Shannon Walker Realtor® - Blog

Top 10 Inspection Issues

9/28/2022

I got this email from my favorite inspectors to refer to my clients to, and thought it was such a good list to prepare buyers (and sellers!) for some very common safety issues that I see on almost all inspections. Thank you US Inspect!

Check out the top 10 inspection issue list – most of these are safety issues
and are easily repaired!

July 28th, 2022

7/28/2022

Spring Seasonal Checklist

3/22/2022

Is your home ready for spring? Before the arrival of April showers, it’s a good time to get started on some spring maintenance tasks to shed the winter layers and give your home a fresh new start.

Clear gutters. Divert downspouts away from the home.

Remove winter lawn debris. Apply grass seed and fertilizer.

Reseal outdoor structures (such as wood decks, fences, railings and pergolas).

Schedule HVAC Service. Change HVAC filters regularly.

Clean carpets. Send area rugs out for professional cleaning.

Launder soft furnishings (furniture slipcovers, pillow covers, shower curtains).

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

It's A Sellers Market!

3/15/2022

If you've been watching the news, you know that there is a shortage
of houses for sale which has driven prices sky high!
If you're thinking about selling your home while the market is hot take a look at these tips and tricks out of the Listing Presentation I put together for my sellers.
Give me a call so I can put one together for you and tell you how much the value of your home has increased!

Get Ready for Winter!

12/14/2021

Prepare Pipes
Keep your pipes from freezing over by wrapping exposed pipes with newspaper having a contractor come in to insulate them.

Clean Chimney
Have your chimney professionally cleaned once a year. Dispose of ashes in a metal bucket, rather than in plastic bags since warm ashes have the potential to start a fire.

Change Furnace Filters
Change the filter (or clean it, if washable) at least every two months. A clean filter helps keep utility bills low, limits dust and improves the efficiency of the furnace.

Secure Handrails
Check that all handrails and fences are sturdy and secure, so you don’t trip and fall while walking around your home during the cold, icy months.

Top 5 Remodeling Projects to Boost Resale Value

12/3/2021

I recently got an email from the National Association of Realtors and this was the first article. I love that HomeLight polled real estate agents instead of buyers (buyers don't always know what they want!) and I agree with these 5 things that you can do as a seller to get the most bang for your buck when you sell!

Be warned though, cost does not always equal value! If you put in the most expensive floors you can find, that does not mean you will get all of that money back from the sale. I always recommend finding the best quality for the best price, not necessarily the highest quality or price; no one needs marble floors, luxury vinyl planks look great and are more functional and cost effective. (For more info on cost vs. value, check out the blog post that I did back in June of 2020!)

October 18th, 2021

10/18/2021

This month marks 1 year since we bought our first home! On one hand, I cannot believe it's already been an entire year and on the other hand it feels like we have lived here all our lives. I feel so blessed every day that we've been able to make this house into our home. It is super comfortable for us and our fur babies, they basically have their own rooms (technically guest rooms). I get asked questions all of the time about our house and the process it took to get here. I thought I would write a quick post with FAQ's about buying our first home. If I left anything out that you want to know, leave a comment!

Are you married? Not yet! You do not have to be married or have joint finances to purchase a home together. You can still both have legal ties to the property without having any to each other.
Are you both on the loan? Nope! We literally could not have done this without the other. Scottie gets weekly paychecks and does his taxes like most of you do, very normal, but he didn't have a ton of cash saved up, also very normal. However, I am technically an independent contractor and my pay is commission based, so my taxes look very different. This makes it a little bit harder for me to get a standard loan. What we did is put Scottie on the loan and I "gifted" the down payment. We both brought different important financial pieces to the table.
Are you both on the title? Yes! So this goes back to the first question: being on the title means we both own the house, whereas he is the only one on the loan. If something happens to Scottie, I still retain possession of the property and will become responsible for the remainder of the loan.
How do you split up bills? Equally! We both put in the same amount every month to go towards bills (mortgage, water, trash, electric, groceries, pets, etc.)
Was buying a home with your significant other hard? YES! It was extremely challenging to find a house that we both agreed on, we probaboy looked for 6 months casually before really figuring out what was most inportant to each of us. I see this all of the time with couples who are house-hunting. It is a very emotional experiencr and my biggest piece of advice is to remember that everyone is entitled to their own opinions (harder than it sounds to remember when you're arguing in the car about move-in ready homes vs. a fixer upper) Communication is key! If there is something about a house that you honestly hate or cannot live with, tell your partner. You both will have to compromise. Just remember why you're going through this together.
Did you always want to live in Tappahannock? Never heard of it until we saw the house we are in now. We both agreed on moving away from the city, out to a more rural area. He wanted land, I wanted a garden and a beautiful farmhouse. We looked in Amelia, Louisa, Goochland, Powhatan but couldn't find what we wanted. My comfort zone was only about an hour away from Richmond so we expanded our search and on the very edge of our hour radius search was a brick rancher on 2 acres waterfront. Never in a million years did we think we could afford a waterfront property so even though it was a little more than an hour away we went to see it. We fell in love! You don't always end up with exactly what you think you want, so be open when you're searching!

It's Fall Y'all

9/23/2021

Organize Garage – Over the summer, garages can be collection places for various items, leaving no room for the car. Purge things you no longer need, then use walls and ceilings for storage to free-up valuable floor space. You’ll be glad you did when snow is in the forecast and you want to park the cars in the garage.

Add Weather Stripping – To increase your home’s efficiency, install weather stripping on exterior doors. Use caulk around windows, as well as around where pipes or wires enter the house to prevent water and ice damage and keep heat from escaping.

Inspect Exterior Walls – If any paint is peeling or blistering, it could be a sign that the paint can no longer protect the home from water damage. A new coat of paint will protect your home and prevent expensive future repairs.

Trim Trees near Chimney – Any tree limbs that are near the chimney should be trimmed at least ten feet back from the chimney to prevent fires and damage to both your chimney and roof. Protect your chimney from leaves and animals by placing a screen on it.

Clean up Garden – After summer blooms fade, trim perennials and remove dead plants and weeds. Add fall color by planting mums, Black Eyed Susan’s or Ornamental Kale. Plant bulbs and mulch your garden beds so you’ll be prepared for spring.

Summer Seasonal Maintenance

6/21/2021

It’s time to turn the page on spring and get ready for the warm months ahead! Check out these to-dos and get your home and yard in tip top shape for summer:

Clean your fans and air conditioner filters
Deep clean your outdoor grill or barbecue
Check your deck and make any necessary repairs
Check and service your lawn and garden tools
Inspect gutters and roof for any cold/wet season damage
Add mulch to keep weeds at bay and help your soil retain moisture
Check your hoses and faucets for potential leaks
Break out the yard equipment and make sure it’s all good to go

One more thing--how about a hammock? If you don’t have one yet, consider investing in one. Nothing beats kicking back, relaxing and soaking up the glorious summer sunshine in the comfort of your own yard!

Get ready for all things Spring!

4/22/2021

Spring is in the air—along with pollen!

It's the perfect time to get your home and yard ready for the explosion of growth all around you.

Here are some essential to-dos to get ready for the gorgeous months we have ahead.

Outside

Edge around planting beds
Prune shrubs and roses before new shoots are over ½ inch long
Insert stakes for plants that will grow tall as the season unfolds
Fertilize in early spring as new growth emerges
Clip perennial stems with scissors or hand pruners
Check any concrete around your home and fill with concrete crack filler or silicone caulk
Inspect your chimney’s exterior and roof for shingles that are damaged or loose
Examine your gutters to ensure they are in good shape
Ensure your downspouts are debris-free and drain away from your home’s foundation

Inside

Clean walls and ceiling
Dust thoroughly working from the top of rooms down
Reseal grout in kitchen and bathroom
Vacuum and shampoo rugs
Clean upholstered furniture
Wash windows and screens
Wax wooden furniture
Clean all the window treatments per care instructions
Wax your non-wood floors
Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Assess the state of your air conditioner and schedule service if needed

Enjoy the exquisite months ahead in your lovely corner of the universe. Happy spring!

Email

Shannon.Clunie@LNF.com

phone

cell: (804) 690-2912
office: (804) 822-3220

address

8411 Patterson Avenue
Richmond, VA 23229

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