04-29-2020 Real Estate Weekly

APRIL 29, 2020 • Volume 15 • Issue 18

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Page RE2 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Apr il 22, 2020

CLEANING GRANITE COUNTERTOPS Maintain your granite countertop’s shine and with these tips from BobVila.com. Be careful: You can damage granite with products and techniques used for other kitchen surfaces. Avoid the following: household acids like citrus and vinegar, ammonia or ammonia-based cleaners (Windex), bleach, steel wool, and abrasive sponges.

1. Apply normal, mild dish soap to the center of a soft sponge that’s been wetted. Remember to use a nonabrasive scrubber, such as a soft sponge or microfiber cloth, as granite is easily scratched.

2. Wring out your scrubber. After massaging your cloth or sponge until you see suds, wring out excess water. Granite is absorbent and can become discolored under standing water.

3. Gently wipe the entire countertop. Use tight, circular motions. Though you might need to apply a little more pressure for food splatter, in general, gentle is better.

4. Deal with stains. If dealing with a water stain, mix baking soda with a little hydrogen peroxide in a bowl. Oil stains require a mix of baking soda and water. The mixture (whichever is correct for your situation) should form a thick paste. Spoon the mixture onto the countertop and spread it evenly over the stain, cover the area with plastic wrap and tape the edges down. Let it sit overnight or for a couple of days before rinsing and wiping.

5. Dry completely. Maximize shine and protect your countertop from water damage and prevent streaks by drying it off completely.

RE WEEKLY Then contact a Realtor® today, because you are missing out on over 39,000+ potential buyers seeing your property for sale.

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PMENT ERCIAL • AREA DEVELO GE • FARM • COMM RESIDENTIAL • ACREA Street, Ames 99 • 317 5th ® licensed in the State of Iowa 515-233-32 are REALTORS ® within All REALTOR ads

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REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Apr il 22, 2020 • Page RE3

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Page RE4 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Apr il 22, 2020

REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Apr il 22, 2020 • Page RE5

Page RE6 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Apr il 22, 2020

Spring refresh Improvement projects to lift your spirits and fill time

By Laura Firszt

refresh your spirit this spring.

More Content Now

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PRING FORECAST: Increasing sun and warmth, no matter what’s happening in the news.

And we also forecast that you’ll be spending a lot of time at home this season. That means now more than ever you want your home to be good-looking, inviting and safe.

Spring home improvement is always a spirit lifter. But keep a few tips in mind if you’re considering do-it-yourself right now: • Just say “no” to overly challenging DIY, especially involving electricity, plumbing, your roof or power tools.

You do NOT want to land in a hospital emergency room at the moment.

They’re hotbeds of infection, and brave medical personnel are already stretched way beyond their limits.

• Think twice about large scale projects that require pulling a permit and passing inspection. Local building authorities are working at less than full capacity and likely will be for a while.

• If you hire a contractor, try to focus on projects outside your main living area: lawn and garden, outdoor A/C unit, garage and basement. (When you do need to bring a service pro into your home — say your air conditioner goes kablooey — follow social distancing precautions.)

That being said, let’s look at seven home improvement projects, both DIY and pro, that will

Renew art on front door, mantel and walls Remove whatever currently adorns your mantel and front door (evergreen branches, pinecones, burlap, anything dark or heavy). Then refresh your space with bright, airy decor. The local dollar store isn’t a resource for craft materials right now, so shop your closet or junk drawer for silk flowers, bits of ribbon and so on (or your garden, if you’re lucky enough to have blooms by now).

For wall art, the sky (or should we say, “the ceiling”)’s the limit. Engage kids by collecting a collage of family photos.

Encourage older offspring to embellish images with digital special effects and their younger siblings to cut pix (printed on inexpensive printer paper) into fun shapes. Then show off the results in a floor-to-ceiling display.

Kid friendly: Can be adapted for any age.

Build a paver patio Whether or not it’s still necessary to shelter in place come summer, a new patio is something the whole family will enjoy under any circumstances. And unlike a deck, a patio does not usually require pulling a permit because it’s built less than 30 inches above grade. A patio constructed of concrete pavers won’t need a pour permit either.

Social distancing friendly: Find a

landscaper to build your paver patio.

Update your front door decor for spring with craft items or silk flowers you may already have around the house. [SpencerMeans/Flickr]

Paint Now the weather’s warmer, get that longdelayed house painting done. A relatively fast and easy project is painting your entry door. If you’re more ambitious (and have someone to keep the children busy elsewhere while you work), redo the living room or a bedroom or two in an adventurous shade like rich gold or deep aqua.

Social distancing friendly: Hire a painter to update your home’s exterior.

Create an interactive garden Even when you’re limiting your human visitors because of social distancing, you can still welcome butterflies to your garden. Choose flower species these winged creatures love, such as the aptly named butterfly bush, from an online plant supplier. Depending on how far spring’s come along where you live, this may be either a planting project or a planning project for now.

Kid friendly: Good for about age 7 and up.

Refresh your driveway Have your driveway repaved or resealed for a harder-wearing and/or better-looking surface. Options range from concrete resurfacing for problems such as driveway spalling, all the way

to elegant decorative techniques like stamped concrete.

Social distancing friendly: Look for a concrete pro with expertise in these specialized techniques. NOTE: To repave the part of your driveway on the municipal right-of-way, you may need a permit.

Upgrade your garage doors When you have an attached garage out front, your garage doors are super visible, so it’s important to keep them looking their best. If your garage doors just need a slight touch of refreshment, you can apply some stain or add faux windows.

Social distancing friendly: For garage doors seriously past their prime (20 years old or more), hire a professional to replace them, for safety as well as aesthetic reasons.

Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.

REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Apr il 22, 2020 • Page RE7

Page RE8 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Apr il 22, 2020

Realtors, do you want to reach a wider group of potential buyers?

Advertise in the RE Weekly.

In print and online.

Call Ali Eernisse 515-663-6956

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