clean – Bethany Nolan

Love is in the air, but so is the flu… let’s get your home clean!

The flu is HERE and it has hit the East Texas area with a vengeance. I am currently writing this blog while I’m quarantined in my bedroom with the flu. I think I actually laughed at the doctor when he told me I had the flu because of course I do… it’s everywhere!

In case you haven’t paid attention to your calendar, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner as well. With love in the air and flu germs following around to sour your plans, I’ve pulled together some ways to keep your home as germ-free as possible! Since I already have the flu, I’m sharing tips that I’m using to help my family and friends avoid the flu and keeping the home as clean as can be.

Quarantine the sickling.

Rude… I know. I’m currently listening to a podcast and chilling alone, but it reduces the spread of germs. This prevents me from touching other surfaces, remotes, etc.

Wash your hands. DUH!

Keeps those hands washed and clean. As soon as you get home, touch an items you know someone else may have used… clean those hands because germs are everywhere!

Clean all communal surface areas at least once a day.

LYSOL IS YOUR FRIEND! Clean those kitchen countertops, bathroom areas and everywhere in-between.

Door knobs are just as germy.

Get those disinfectant wipes and wipe down all door handles, light switches, alarm code pads… anything that is used on the daily.

Tissues with some issues.

The sickling needs to handle their own tissues. I will be disposing of my own tissues and so should you. Prevent spreading your sick self’s germs by disposing of your own items!

Disposable is the only way.

Use disposable cups, paper towels/plates and separate those toothbrushes. You don’t want everyone else in the home touching the same towel you dried your hands with. It’s easier to use throwaway items. Avoid using a sponge and only use cleaning products/items that can be thrown away!

Laundry may get dicey.

The sickling’s towels, bedding and clothes are GERMY! When you’re transporting those items to the laundry room, keep them in a hamper that you can disinfect and don’t carry/hug them because it could spread the germs over to YOU!

Stay safe out there, my friends. This flu is no joke and it pities no one… I mean it’s found it’s way to me!

First Things To Do When You Move In

So you bought a home! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Now that the closing is complete and those shiny new keys are in your hand… what’s next?

Yes, turn those utilizes on and pack up those boxes, but there are also items that are often forgotten when you first move in! Below I’ve pulled together a here’s what and WHY you need certain items when you move in.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IN YOUR NEW HOME

FIRST: CELEBRATE!!

Pop a bottle of champagne, grape juice, club soda… whatever your preference is! This is a moment to be celebrated so do it and be proud of your BIG purchase.

Batteries

Go buy batteries for your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors OR install new smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Would you rather be safe than sorry? ABSOLUTELY! New batteries will start a new timeframe and ensure that these detectors are ON and doing their job.

Change Those Lightbulbs

Change your lightbulbs to LED lightbulbs. They last longer and are more efficient! If you’re feeling ambitious, you can always move to a smarter home and install smart lights that can connect to an Alexa or Google Home!

Toilet Paper and Curtains

Seems obvious, but you’ll want toilet paper and curtains in the home while you’re slowly moving in the rest of your items. There’s no guarantee that the previous owner will leave any curtains or blinds (unless they’re attached or a fixture of the home), so don’t expect it!

Deep Clean

Either do it yourself or hire a maid service. I recommend hiring someone the day of OR day after closing to just get it DONE! Focus on those carpets, clean those vents and bathroom tubs and floor because they need a good scrub! It’s not necessary, but it gives your new place a completely CLEAN slate and washes away all the dust.

Meet The Neighbors

“I’ll do it later…” No you won’t! Don’t be intimidated by you neighbors, just go around and say hi. It’s great to build a good relationship for when you travel out-of-town or if you ever need a helping hand. A familiar face is always helpful!

Forward Your Mail

It’s simple as one, two, three! SERIOUSLY! Go online to www.usps.com to change your address. You’ll want all those wedding announcements and Christmas cards to make it to your new home! Also, go ahead and change the addresses for your banks and bills.

Change Your Locks and Reprogram Garage Door

Yes, you were given those shiny new keys… but who else had those spares? Go to your local hardware store or Amazon and change out those locks or even get those great smart locks if you have a lot of people in and out of your home.

As for the garage door, a simple reprogram will do because your previous owners (as sweet as they were) may have had it programmed to their cars, so better to be safe!

Replace Air Filters

Clean the air! Who even know the last time those air filters were changed, so give yourself a piece of mind and replace those filters.

Pro tip: Buy multiple filters and label the extras with their change date, to keep yourself on track!

WEIRD ADDITION: TOILET SEATS!

Interesting addition, right? But think about it… you’re going to want your own, nice and new toilet seat that wasn’t shared with the previous owner.

I hope this prepared you for moving into your home! Did I forget anything? Let me know!

Tidying Up Your Home

It’s time to clean up your space! Jumping along with the trend of all of my fellow Netflix lovers and I have to admit that my newest obsession is Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. I love that her method is focused on sparking JOY instead of just keeping it your home clean for sake of being clean. It gives you a completely new perspective on organizing and tidying up! I’m even adding her book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo to my 2019 reading list.

I love that a big emphasis in January and the new year ahead are resolutions. I mean, hello… New Year, New Me! With resolutions in mind, organization in your home can really help you be a productive person.

I’ve seen a new way that people are accomplishing their tidying up resolutions is to assign one room or task per month throughout the year. It’s a fantastic way to hold yourself accountable and keep what you need and rid yourself of what you don’t. Below is a month-by-month breakdown of my tidying up calendar that you can use, too!

January: Food
- Pantry, refrigerators and freezers. Check expiration dates and label/organize freezer/refrigerator food to easily find foods.
February: Kitchen Cupboards & Drawers
- Throw away that Tupperware you don’t use and organize those utensils.
March: Bathroom Cupboards & Closets
- Be gone old make up that’s never used and make room for freshly cleaned linens.
April: Office & Craft Supplies
- Look through paperwork and clear out unwanted wrapping paper or ribbons.
May: Paperwork
- Shred or keep! Look at bills, how-to manuals and file accordingly.
June: Garage & Storage Spaces
- Buy more storage bins and label decor and don’t forget about that attic!
July: Digital – CDs/DVDs, Emails, Pics/Docs
- Switch over all home videos to DVDs and organize movies and CDs to one location.
August: Outdoor Spaces
- Move around those rakes, clean up around the grill area and repaint or repair outdoor furniture.
September: Laundry Room
- Deep clean laundry, label types of clothes (colors, jeans, etc.) and clean out dryer vent.
October: Winterize Your Home
- Not quite tidying up, but preparing it for winter like cleaning out the chimney.
November: Launder curtains and linens
- Knock off the dust! Get those curtains (shower curtains, too) cleaned and grab your comforters and duvets in the process.
December: Dressers & Closets
- Donate unwanted clothing and coordinate by season and color.

Social Inspiration

The good thing about tidying up is there’s inspiration everywhere! You can look on social channels like Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration. I really enjoy follow THE HOME EDIT® on Instagram. These ladies have organized for Khloe Kardashian (the QUEEN of beautiful Oreo jars) and been featured on the Today Show. HELLO GOALS! Pinterest is alway such a great resource to save ideas and more. Check out my Pinterest Page on Home Organization. I work best on visuals, so I really enjoy following different pages on social platforms to give me new ideas.

The Container Store

Another way to keep your home organized is by shipping at The Container Store. This place is a GAME CHANGER! I feel like a kid in a candy store when I shop here because their items are super specific from shoes to kitchen spices to your office space. Below are some of my top items from The Container Store that help me stay tidy. I also recommend signing up for their email list serve because they do regularly email out great deals and discount codes.

The Acrylic Make Up Organizer is perfect for keep all of your make up brushes, eyeshadow pallets and lipsticks in plain sight. I’ve noticed when I keep my make up in a bag all jumbled together, that it’s easy to forget what you even have.
Shoes, shoes, shoes! The shoe boxes keep shoes free of dust while in plain sight as well. They’re easy to stack on a shelf or on the ground and easy to travel with.
Velvet hangers seem a little diva, right? WRONG! These bad boys maximize space in the closet while holding up all of my off-the-shoulder tops and other hard to hang clothing items. BIG FAN! Amazon also has great choices in bulk on Prime.
All your food organization dreams are brought to you by OXO Good Grips storage containers. They’re airtight containers and are a fantastic way to keep fresh food organized in a pantry. Worried about expiration dates? Tear the date off the original box and tape it to the back of the OXO container.

It’s a new year for an organized YOU! I hope that some of these products, lists and tips are useful to you in your home! Excited to hear about what your goals are this year for tidying up your home.

Listing Your Home? Here’s What You Can Do Now

Making moves? Then it’s probably time you start thinking about putting your home on the market. Now it’s not as simple as one, two, three… but it’s not as scary as it seems. I’ve pulled together some simple steps to take care of before you put your home on the market.

Deep Clean

Do it yourself or hire a professional. From the baseboards to every corner in the home, dust should go POOF! One man’s trash is not another man’s treasure in this situation. Potential buyers are looking at EVERY corner of your home, so keep it clean.

Declutter

Clean out your shelves, pantry, countertops and the bottom of your closet! When people come in to look at your home, you want them to see the bare minimum. If it doesn’t add to the aesthetic of the home, it needs to go.

Move Those Family Photos

Yes, you’re proud of you family or significant other, but they need to go! You don’t want your family on display for your pictures on Realtor.com and you probably would prefer that the potential buyer isn’t concerned about who currently lives in the home instead of seeing the beauty of the home. Depersonalize!

Inspect Your Home

This is not a requirement, but it could show you potential hiccups or issues that could come up once you get an offer. An inspector can point out some big or small issues that you can fix before putting your home on the market.

Curb Appeal

Pull out those weeds, rake those leaves and sweep that front porch. Curb appeal is EVERYTHING! Does the outside of the home need some love? A good power wash could do the trick or even a fresh coat of paint on the trim or shutters. A lot of potential buyers will make their rounds to check the outside of the home before they asking their Realtor to show it to them.

Freshen Up That Paint

Keep it neutral and keep it cute. If you have the funds and the time, cover up that lime green or bubble gum pink room and paint over an spots or scratches and definitely think about replacing that wallpaper. This makes a bigger difference than you would imagine. A lot of potential buyers want move in ready and having a great, neutral paint color throughout the home can be just what they want.

Find Those Documents

Your Listing Agent is going to ask for any documents that you have involving the home. This includes any existing surveys, restrictions or manuals on an fixtures for the home (operating manuals for appliances, security system, etc.). If you can’t find everyone, no worries! Your Listing Agent can help you gather details from your local title company or other resources.

And finally….

Call Me!

Don’t blindly hire an agent. Let me help you list your home and market it to the right clientele. I specialize in social media and marketing, helping me direct your property to people in the area and outside of our area. I also happily meet with clients before listing to help guide with any updates needed in the home. I never recommend throwing a ton of money in updates unless it is NECESSARY, so consult an agent first.

Not in the East Texas area? I can refer you to the top agents in your area and ensure you’re listing with an agent that specializes in residential or land sales in your community. I refer friends and family to clients in large and small cities that help market and SELL properties!