Before you put your home up for sale, you'll want to ensure it's clean for all of the buyers that will come through. A dirty house isn't appealing, and you won't get a good offer, if you get one at all, if your home isn't in tip-top shape. Cleaning your home doesn't have to be overwhelming, below we've listed the top things to remember to clean for each room.

Foyer:

• Clean the door and hardware.
• Wipe off all fingerprints on windows/furniture.
• Clean off scuff marks on floors and door.
• Replace all light bulbs and ensure light fixtures are working.
• Tidy/clean up the coat closet. People WILL look in there to see the size.

Kitchen:

• Wipe down all cabinets.
• Clean all appliances, inside and out.
• Clean stove hood, on top and bottom.
• Clean behind the refrigerator, on top and bottom too.
• Ensure the microwave is clean of food splatter.
• Clean the space behind the sink.
• Wipe down blinds/shades.
• Wash any kitchen rugs, clean the floors and baseboards.
• Store all of your pet food/food out of sight.

Bathroom:

• Clean behind toilet and under sink.
• Only display absolute necessities, declutter.
• Organize and clean under the vanity.
• Scrub floors and clean grout lines.
• Keep dirty clothes and towels off the floor.
• Be sure to lock away any medication.
• Clean the fan and make sure it's functioning.
• Replace any dead lightbulbs.

Bedroom:

• Wash sheets, comforters, and blankets.
• Clean the curtains and rugs.
• Dust furniture.
• Remove any obvious stains from fabrics.
• Keep closets clean and organized.
• Store away dirty clothes and personal photos.
• Clean marks on walls.

These are just the basics you don't want to forget about. If it's within your budget, we highly recommend hiring a professional cleaner to ensure your home is in its best condition.

Laurel Jonas offers a FREE staging consultation, professional pictures and video when you list with me. I understand how to maximize your homes features to obtain top dollar for your home with less days on market.

Laurel Jonas 

Northwest Realty Group

208homesforsale@gmail.com

208-758-9000

You can increase your home's value exceptionally by maintaining the landscape and curb appeal. You only get a few seconds to attract a possible buyer when they pull up to your home. Make it count and make them want to see more. It all starts with the curb appeal. 

For more tips on selling your home for top dollar, please follow me!

Laurel Jonas

Northwest Realty Group

208-758-9000

208HomesForSale@gmail.com

208HomesForSale.com

294 Homes Sold in August
Average Sales Price $711,142.
385 Homes Were Listed For Sale in  August
Average Days on Market: 54
Last Month We Had 1.3 Months of Inventory.
Sellers Are Receiving An Average of 99.6% Of Their List Price.

For the first time in months, sellers are receiving on average just shy of their list price. For months we've seen sellers receive over list price. Average days on market is still lower than last August when the average days on market was 65.

Our average list price for previously owned homes last August was $547,000 while last month the average was $711,142. That's an increase of 35.1% in one year.

We are currently sitting with 1.3 months of inventory and we are still considered a sellers market. If you would like to sell your home or just know what it may be worth, please give me a call and I will provide you with a complimentary Market Analysis.

Laurel Jonas
Northwest Realty Group
208-758-9000
208homesforsale@gmail.com

These stats are based on previously owned properties in Kootenai County

354 Homes Sold in June

Average Sales Price $614,781

461 Homes Were Listed For Sale in June

Average Days on Market: 47

In June We Had 1.1 Months of Inventory. That's a 45% Decrease Since Last June.

Sellers Are Receiving An Average of 101.9% Of Their List Price.

More and more inventory is coming on the market. February of this year, we had less than 150 homes on the market and now we have slightly under 350. Buyers now have more options.

Sellers are still receiving an average of 101.1% of their list price but we are seeing many price reductions because some sellers were unrealistic with their price to begin with hoping buyers from out of state will pay anything for a home even highly over priced and that has been proven to be untrue in many cases. Sellers have had to adjust their prices due to amount of competition in the market now.

Interest rates are still low and there is no shortage of buyers moving here. We are still labeled as one of the hottest markets in the US.

If you would like to sell your home or just know what it may be worth, please give me a call and I will provide your with a complimentary Market Analysis of your home.

Laurel Jonas

208-758-9000

208HomesForSale@gmail.com 

208HomesForSale.com

If you have good paint that you can’t use, offer it to family, friends and neighbors, or call a local paint contractor. Some charities take paint too, especially those that do work helping the elderly with home renovations.

 Now that you’ve handled paint you want to keep or donate, it is time to dispose of what is left. Disposal is dependent on the type of paint. One gallon of paint can contaminate thousands of gallons of water, harm fish and aquatic plant life and eventually poison the food chain.

For latex and acrylic paints, you can solidify these paints and throw them away with the household trash depending on the municipality. To do this, mix your paint with a clay-based cat litter at a ratio of two parts litter to one part paint. Do this in a well-ventilated area, away from pets and children. Many hardware stores carry additives to put into your paint to solidify it for disposal.

 For oil-based paints, you will need to check if there is a scheduled household waste collection day in your community. You can also bring paints to a specified collection site along with other toxic products you want to get rid of, such as paint removers, used solvents, pesticides and herbicides and you can get that information from your local community waste programs. If your community does not offer this service, call your County Extension Home Economics Agent, the local waste management agency, your area’s water treatment plant or the local landfill, and ask what the procedure is for where you live.

Laurel Jonas

Northwest Realty Group

208-758-9000

208HomesForSale@gmail.com

208HomesForSale.com

We could all agree that the simplification of the process through paperwork would be much appreciated by agents and buyers/sellers alike; but the attempt of replacing the agent by sites like Zillow and other third party resources can lead to a snowball effect of disaster. Think about real estate being smack dab in the middle of fast food and a doctor. You can use your mobile device to quickly place your order for a $20 meal, but when it comes to getting surgery, you'll want to put that phone down and visit a professional. Now think of your real estate agent being in the middle of all of that. You can use your devices to look for a home, look at market data the way you look at WebMD, knowing not to take it too seriously because you need a real professional's input, but it's fun and gives you a general idea of what to expect. But in there lies the issue, the data online is an oversimplified version of what goes into the process of buying and selling. The same way it oversimplifies medical diseases and surgeries, you'd still expect to get a professional's diagnosis.

Although a real estate agent isn't quite like a doctor, the industry with its legalities, contracts, and processes is similar in the sense that it needs to be taken seriously. Looking for a house online and wanting to put an immediate offer on one can be exciting and fun, but the issues that require a professional's guidance come after the initial contract is written up and the hard work comes into place to actually make the home your own. The same thing goes for sellers. If you decide to put your home on the market and want a website that will give you an automatic offer, how do you know you're not being taken advantage of with the price? Most importantly, how do you know you're not being taken advantage of in other aspects of the contract? There is a lot more to the sale of the home than just agreeing on a number.

The next time you're digging through public sites for homes for sale, and getting instant home valuation estimates, keep in mind that this is a simple process to give you an idea of your market. A very general idea. After you've found the perfect house, or after you've decided that the numbers make some sense for you to sell, call your favorite real estate agent and make sure they give you a more detailed look into the market and assist you through the full process, not just the exciting first parts. It is going to be in the middle of a contract when the lending is falling apart, or negotiations can't be made on repairs and emotions are at an all-time high, that you are going to wish you had put down your laptop and had an agent fighting for you by your side. Use the internet, have fun with its amazing resources, but don't let it replace your Realtor®. We aren't in an age yet where technology can do everything a professional can.

Laurel Jonas

208-758-9000

208HomesForSale@gmail.com

Granite countertops are in many homes across the country, but the knowledge of how to keep them clean and protected is not as widespread. Granite requires more than just a wipe down, so here are some tips to keep that countertop looking brand new for years to come.

Practice regular cleanings

Regular counter cleanings should be done with warm water and dish soap. DO NOT use vinegar, Windex or bleach on granite. Granite isn’t as porous as marble and is therefore less prone to soaking up oils, spills and stains. Preventing stains is key to maintaining granite countertops, so regular cleanings will keep you ahead of the curve.

Remove stains quickly

Make sure to remove potential stains before they have a chance to set. Create a paste of baking soda and water and then scrub the spot with the paste. Rinse off the paste and continue to clean as normal. If you come across an extremely tough stain, let the paste sit for several hours until it dries. Once it has dried, you can wipe it up with a warm cloth.

Reseal when necessary

Every 2-4 years, your countertops will need resealed. This is a job typically best left to professionals. Even if you are cleaning your countertops correctly, normal wear and tear will weaken your sealant, making your granite susceptible to stains.

Laurel Jonas

Northwest Realty Group

208-758-9000

208HomesForSale@gmail.com

208HomesForSale.com

Dalton Gardens is a small suburb that sits between Coeur d'Alene and Hayden Idaho. It's so small, that it's no bigger than 3 square miles and backs up to Canfield mountain. According to 2018 census, 2403 people live there. Dalton Gardens is a unique area with both older and newer custom homes. The large draw to the area are the lot sizes which are referred to as "Dalton acres". Each lot is at least one acre and some much more. It feels like you're in the country.

Even though Dalton Gardens is so small, it is a city of its own with a major and city council. When driving through Dalton Gardens slow down, fawn are very popular in the area. If this area fits your style, click here to view ALL the active properties for sale: Dalton Gardens Homes For Sale.

Laurel Jonas

208-758-9000

208HomesForSale@gmail.com