the pace in which the storm will pass over and the speed of the winds. However, we do have to worry about the massive amount of rain expected – not only with regards to flooding but, downing trees. The trees that are the most vulnerable are the century-old trees that have massive above-ground weight.

Here are a few things to do today and to prepare for this upcoming storm.

Things to do TODAY:

1. Take inventory photos of your home – inside and out – each room, front and back of the house.
2. Review your insurance policies.
3. Park cars in the garage, if possible. If the power goes out, you can open your garage door manually.
4. Stock up on 1 gallon of water per person to use/drink each day.
5. Stock up on propane or charcoal for the grill.
6. Check your candle, lantern, torch and flashlight inventory. Do you have enough batteries for those flashlights?
7. Clear porches, backyard and carports of any projectiles – this would include any signs in your yard (such as for sale signs).
8. How is your weather stripping? Are your doors & windows adequately sealed?
9. Check for any loose shingles on your roof. If you are unable to access your roof with a pair of binoculars, have the professionals check it out.
10. Be sure to have plenty of the following on-hand:

1. Pet food
2. Non-perishable items for food such as high-protein bars
3. Any special medical equipment/supplies
4. Fill the bath tub with water; place pitchers or jugs of water in the freezer NOW.

11. Pack your valuables in a plastic container that has a lid to avoid any water damage. Most irreplaceable items are things that people forget to pack – pictures/photos, wedding albums, etc.
12. Assemble a first aid kit.
13. Have a can opener handy.
14. Do you have a battery powered radio? A solar-power phone charger?

During our meeting this morning, I asked everyone to share their ‘best tip’ for hurricane preparedness:

Debe: Be sure you have your chain saws readily available and filled with gas. We had 80,000 downed trees during Hugo and all we heard for weeks was the buzz of chain saws. Having one handy to use in order to get out of your driveway or to help others get out of their homes can be life-saving.

Scott: Everyone prepare for yourselves and your children but, don’t forget about your pets. That would include their medicines, food, leash, water and make sure the pet carrier is readily available should you need to leave your home. Keep bleach on hand – 4 drops of bleach per liter of water, let sit for ½ hour before drinking.

Elizabeth: Have old-school board games available for time without electricity. And, from the ‘lake girl,’ she recommends getting your boat out of the water and filling the tank with gas to add weight in the event we suffer the high winds that are being predicted.

Ray: Make certain your generator is properly grounded and filled with gas. DO NOT BRING GENERATORS OR YOUR PROPANE TANKS INDOORS and do not overload the power cords to run your appliances – this can cause a fire.

Christina: ALWAYS have your shoes on and have a Rubbermaid container packed and ready to go, if you need to evacuate. Pack your valuables in Rubbermaid containers and put in car. Put anything of value in the dishwasher & washing machine.

Stay safe and remember, preparedness is key in the face of any storm!

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Top Tips for Giving Your Bedroom a DIY Facelift

What You Need to Know about the 2019 Mecklenburg County Tax Revaluation

Home Maintenance & Inspection Schedule – Annual Checklist

How to Remodel Your Bathroom on a Budget

Five Home Maintenance Tips for Charlotte Homeowners to do in the Fall

Five Home Maintenance Tips for Charlotte Homeowners to do in the Fall

1. Clear out gutters

2. Caulk & weatherstrip windows & doors

3. Clean the fireplace

4. Check your filters

5. Flush the water heater

Hurricane Preparedness – Is Florence Going to Show Her Face in Charlotte? Another Hugo Perhaps?

Is Florence Going to Show Her Face in Charlotte? Another Hugo Perhaps?

Here are a few things to do today and to prepare for this upcoming storm.

Things to do TODAY:

During our meeting this morning, I asked everyone to share their ‘best tip’ for hurricane preparedness:

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