Posts in category 'Home Improvement'

If ever there was any doubt that autumn had arrived, the chillier nights and falling leaves in recent weeks leave no doubt. Our REALTORS® are always happy to welcome the fall season, partly because it's one of the best times of the year for seasonal decor. 

One piece of advice we give to anyone putting up Belleville homes for sale this time of year is to make a great first impression with an appropriately fall-themed front porch. But even if you have no intention of selling your home, this is still a fun season to get creative with your porch decor. Follow these tips.

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By the time July rolls around, many people believe planting season has come and gone - but the truth is, July can be the perfect time to plant many edibles and herbs from seed. Many cooler weather plants only need about 60 days to fully mature. Since the first frost can be as late as October or early November in Illinois, mid-summer is the right time to be thinking about a second harvest. 

Maintaining a garden is not only a great hobby, but it can also significantly improve the appearance of your outdoor space. For those who are planning to put their home on the market this fall, starting a mid-summer garden can be a great way to make your yard more appealing to potential buyers and compete with other Belleville homes for sale. 

If you're looking to spruce up your yard this summer, below are 5 plants you can easily add to your garden this July: 

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Refreshing the front porch is just one way to brighten up the exterior of your home. And creating a fresh new look right at your front door doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. In fact, you can do it all yourself on a budget.

Get started with these suggestions on how to turn the heads of all the neighbors as they walk past your home.

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Your unfinished basement may be a useful space for storing unsightly odds and ends. However, you can take things a step further and add to your home's habitable square footage by converting the basement into anything from a workout room to an entertainment area.

Our REALTORS® can give you ideas to get you started. Your finished basement could turn into one of your home's most desirable selling points -- yet another way to stand out from other Belleville homes for sale.

Have a look at these five suggestions for your unfinished basement.

1. Renovate Your Storage Area 
   There's no reason your basement has to look like a garage sale. First, clean it up and remove clutter. Do an assessment: are you ever going to use that rolled up rug of Aunt Sally's again? Get rid of it, and anything else you haven't used in several years. Next step: clean up, repairing broken drywall, adding insulation in the walls for better climate control, and fixing air leaks to the outdoors. Then, organize with neat shelving (use shelf paper wherever you can), pegboard for tools. Store clothing, books, and odds and ends in plastic containers that will fit in the shelves. 
   
   

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Stainless steel appliances lend an air of sleek, modern elegance to any kitchen -- but only if they're gleaming and smudge-free. As you go about your spring cleaning, be sure to spiff up your stainless steel appliances, as well as your sinks. It's not difficult, and shining it up to polished perfection will make a great impression on a potential buyer. 

How to Make Your Stainless Steel Shine

To make stainless steel appliances shine, address those messy fingerprint smudges, water drips, and food splatters as soon as they happen. Fortunately, stainless steel is fairly easy to clean.

Stainless steel cleaner is highly recommended. It's also a good choice to prevent scratching the steel. However, there are other products you can use. But do avoid steel wool, bleach, ammonia, and scouring powder, or you'll diminish the steel's shine. Mineral-laden tap water may also leave stains. You should also avoid any chlorine-based cleaners or anything with chloride in it. 

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