Posts in category 'Buy A Home'

A deck equipped with comfy outdoor furniture, some colorful plants, and a fire pit can be a glorious place to relax and enjoy some great views. And if you decide to sell your home, this outside addition can add value and make your home appealing to buyers. Without proper maintenance, however, your deck and its railings could collapse, fall apart, or fail in some other way. May is National Deck Safety Month and our REALTORS® want to remind you that you need to maintain or replace your deck to make it a safe haven for your family before the high deck traffic of summer. Here are some tips to get you started.

• Regularly Inspect the Deck
  Regular inspection is one of the keys to good wood deck maintenance. Inspect your deck for loose nails and other hardware, splintered or soft spots, and rotten or split planks. Be sure to check the wood where the stairs contact the ground and where the ledger boards connect to the side of your home.

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Giving your home's interior a fresh coat of paint is a quick, affordable way to update design style, even when you have a limited budget. Our REALTORS® know that new paint can quickly transform a drab, outdated room into a room with spectacular ambiance and style that appeals to homebuyers.

Choosing the right paint color is essential for a well-designed space, but it can be a difficult task. With thousands of colors that range from pale neutrals to bright bold hues, finding the perfect paint color is often a frustrating and costly experience that leads to repainting. To get it right the first time, interior design pros recommend these important design tips.

• Don't Start With the Paint
  Choosing your paint color first may seem like an easy way to get things started, but it's not a good idea unless your room is completely empty. Most people have existing furnishings and accessories they plan to keep, so paint must coordinate with existing items. Unless you're starting with an empty house, it's much easier to choose a paint color that complements your existing décor, rather than choosing new décor that works with your paint color.

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Moving your home isn't as easy as hiring professional movers, and voila, everything is done. No matter how competent the movers are, there are still several tasks to take care of before the crew makes an appearance on the scheduled moving day. Our REALTORS® know that starting the moving preparations well in advance can give your moving adventure considerable momentum and make for a pleasant experience. Following are the top five things you still need to do before the moving company arrives.

1. Declutter, Clean, and Organize
   Let's not drag dust, dirt, and unused items from your old home to your new one. Before moving day, unplug and clean electrical appliances, remove batteries from devices, empty drawers, bookshelves, and cupboards, wash and dry clothes and linens, throw out garbage and wash trash cans, drain the fuel out of any-fuel powered tools, and wipe surfaces clean. Pre-pack small and valuable items to ensure they don't go missing during the move. Also, go through your things and set aside items you haven't used in the past year. Give some to close friends and family members, have a yard sale, donate to charity organizations, or get rid of worthless stuff. This will lighten the load and cut your moving costs considerably.

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If you're planning to put your Long Island home on the market, you'll want to highlight available space to potential buyers. Our REALTORS® are familiar with ways to squeeze every last bit of utility out of any space. In fact, there are many rooms in your house that can do double-duty to appeal to buyers.

• Double Down in the Dining Room
  The dining room gets used for special events and holidays. The rest of the year it sits fairly empty. Adding book cabinets and a secretary desk can turn it into a cozy library or office space that buyers will appreciate when you decide to sell.

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When searching for a house among Suffolk County homes for sale, "walkability" is often an important factor. Whether you want to live in the suburbs and have close access to walkable areas or you prefer to reside right in the middle of the action, there are plenty of excellent options in the Long Island area. 

Our REALTORS® love showing homes in these vibrant cities since there are so many exciting things to do. Here are a few of our favorite nearby towns with walkable main streets. 

• Garden City
  If you're looking at and walkability is important to you, then you'll definitely want to check out Garden City. When visiting, plan to skip the drive and take the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) instead. The bustling downtown area is just a seven-minute walk from the station and near these Garden City homes for sale.
  
  Once you arrive, you'll love visiting the Garden City Public Library, enjoying one of the many outdoor dining options, or just relaxing on some of the comfortable sidewalk seating. There are plenty of shopping opportunities here as well. In the summer, downtown hosts Friday Night Promenades, which are themed nights complete with live music, food, and children's activities.

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