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Downsizing your home…
10 ways it will increase the quality of your life.  If you look deeper,
a smaller home might be a blessing in disguise.

1. More disposable income:  It is very likely that downsizing your home grants you a smaller payment and less maintenance costs.  Just think a smaller roof means it will cost less to re-roof, and less floor area equals less material to replace it.

2. Less cleaning:  Nobody likes cleaning!  Well, some say they do but let’s
be honest. We can easily think of 100 things we would rather do.  A smaller house has less surface area which necessitates less time spent on chores and more time spent playing, learning and laughing with your loved ones.

3. Less maintenance:  Should one be spending weekends checking off fix it lists or enjoying life?  A smaller house affords you a more manageable maintenance list.  Less drippy faucets to deal with equals more time for long walks.

4. Better quality products:  Less space means less space to fill and having more disposable income allows you to fill it with better quality furnishings.  Quality products translate to less upkeep and more pride of ownership.

5. Healthier home:  Maybe you will invest in a better quality heating system.  This will result in less energy use and maintenance cost, which is better for you and the environment.  A home is only as healthy as the products it is made of.  This includes for example, choosing materials without VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that don’t pollute the indoor air as well as protecting your family by ensuring a healthy Building Envelope.

6. There is special meaning to all items:  In a smaller space there typically isn’t room for filler items, so every piece of artwork, vase or side chair is specially selected to be in that room.  Grandma’s refinished rocking chair doesn’t just sit in the corner; it now is used every day.

7. More pride of ownership: Every detail of a small house is evaluated and reevaluated so there is a place for everything and everything is in its place.  With such care in planning and detailing, much pride is felt in the end product.

8. Less separation:  We’re speaking about families being able to interact with each other in one room.  In many of these large homes there is a separate room for child activities, teen activities and adult activities. In a smaller house all of these rooms have to be skillfully integrated into one “great room” where everyone can go about their activities and still remain together.

9. More reason to be outdoors:  Of course a small house can translate to less room to run around and play which means getting out of the house is even more enjoyable.

10. Less worry:  That just about sums it all up. The key to a long, happy life is less worry and stress. 

These are just a few reasons why we believe owning a smaller home can improve the quality of life but we would like to hear your ideas.  If you’re thinking of selling, please let us show you how our aggressive real estate marketing system can get you top dollar for your home in today’s market.

Call Terry & Joe Scattergood, REALTORS®, eCertified - Direct Line: 603-537-5333 - Email: joe.scattergood@verani.com

Spring Cleaning Tips & Tricks  

Great Cleaning tips

• When you dust, start at the top and work down.
• Take all your cleaning tools, avoid unnecessary trips back and forth.
• Clean as you go! It takes a lot less time to remove new dirt than old.
• Leave baking soda on carpeting over night will absorb musty odors
• Make a checklist of chores to get organized first.
• Wash walls from the bottom up, to avoid streaking.
• Use old socks as mitts for cleaning difficult wood work.
• Wash small knickknacks instead of dusting.
• To removing heel marks , take pencil eraser and rub them off.
• Don't mix cleaning products. Ammonia and bleach are toxic.
• Remember common cleaners such as windex and comet meet this don't do rule.
• Allowing cleaners to set for several minutes will ease the cleaning job.

Interior Walls

• Wall cleaner, mix 1/2 c. ammonia, 1/4 c. white vinegar, and 1/4 c. baking soda to 1 gal. warm water.
• For cleaning textured walls use nylon socks instead of a sponge or cloth to avoid leaving material chunks behind.
• To dust wall paper, tie a dustcloth over your broom and work from the top down.
• To remove pencil marks & other non-greasy spots from non-washable papers, use an art-gum eraser .
• To remove greasy spots or crayon, apply a paste of cleaning fluid and fuller's earth and cornstarch. Let the wall dry and brush off residue. Repeat the treatment until the spot is gone.

Exterior Walls

• Use a water hose to spray the outside of your house. This will remove siding cobwebsand dirt.
• Textured siding ? Attach a car-washing brush to the hose to remove dirt.

Windows

• Make your own spray cleaner. Fill a spray bottle with 3 tablesoopns ammonia, 1 tablespoon vinegar & the remainder with water.
• Dust blinds by wrapping a cloth around a ruler. Spray cloth with a dusting spray and run the flat end across each blind.
• Shine windows using old newspaper.
• Clean windows on an average temperature, preferably overcast day to avoid streaks.
• Dry windows outside in one direction then inside in the other direction. If you see a streak, you will know which side is the ofender.

To clean window sills, pour diluted rubbing alcohol on a cloth and rub the entire surface.Then dust off the sill with a clean cloth.

Bathrooms

• Rubbing alcohol can remove the dull haze from mirrors.
• Use rubbing alcohol to remove spots from bathroom fixtures.
• Glass shower doors will sparkle if cleaned with white vinegar.
• To clean the shower, use a solution of 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 cup ammonia, and 1/4 cup baking soda added to one gallon of warm water.
• Lemon furniture oil will remove water spots on metal frames.
• Rusty tile marks can be removed with kerosene.
• Running the shower on hot for five minutes will steam the dirt loose.
• Grout need cleaning? Wash with 2 tablespoons chlorine bleach in one quart of water. Dry thoroughly, then apply several coats of lemon oil. Let dry one hour between coats.
• Dull walls will shine when washed with vinegar and waterand plished with a dry cloth.
• Lighter fluid will remove most stains from porcelain sinks and bathtubs.

Kitchen See Kitchen 101

• Pour club soda on counter and clean with a soft cloth, rinse with water then wipe dry.
• Baking soda or club soda will clean and shine stainless steel sinks easily.
• Remove stubborn water spots from a stainless sink with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol.
• Spots on stainless steel also can be removed with vinegar.
• Rub stainless steel sinks with lighter fluid if rusty .
• For a sparkling white porcelain sink, place paper towels across the bottom of your sink and saturate with household bleach. Let sit for 8 hour & rinse. Never use bleach in colored sinks.

Refrigerator

• An open box of baking soda will absorb odors for a month or so.
• A few drops vanilla extract on a piece of cotton placed in the refrigerator will eliminate odors.
• Wipe refrigerator with vinegar to prevent mildew.
• Use your vacuum on the front of the coils and motor to remove dust and dirt

Appliances

• Stop yellowing of white appliances. Mix 1/2 cup bleach, 1/4 cup baking soda and 4 cups of warm water. Apply with a sponge and let set for 10 minutes. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
• Wax large appliances with car wax to make them shine and to remove small scratches.

Wood Floors

• Floor cleaner is a solution of 1/2 cup of white vinegar in 1 gallon of warm water. Damp mop with a mop squeezed nearly dry. It is safer to mist the mop with the cleaner than to apply to floor. Do a section at a time and throw an old towel on the floor and scoot back and forth with foot to dry and prevent streaks. Standing liquid from mopping, spills, and pet accidents can damage floors.

The greatest damage done to wood floors is from grit. Mats at doors are necessary

• to collect grit and it's important to keep these clean. Frequent dust mopping in high traffic areas to collect grit is the best prevention. This should be done based on the amount of traffic, which may require dust mopping several times a day in an active household. The brush attachment of a vacuum can be used (no beater bars). Felt and furniture protectors should be installed on furniture. Never scoot furniture on wood.
• Put a piece of waxed paper under your dust mop. Dirt will stick to the mop and the wax will shine your floors.
• Use a paper bag over spilled candle wax then lightly iron
• Removin Stains
  • Water Stains
    • Rub the spot with No. 2 steel wood and rewax. For more serious water stains, lightly sand with fine sandpaper, clean the spot with No. 1 or 00 steel wool and mineral spirits or floor cleaner then refinish and wax.
  • Cigarette Burns
    • If not severe, the burn can be removed by rubbing with steel wool moistened with soap and water.
  • Heel and Caster Marks
    • Rub vigorously with fine steel wool and floor cleaner. Wipe dry and polish.
  • Ink Stains and Other Dark Spots
    • Use No. 2 steel wool and floor cleaner to clean the spot and surrounding area. Thoroughly wash the affected area. If the spot remains, sand with fine sandpaper, re-wax and polish. Stubborn stains may require that you replace the affected area.
  • Chewing Gum and Wax Deposits
    • Ice until the deposit is brittle and crumbles off. Pour floor cleaner around the stain so the fluid soaks under and loosens it.
  • Alcohol Spots
    • Rub the spot with liquid or paste wax

Vinyl Floors

• Sweep then damp mop using a gallon of water and a dash of dishwashing detergent.
• No-wax floors eventually need waxing, this will help to prevent further deterioration.

Cleaning Carpets

• To clean dry spots, loosen soil and vacuum away prior to moistening it.
• When taking out stains, always use a white cloth.
• Wax dropped on carpet or upholstery? Set a clean, absorbent cloth over the wax stain and hold a hot iron on it. Then remove the cloth.
• Coat mildly greasy stains with aerosol shaving cream, use a hair dryer to speed dry. Then vacuum.
• Sprinkle a greasy stain with baking soda, cornstarch or talcum powder. Leave on at least 8 hours, then vacuum.

Did you know that Bounce, the stuff you use in the dryer has many cleaning uses?

• Bounce to keep dust from resettling.
• Dissolves soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a used sheet of Bounce.
• Freshens the air in your home. Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang one in the closet.
• Prevents thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce to eliminate the static cling on the thread before sewing.
• Eliminates static cling from pantyhose. Rub a damp, used sheet of Bounce over the hose.
• Prevents musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
• Freshens the air in your car. Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
• Cleans baked-on food from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in the pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agents apparently weaken the bond between the food and the pan while the fabric softening agents soften the baked-on food.
• Eliminates odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
• Collects cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
• Eliminates static electricity from venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resetting.
• Deodorizes shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight so they'll smell great in the morning.

Cleaning Marble "MARBLE IS TRICKY, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK"

• For heavier stains on marble, take three or four cakes of Ivory soap, cut them up and dissolve in hot water until you have a "slurry." Paint this on the marble and let it sit for five days or so. If the gunk starts to dry during that time, wet it down. At the end of the period, wash it all off.

To remove lighter stains, sprinkle salt on a fresh cut lemon. Rub very lightly over stain. Do not rub hard or you will ruin the polished surface. Wash off with soap and water.