My life and work.

Nice to meet you! Here's a look into my world as an entrepreneur and REALTOR®.

  • Visual Blog
  • Blog
  • Real Estate
  • Moon Valley
  • About Me
  • Press Mentions
  • Kyle's Kitchen Cookbook
homeimprovement.jpeg

Home Maintenance Tips.

July 26, 2018 by Kyle Clayton in real estate

Maintaining your home isn't easy but a little prevention can spare you some big repairs! Deferred maintenance can also effect you when you go to sell your home! When buyers see things that are broken, they take a closer look at your home!

1. Give your home a good scrub down! Clean everything, even windows! A good place to keep clean is under sinks, buyers and inspectors look there for water damage. Clean homes just present well and generally have a neutral smell!

2. Keep up on minor repairs. Don't let that loose faucet or door handle get any worse. Change burnt out lightbulbs and double check smoke alarms. Also change your air filters!

3. File away major repair invoices. If you get a new water heater, A/C unit, or even an appliance, keep them all. Maintain a file with these invoice in your home, that way you're prepared for any service calls or warranty fixes. Plus, you can leave it for the next owners of your home!

4. Double check your home's systems. Make sure your A/C unit isn't wobbling or making noise. Check to make sure your hot water heater is operational and set at the right temperature. Look under sinks for leaks and check your toilets too! 

5. Look at your home like you're about to sell it. If you were touring this house, like a buyer, what would make you frown? Fix those. What would make you smile? Do more of that. Keeping this perspective will keep you from having to fix everything up before you sell it!

6. Check pool equipment and water levels. It's peak summer and your pool has probably been working extra hard to stay clean. Look over the equipment for any leaks or plugs. Grab a pumice stone and have the kids work on that water line, calcium build up!

7. Purge your storage spaces. If you have stuff in the attic or in the garage, do a small purge session and get rid of some things. Not only will it make some more room, it will keep stuff from building up. Termites and other critters can cause damage in places your stuff is building up!

8. Be aware of moisture build up. Our houses are sealed up tight during the summer and that helps keep us cool, but it may also keep bad stuff inside too. Check your bathrooms for moisture build up and make sure your exhaust fan is working. You may need to give it a little vacuum so it can breathe better. 

9. Secure gates and access points. Part of home maintenance is safety. So check your gates, add locks if needed, and fix any weak entry points to your home. Double check that your pet doesn't have any escape points either. 

10. Sweep the perimeter of your home. Are there plants touching your home? Bushes or moisture near the foundation? These things can be invitations for critters like termites and roof rats. Not good! Trim and remove as needed. Monitor the moisture at the foundation to prevent bigger problems. 

Those are your home maintenance tips! What are some things you suggest?

These items will not only keep your home looking great and performing well! It will also keep you prepared for that day when it comes to sell your home. Your home will already be inspection ready!

kylesignature.png
July 26, 2018 /Kyle Clayton
real estate agent, REALTOR®, real estate, reasons to buy a home, real estate startup, real estate investment, reasons homes sell, real estate market, realtor, increase property value, american dream, top reasons to sell, homeownership, homeowner, home improvement, home improvement ideas, selling a home in the summer, home maintenence, home inspection, home inspection checklist, home inspector, moon valley, moon valley country club, moon valley phoenix, Phoenix, arizona, arrowhead lakes, paradise valley, zillow, fixer upper, this old house, home depot, the home depot, handyman
real estate
Comment
energyefficency.jpeg

Get Your Home Summer Ready!

June 21, 2018 by Kyle Clayton in real estate

Summer is here and the heat warnings have already been issued! Keeping your home cool and saving money on energy costs, is a battle we all fight this season. Here's some tips to keep your home energy efficient. 

Air Conditioning: If you need to get your A/C serviced, now is the time. A check-up is always cheaper than dealing with a sudden emergency.

  1. Have them also check your temperature splits, to make sure your not losing precious cold air anywhere between the unit and the interior vents. 
  2. Replace your filter every month too! Don't use a thick filter, it makes your A/C work harder.

Programable Thermostat: your power company probably has a 'peak usage' timeframe, so program your air conditioning to that schedule. When you're away from home, bump the temperature up. Then have it bump down a few degrees, an hour before you usually get home. 

Seal it up! Think of your home as an envelope, we want to make sure it is all sealed up!

  1. Check the weather stripping on your doors, if you can see light, then you need to adjust your seals.
  2. Take your A/C vents off and calk the space between the duct and drywall. 
  3. Check your attic insulation for gaps or leaks. 
  4. Get a home energy audit from APS or SRP.

Check your Fans: make sure your ceiling fans are rotating counter clockwise during the summer. This moves the hot air down with the cooler air, creating a more even temperature. 

Suncreens: keeping the sunlight from entering your house is the best way to keep it cool. So investing in sunscreens on all your windows, helping to lower your energy bills. Plus you'll have some more privacy with the blinds are open!

kylesignature.png
June 21, 2018 /Kyle Clayton
summer, home maintenence, summer prep, fix air conditioning, insulation, hgtv, this old house, diy, energy audit, energy efficient, utility bills, programable thermostat, thermal envelope, NAR GREEN, home improvement, home improvement ideas, real estate agent, REALTOR®, realtor, real estate investment, aps, srp, solar power, solar panels, attic insulation, team clayton, RE/MAX, resource efficient home, green resource council
real estate
Comment
yellow front door.jpeg

6 Tips for Curb Appeal

May 31, 2018 by Kyle Clayton in real estate, housing market

First impressions are important in so many situations, like: meeting new people, interviewing for a job, and when buying or selling a house. Curb appeal can create a great first impression and make your home welcoming for visitors. So here's some tips:

  1. Red Door: Not only are they classic, red doors create a universal feeling of being welcome. Visitors will be drawn to the front door, wanting to come right inside! Talk about a great way to welcome people to your home!
  2. Flowers: Color is huge, so grab a tray of seasonal flowers and get them planted! In pots or in the ground, add some pop of color to your front yard. Just don't forget to water them!
  3. Curved Pathways: From the sidewalk, add a slightly curved pathway to your door. It will create a traffic pattern and give visitors a direct way to enter your home. Plus you can line it with flowers or other cool, local plants!
  4. Wreaths: Adding a seasonal wreath on your door adds another layer of curb appeal. People love the "homey" feeling a wreath can bring to a home. Tap in to those feelings! Not a wreath person? Do a cute sign or colorful mat!
  5. Contrast: Make your house stand out with contrasting colors! Have a white house? Try black! Have a gray house? Paint some aqua accents! The contrast in colors will make your home unique and memorable. 
  6. Fly a Flag: Owning a home is part of the American Dream, so fly your flag! Have a family member in the Military? Fly their branches' flag! Everyone loves a flag, so put one outside of your home!

These are some easy ways to spruce up your home, even if your not selling! Spring is the perfect time to do these projects, so just pick one that you can handle and tackle it! Share your pictures with me on Instagram or Facebook! I'd love to see what you do!

kylesignature copy.png
May 31, 2018 /Kyle Clayton
curb appeal, real estate market, REALTOR®, real estate, reasons homes sell, real estate agent, reasons to buy a home, real estate investment, realtor, top reasons to sell, american dream, az living, arizona living, buying a home, how to buy a home, first time homebuyer, home improvement, home improvement ideas, first impressions, first time home seller, tips for first time home buyers, tips for first time home sellers, increase property value, buying a new home, this old house, HGTV, Curb Appeal HGTV, Fixer Upper, Joanna Gains, Magnolia Home, joanna gains curb appeal
real estate, housing market
1 Comment

Powered by Squarespace