You might be gearing up for spring cleaning, or just trying to polish up that moldy vinyl siding before selling your home. We’ve got the best vinyl siding cleaning tips here for you!

Vinyl siding is a durable, versatile, and resilient building material, but it does require some routine care and cleaning.
Luckily, vinyl siding is fairly easy to clean, and there are a wide variety of products to help remove typical stains. According to the Vinyl Siding Institute, the best way is to use a soft cloth or an ordinary long-handled, soft-bristle brush. To prevent streaking, start at the bottom and work up towards the top of the house. Thoroughly rinse any cleaning solution as you go.

Great Cleaning Solutions for Vinyl Siding:

• 70% water, 30% white vinegar makes a great all-purpose cleanser that removes light mold and mildew stains.
• For a stronger solution, mix together one-third cup powdered laundry detergent, two-thirds cup powdered household cleaner, one quart liquid laundry bleach and one gallon of water.
• If you are concerned about landscaping, use a solution comprised of one gallon of water mixed with one cup oxygen bleach in a bucket. The oxygen bleach will clean the vinyl without damaging your landscaping.
• Simple Green offers an environmentally friendly cleaner that is specially formulated for use on vinyl and aluminum siding, stucco, terra cotta roof tiles and painted wood. The non-toxic biodegradable concentrate can be used manually or with pressure washers.

Another effective way to clean vinyl siding is by using a pressure washer, although some manufacturers advise against it, and other manufacturers recommend a limited amount of pressure.
Avoid using any cleaning products that contain organic solvents, undiluted chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, nail polish remover, or furniture polish or cleaners.

With just a little bit of time and effort, vinyl siding can be kept looking “like new” and will provide many years of trouble-free protection for your home.

Need vinyl siding repair in the Lake Norman area? Check out Phoenix Exterior Solutions

If you’ve considered selling your house, it’s likely you’ve felt a little lost about the process. Fear not! We’ve broken down the seller’s process from start to finish.

Before listing your home:

• Meet with a Real Estate Professional: There’s no commitment required on your part for the initial meeting. It will be educational and help you identify your next steps.
• Establish a Price: Your agent will provide a market analysis, which will help you set an asking price.
• Strategic Price: As difficult as it may be, it’s important to review the market analysis and consider your home price objectively.
• Prepare Your Home: View your home through the eyes of the buyer and ask yourself what you’d expect. Your agent will offer some useful suggestions.

The seller’s listing and showing process:

• List It For Sale:When everything is in place your agent will put your home on the open market. It’s critical you make it as easy as possible for potential buyers to view your home.
• Showings:Potential buyers may ask to see your home on short notice. It’s best if you can accommodate these requests, you never want to miss a potential sale.
• Offers and Negotiation: If everything goes well, a buyer and (most often the agent who represents them) will present your agent with an offer.

Selling your home:

• Choosing an Offer: Your agent will present the benefits and risks of each offer. You will have the opportunity to either accept or counter any offer based on its merits.

• Under Contract:At this point, you and the buyer have agreed to all of the terms of the offer and both parties have signed the agreements.
• Final Details:While under contract, the buyer will work with their mortgage provider to finalize the loan and perform other due diligence.
• Inspection:The buyer will usually perform a physical inspection of the home. They may even ask you to make certain repairs. Your agent will explain all of your options regarding the inspection.

For our buyers: Read about the path to homeownership from Keeping Current Matters.

Thinking of selling? Read our post about why now is the best time to do it!

Are you remodeling your kitchen? Focusing time and money into the kitchen of a home can make a huge difference in the appraisal process. So let’s talk about what your potential buyers want to see when it comes to kitchen cabinetry!

The 4 Things Buyers Usually Want in a Kitchen

Quality

Do: Choose quality hinges and runners, including soft-close drawers, and custom-made cabinetry.

Don’t: Go for large fillers and ill-fitted modular cabinetry.

Symmetry

Do: Keep the wall cabinetry sizes the same where possible. Drawers look nice when they are large and expansive – if you have multiple sets, keep them the same size, with the same proportion of drawers.

Don’t: Add multiple cabinets in varying sizes. Try to keep the look and feel consistent in the whole space.

Light, Bright Spaces

Do: Keep the space open, bright and light with white cabinetry. If you want some contrast, go for a darker bench top. Backsplashes should be kept fairly neutral too – try to introduce texture instead of color into the backsplash. The more neutral and elegant the space is, the more potential buyers you will attract.

Don’t: Use darker-color cabinetry, which can make the space feel closed. While adding a strong color may suit your taste, it may not be to everybody’s liking. You want to attract as many potential buyers as possible, and while white may not be the most daring color for your cabinetry, it’s the most popular.

An Open Layout

Do: Have a large open-plan space with a kitchen island if possible. Buyers often want to multitask in the kitchen. They want to cook, have their kids do their homework and socialize in it.

Don’t: Place your kitchen in a small and poky room. The kitchen is now often the hub of the house, and buyers want to see a kitchen that is interactive and sociable.

Check out some kitchen cabinetry trends and designs here!

Are you renovating your kitchen to sell your home for a higher value? Start here!