Chapel Hill Durham Real Estate

Each year, over 150,000 injuries requiring a visit to the emergency room result from misuse of ladders.  When attaching Holiday decorations, hanging Christmas lights, etc., be safe about your ladder.  First, inspect the ladder to be sure there are no split rungs, loose rivets, etc.  It is best to use a ladder with slip resistant rungs, and of course avoid using a rickety old ladder that sways!  When leaning your ladder against a wall, the bottom should be pulled out at least one-quarter of the height of the ladder.  Never, never stand on the top rung!

If you would like someone to help you with this, there are several reliable “handy man” services who will assist you.  For Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties, contact Connie Shuping, Great Triangle Homes - The Shuping Advantage Team at Keller Williams Realty, for names of reliable and reasonably priced helpers.  You can also reach Connie at (919) 951-1945 or ConnieSells@kw.com.   Happy Holidays!

When selling your home, smoke odors not only reduce interest in your home but can actually keep people who might be interested from even considering your home.  This is because to those who do not smoke or use tobacco products, there can be a stigma associated with it, but moreso because buyer prospects fear the odor cannot be mitigated.  It is important too to realize that non-smokers are much more sensitive to tobacco odors just as those without pets are more likely to notice pet odors which the home owners themselves do not.

The following will greatly reduce smoke odors to even the most sensitive noses:

1)  Of course, remove ash trays, lighters or matches, and cigarettes so that buyers are not predisposed to “notice” any smoke odors

2) Change the air filters in all return ducts

3) Wash table cloths, drapes, rugs, etc.

4) Professionally or steam clean upholstered furniture

5) Professionally or steam clean all carpets 

6) In extreme cases, walls and ceilings will require new paint to eliminate odors; paint itself does not seal in the odor, so it’s important to use an oil-based primer, such as KILZ original formula

7) And of course, after going to all this trouble, do not smoke inside your home, even once; you must take it outside to protect your new investment in effort and expense

The above can result in thousands of dollars difference in the price and time it takes to sell your home!  For more information about paint cover up, go to www.kilz.com.  For available houses in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro,. Hillsborough and Durham areas, go to www.GreatTriangleHomes.com.