Banish mold and mildew with regular tile and grout cleaning
Is your bathroom or kitchen a science experiment? When you take a bath or shower can you see blooms of orange around your shower pan or constellations of dark, fuzzy spots on the ceiling? Has your kitchen or another room in your home started to smell musty? Visible signs and tangible smells are good indicators that you have a mold or mildew issue in your home. What’s the difference between mold and mildew? The terms “mold” and “mildew” are often linked together much like “love” and “marriage” (and “horse” and “carriage”). But, which one is which? According to the Environmental Protection Association (EPA), “Mildew refers to certain kinds of mold or fungus. The term mildew is often used generically to refer to mold growth, usually with a flat growth habit. Molds include all species of microscopic fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments, called hyphae. Molds can thrive on any organic matter, including clothing, leather, paper, and the ceilings, walls and floors of homes with moisture management problems. Mildew often lives on shower walls, windowsills, and other places where moisture levels are high. There are many species of molds. In unaired places, such as basements, they can produce a strong musty odor.” No matter what kind of mold or mildew you have, the results can be unsightly. Mold and mildew can also cause health problems in at-risk individuals such as people with asthma. Disappointed with at-home grout cleaning? So, yes, the dirty little secret is out. Many of us have showers that don’t get properly ventilated and kitchen backsplashes that need lots of help. What to do? It’s hard to invite someone into your home to witness that mess, right? You may have tried to fix it yourself. Who hasn’t scoured the internet for ways to eliminate mold from drywall, tile or grout? You may have tried bleach to eliminate mold. Perhaps you’ve mixed vinegar and soda or employed borax with great hope? The problem is, scrubbing your shower with an old toothbrush can be gross. It also doesn’t work all that well or the results don’t last. It can be difficult to ask for help. Rest-assured that we’ve seen it all at A Personal Touch. We can clean your tile and grout in Denver with our proven process for a great price. We’ll apply commercial-grade grout and tile cleaner to your bathroom or kitchen tile areas. Our trained technicians will carefully scrub your tile and grout free of soap scum, water stains, mold and mildew. We’ll apply a top-notch sealant that will keep your grout from accumulating grime in the future. Professionally sealing your tile will make your tile easier to maintain. Want to beautify and safeguard your home? The best way to keep your bathrooms and kitchen areas looking and smelling their best is with regular tile maintenance. A Personal Touch can help remove set-in stains, persistent odors, grime, scum and mildew. We also restore marble and granite countertops. We recommend professional tile and grout cleaning once or twice per year depending on where your tile is located. Book a consultation with A Personal Touch today at 720-344-2870. We are happy to discuss your questions about tile or grout cleaning. Rather reach out online? Fill out our contact form for a free quote today. Source Basic Facts about Mold and Dampness | CDC
Why spring is the perfect time for upholstery (and carpet) cleaning
Ever take a nap on your sofa on a Sunday? Maybe you’ve watched the game or an old western. Then, slowly you’ve nodded off blearily gazing at Clint Eastwood or the ceiling. A little while later, you wake up with a face full of sofa cushion. And maybe, just maybe, you also wake up wondering, “What is that smell?” It’s a little delicate. We do a LOT of living in our living rooms. Our pets drool on the couch (we do too) or bring us a drippy ball and set it on the ottoman. Some of us sit down on the upholstery after a dirty day at work, or spill beer and snacks on the couch during the big playoffs. Kids or our spouse use the family room recliner to get well from a broken rib or the flu. Soggy tissues clutter the armrests. Cold medicine is dripped on the upholstery. Cough drops get shoved into the cracks where they crumble and melt. And that’s not to mention the kid experiments that are brought in from the backyard that somehow end up on your favorite antique chair. Get back the newness Soon it will be sunny outside for keeps. You’ll be able to throw open the windows and air out the whole house. Ahhh, freshness! Spring is a time for big cleaning efforts for a reason. New growth will spring from the trees and flowers will poke their heads up from the earth outside. It’s a perfect time to renew your environment inside too. Professional upholstery and carpet cleaning with a truck-mounted steam cleaning system removes dirt, dust and grime and those little messes that build up from day-to-day living. That includes smells and dust trapped down deep in your upholstery. Protect your investments Your furniture and carpets are a valuable part of your house. You spent a lot of time picking them out or installing them. Sometimes furniture is passed down through the generations and is emotionally priceless too. Your possessions are worth the upkeep. They can serve you for years to come if you take care of them. That’s why it’s important to vacuum your sofas, loveseats and chairs regularly. Then, once a year or so make an appointment for professional upholstery cleaning to remove stains and grime. Keep the loveseat lovelier longer You could rent a cheap steam cleaning system to clean your upholstery yourself. But, what would you miss? A professional carpet and upholstery cleaner like A Personal Touch knows exactly how to clean a variety of fabrics from durable to delicate. Our technicians receive regular training and our company is certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration. We understand: Preparation. We put plastic protectors beneath your furniture legs to protect your carpets. Stain treatment. We can analyze your furniture stains and provide just the right treatment to get them out without harming fabric. Special features. We treat furniture trimmings, cushions and throw pillows, separately. We know how to make true whites and deep colors look their best. Protection. After cleaning, we can treat your furniture with a soil protector fiber coat to ensure lasting beauty. Celebrate spring inside your home as well as outside. Call A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning Services today to schedule an upholstery cleaning in Littleton, Castle Rock, Englewood or beyond at 720.344.2870, or use our online contact form to ask questions and request a free quote. Be sure to check out our service specials too.
Regular carpet cleaning is a must for day care centers
Did you know, Colorado has 2,882 preschools and childcare centers? 1 Lots of kids are being cared for outside of their homes every day. If you own or manage a daycare center, you understand it’s even tougher to keep our kids healthy this season when families are facing colds and flu as well as various strains of Covid-19. Our kids need all the help they can get! Steam cleaning for health In our last blog, we covered important ways we can all stay safe indoors this winter. Washing our hands, cleaning surfaces and staying home when we are sick all help to minimize germs. Though our kids and daycare workers are being careful and following guidelines, bacteria, viruses and allergens can end up in daycare center carpets and on upholstered surfaces. Regular cleaning with an effective vacuum cleaner helps keep that load down. A bag vacuum system with a High Efficiency Particulate Air Filtration System works best.2 But vacuuming isn’t enough. Over the years, A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning has helped area day care centers go the extra mile and incorporate monthly steam cleaning into their cleaning protocols. The anecdotal results amazed us: After they began monthly steam carpet cleaning, these centers reported that fewer kids were absent due to illness. Fewer sick little ones resulted in happier, healthier families overall. Healthier children at the centers also equaled more kids attending daycare consistently and paying for that care. Of course, steady attendance positively affected the centers’ bottom lines. Monthly carpet cleaning seemed to pay dividends all the way around, resulting in healthier kids and busier daycare centers. How is this possible? A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning uses a professional, truck-mounted cleaning system. Our cleaning water is heated up to 230oF. Even in the cold winter months, the water used to clean carpets is at least 180oF. According to our industry guidelines, just 125oF kills 98 percent of household germs including colds, flu and bed bugs. Regular steam carpet cleaning also removes common allergens like dust, pollen and mold spores that can impact some kids’ immune systems and make them feel miserable. Your cleaning partner Have questions about regular carpet cleaning? We are standing by to answer them. Colorado State Rules and Regulations also recommend keeping your daycare center carpeting in good repair and steam cleaning carpeting after hazardous fluid spills.3 Our technicians can help! Don’t wait, call A Personal Touch for a consultation to see how regular carpet cleaning and maintenance can help your center thrive and keep kids at your daycare facility safer. Our service area encompasses a wide swath of neighborhoods including Denver, Castle Rock, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Sedalia and Jefferson County. Sources 1 https://childcarecenter.us/state/colorado#:~:text=With%202%2C882%20preschools%20and%20child,option%20is%20waiting%20for%20you 2 How Your Vacuum Cleaner Can Help You Ward off Colds & Flu – House of Vacuums 3 The Colorado State Rules and Regulations Governing the Health and Sanitation of Child Care Facilities in the State of Colorado
Five Tips to Keep Your Carpets Clean This Winter
Look out the window. We may have sunny skies often, but we know this is Colorado and weather can change quickly. The Old Farmer’s 2022 Almanac predicts snow showers and frigid temperatures periodically in our area through March of next year. Local weather forecasters say Denver residents have up to a 50 percent chance of a white Christmas this year (we hope). From winter snows to summer dust, most of the dirt in your home comes from the great outdoors. It can be challenging to keep floors and carpets clean all year, but winter carpet care requires extra diligence. We have a few sure-fire carpet tips to help: Use door mats: Place thick, absorbent mats by entrances outside and inside your home. Ask your family and guests to use them. Establishing good habits will protect your carpets and floors for the next generation. If your family routinely tracks in mud and slush, consider placing a boot scraper outside your most-used entrance. Boot scrapers come in a variety of styles from metal to plastic and are usually sold for under $30. Family and friends can scrape their shoes or boots free of debris before stepping over your threshold to keep your home cleaner. Remove shoes: Of course, asking your family and guests to remove their shoes as they enter your house is even better. Set up your entryway or mud room with a boot tray and bench (if you have space). Provide clean slippers or socks for your guests to wear around your house for a welcoming touch. Don’t forget Fido: Our beloved pets track in as much dirt as we do. Keep a clean towel handy and be sure to wipe off your pets’ paws immediately after they’ve been outside. If you’re dedicated and patient, you may be able to get your dog to help you in this area. Check out this fun, informative video, Teach your dog to wipe his paws. The towel would be easiest! Address spills quickly: Spills happen: it’s inevitable. Especially during holiday get-togethers. So, it’s best to be prepared. Keep clean, white rags and vinegar or carpet cleaner on hand. Treat a stain immediately, while it’s still wet. Blot excess fluid quickly to prevent spills from soaking through to your carpet pad. Check out this page for our in-depth advice on spot removal. Routinely clean carpets: Clean your carpets well and clean them often! Vacuum once a week, if not more, to keep your carpets fresh. Schedule a professional carpet cleaning every 12 to 18 months to keep your home environment healthy and your carpets in good repair. Did you know, many stain-resistant carpet manufacturer warranties require professional cleaning every two years? Be good to your floors and carpets! They’ll last much longer, stay under warranty and keep their original beauty for years to come. A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning has been helping keep Colorado’s carpets clean and repaired for 30 years. Ring in 2022 by scheduling your carpet or upholstery cleaning today. Call us at 720-344-2870 for a free estimate or simply schedule and appointment.
Should I repair, restretch or replace my carpet?
It’s been unseasonably warm in Colorado this December. Coming in your back patio door from the sunny outdoors, have you looked down and noticed your carpet is a little worse for wear? Perhaps you want to refresh your home before the snow flies, but you have questions. Would it be better to repair the carpet, maybe restretch it, or tear it out and start all over? Carpet repair Let’s start with carpet repair. Look at your carpeting again. Is it fraying a bit? Do you have a couple of burn holes from a kid’s chemistry experiment gone awry? Is it torn from the time your cat was having a hard day? Our professionals can cut out the area around holes and tears and patch it with identical carpeting. If you have leftover carpet from installation, and the area is small, we might be able to make your repair almost invisible. Larger areas might be more difficult to conceal, but we can usually make a repaired area look much better than the burned or torn area. If your carpet fraying is near a seam, we may be able to fix it by resealing the seam and power stretching your carpet to close any gaps. Carpet repair is always more economical than total carpet replacement and it can help you maximize the years of wear left in your carpeting. Carpet restretching Loose carpeting and rippling is most often caused by poor installation. Those bumps, bubbles and waves in your carpet are not only ugly, they can be dangerous trip hazards. Rippling can make it impossible to open doors or navigate through your home with a walker or wheelchair. It’s best to get any bumps in your carpeting repaired immediately to save your carpet from further damage and to promptly remove hazards. We use a “power stretching” method to remove the bumps from your carpeting and ensure your carpet lies flat over your carpet pad. Our experts can determine if you can refresh your carpet with a bit of judicious restretching rather than carpet replacement. Carpet replacement Carpet replacement should be your last resort. Many times you can get years of wear from your carpet by starting with a good, deep cleaning. We use a powerful, truck-mounted cleaning system to remove stains and odors. After cleaning, we can protect your carpet with Dupont Teflon carpet protector. Your carpet may have years of life left in it. Cared for carpet can last for decades! We can help you save money and make your carpet look like new again. Protect your original investment with carpet cleaning, repair and restretching from A Personal Touch. Every question is a smart question when it comes to beautifying and protecting your home. At A Personal Touch, we are happy to answer any carpeting questions you might have and give you a free, written estimate without cost or obligation. Contact us at 720.344.2870 or use our online form to schedule a free consultation.
5 benefits of regular professional carpet cleaning
It’s almost time to feast on Thanksgiving delicacies. For most families, that means welcoming guests into your home to celebrate. You may have gotten the turkey and cranberries, but is your home ready? Your carpet lends warmth to your home environment and really does tie your décor together. You want your carpets to last and look great every time you gather with family or friends. Treat your carpets well by getting them professionally cleaned, it’s totally worth it. In fact, without even trying too hard, we can name at least 5 benefits of professional carpet cleaning. It: Extends the life of your carpet: Home carpeting will last 5-7 years on average. However, your carpeting is an important investment. You’ll want it to last much longer! Keeping your carpets dirt free is the single best way to extend the life of your carpet. Vacuum twice a week to remove non-soluble dirt. Get your carpets professionally cleaned once a year to remove the soluble spots. Your carpet needs weekly as well as professional cleaning to keep it fresh, restore its life and its original beauty. May prevent illness: Our professional extraction process can help prevent seasonal allergies by removing pollens which settle into your carpet. We use 180-degree water to clean your carpeting which can kill germs and help prevent colds and flu. Our truck-mounted steam cleaning extraction method is incredibly powerful which means your carpets will also dry more quickly once the bacteria, dirt and pollens are gone. Lifts tough stains: A Personal Touch carpet cleaning pre-sprays all of your carpet or upholstery with a low pH enzyme cleaning solution. The solution breaks down dirt and oils so that they can be easily flushed out as your carpets are cleaned. We apply specific spot lifting formulas to remove special stains such as ink, grease, urine, rust, tar and more. Brings high-traffic areas back to life: The best way to protect your high traffic areas is to keep them clean with a bi-weekly vacuuming routine. You cannot over-vacuum your home’s carpeting. Then, once a year, you should get your carpets professionally cleaned. Most carpeting warranties require a professional cleaning at least every 18 months. Keeping up with both kinds of cleaning will revive and refresh your carpeting. To further protect your carpet, we can apply a Teflon carpet protector. Eliminates stubborn odors: We all love our pets, but messes are inevitable. If your pet has an accident, blot any liquid and clean your carpet promptly to prevent the mess from soaking through to your carpet pad. It can require a lot more work from your cleaning professional to remove spills that have soaked through to the pad or been left untreated for a long period of time. Our general enzyme pre-spray and 180-degree water break down all kinds of spills and get rid of the odor they cause. Our specialized pet spill pre-spray takes the bite out of animal urine and fecal odors. Keep your home fresh! Vacuum weekly and keep your carpeting looking, feeling and smelling new with a professional carpet cleaning every 12 to 18 months. A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning Services uses cleaning methods that won’t void your carpeting’s warranty. Call us today at 720-344-2870, or use our online contact form to ask us questions or to receive a free quote. Call us today at 720.344.2870 or use our online contact form for any questions you may have or to receive your FREE quote.
Can you restretch and repair carpeting?
Is part of your carpet rippled or wrinkled? Have these “speed bumps” in your living, dining or media room become an eyesore or hazard in your house? Ninety-eight percent of the time your carpet have ripples in them is from poor installation. Because carpets have a poly-propylene backing that’s glued together with glue means your carpet will relax over over 3 to 5 years after installation if the installer did not use a “power stretcher” to make sure the carpet is “drum tight” right from the start. Since it is very flexible, installers just use a knee kicker to get it tight enough to last for up to 3 years. It is a faster way of installation, so that’s why they do this. Rest assured it is NOT from over-vacuuming or over-cleaning. (We cleaned a customers’ carpet twice a month for 4 years and it never rippled, because it was installed correctly from the start.) The good news: Your carpet can be fixed without costly replacement! What’s happening to my carpet? If the ripples are left to grow tall enough to be tripped over then delamination can occur. In short, the glue that holds the plastic backing to your carpet can dry out. The backing can pull away from the carpet fibers. This is called delamination. Delamination causes the ripples or wrinkles. If there is delamination in the ripples or wrinkles then they can never be stretched tight again. Our extreme weather in Colorado speeds up the process. Humidity in the spring and summer helps the glue on your carpet to relax. This can also happen if your carpet is improperly cleaned with too much water and not dried thoroughly. When we all crank up our heat in the winter, hot, forced air causes the glue to dry out and delamination occurs. Sometimes, you’ll see ripples in your carpeting shrink with weather changes. If they don’t shrink and you can’t push those ripples back down, you’ll need to get your carpet stretched to fix it. When do I get my carpet stretched? Everyone wants their home to be snug, cozy and safe for the holidays. It’s the number one time of year to clean our homes, decorate with holiday cheer and get ready to welcome family and loved ones. We don’t want to worry about warning everyone to avoid the carpet wrinkle hazard by the dining table! Plus, if your carpet is rippled, walking over it can cause further damage because delaminated carpet doesn’t flex up and down when you use it. Don’t let carpet wrinkles cause injury or damage your carpet. Best to get your carpet repaired and stretched as soon as you notice permanent wrinkles. What is involved in the repair and stretching process? Our professional carpet installers will remove your carpet from the tack strips that hold your carpet down. We will assess your carpet and make repairs where possible. Then, our technicians will professionally stretch and reattach your carpeting with specialized equipment. This process will remove wrinkles and renew your carpet; you won’t have to spend a lot of money on new carpeting and installation. Get your repairs done by technicians who care A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning has been in business for over 30 years. Our technicians are certified by IICRC – The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. The IICRC is the guardian agency of the carpet cleaning and repair industry. Each one of our team members is courteous and friendly. They are also IICRC trained which means they are dedicated to their work, uphold the highest standards and receive ongoing education about the latest repair and cleaning techniques throughout their careers. We would be happy to answer any of your questions about carpet repair and stretching. Call us today at 720-344-2870 for a free estimate or simply schedule an appointment.
Signs Of a Poor Carpet Installation & How To Fix It
A properly installed wall-to-wall carpet looks great and does an excellent job of tying a room together. On the flipside, a new carpet with poor installation makes a room appear disjointed and unfinished. With decades of experience in all things carpet, A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning knows the signs of a poor carpet installation, and how to fix it. Signs Of a Poor Carpet Installation Padding Installed Incorrectly A professional carpet installer should have no trouble installing carpet padding, whose multiple benefits include extra cushion for the feet, protection against matting of the carpet fibers, and a reasonable level of stain protection. However, when installed incorrectly, the carpet padding will be bumpy – a problem that transfers over to the carpet when it is laid atop the padding. Wrong Equipment A big red flag to watch out for is a carpet installer who shows up at your home with a knee-kicker instead of a power stretcher. The latter looks like a jarge jack, whereas the former “kneepads” that the installer uses to “kick” the carpet and padding into place. In this case of man vs. machine, the machine wins every time, with the power stretcher able to achieve a much smoother, tauter install than even the best knee-kickers. If you recently had carpet installed by someone using knee-kickers, a good test of their quality is to go to the middle of the room and try pulling up the carpet as high off the floor as you can. If you’re able to pull it up more than an inch, the carpet is too loose and wasn’t installed well. Miscellaneous Signs There are several other signs to be wary of when judging whether a carpet has been installed correctly. Some of the most common are frayed/fuzzy edges where the carpet meets the wall, carpet seams that don’t match or are misaligned, carpet that’s too loose (mentioned above), and ripples/bumps/ridges in the carpet. Often times, repairing any of these mistakes is a time-consuming, costly endeavor, and it may be difficult getting the installer to cover the cost. Tips For Fixing The Problem The more effort you put into finding the right carpet for your home, the more likely you are to properly vet your installer options and make the best choice. Choosing quality over cost is always a smart move, especially since you’ll rely on your carpet to contribute to your home’s warmth, vibrancy, and aesthetic appeal. Given the time and expense involved, you should take as much time as possible to find the right carpet and the right installer so that the job is done correctly the first time. When seeking a reputable carpet company to fix a bad installation, there are some “must-haves” to keep in mind: Knowledge of and expertise with the latest specialty tools Experience with properly cutting carpet, accounting for heating and cooling registers, and removing baseboards, all in the name of alleviating the problem quickly and cost-effectively. Current state licensure Good referrals Strong Better Business Bureau rating Trust The Carpet Experts In Englewood If you have an improperly installed carpet in your home, trust A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning to remedy the situation. Our expertise transcends carpet cleaning services, allowing us to evaluate your carpet and determine the best course of action. In some cases, we may not need to replace your existing carpet, thus saving you big bucks. Contact us today for a free quote and to make an appointment. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Why You Should Hire a Professional to Clean Your Tile Grout
On the surface, tile grout cleaning seems like a feasible DIY project. However, when you consider the time and expense involved, as well as the risk in causing permanent damage to bathroom walls and backsplashes, the smart play is to hire a professional like A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. Tile Grout Cleaning – Overview The difficulty associated with tile grout cleaning is two-fold. For one, the places in your home where tile grout is found, i.e. the kitchen and bathroom, are high-use areas. Here, tile grout is constantly exposed to water, soap, dirt, and foot traffic (the bathroom), as well as water combined with food splatter (the kitchen). Secondly, it is notoriously difficult to achieve full clean tile grout with traditional cleaning supplies, given the nature of the grout itself and the fact that long-term discolorations and stains become entrenched and virtually impossible to remove. Tile Grout Cleaning – The Solution When you hire a Denver-area professional cleaning company like A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning, you benefit from decades of collective experience. This is important from a process standpoint, in that we have developed a tried and tested process to make our clients’ tile grout look brand-new again. Our experience is also vital in terms of the choice of cleaning supplies, some of which can be harmful if applied by an untrained person. Bring us on board and we’ll get started straight away by applying a top-quality commercial-grade grout and tile cleaner proven to remove even the most ground-in dirt, soap scum, and grime. Depending on how long it’s been since your tile grout was last cleaned, you may have also detected an unpleasant odor associated with the tiling. This is the product of the grout absorbing moisture over time, which ultimately results in the accumulation of mold and mildew – the things responsible for the bad smell. This fungi is not something you want in your home, for aesthetic as well as health reasons – but with our first-class cleaning services, you can expect the complete removal of mold and mildew, along with any associated stains. Our technicians don’t quit until your tile grouting has been thoroughly scrubbed and freed from any and all dirt, mold, and soap scum. Once we’re satisfied with the scrubbing portion of the cleaning process, we move on to phase two – the application of a top-rated sealant to the grout lines in your tile. This goes a long way to preventing stains, spills, and detritus from causing any problems in the future, and it’s an essential step towards maintaining the tile and the tile grout’s original color. Rest assured that whatever the level of cleaning required to make your tile grout shine again, we take great care to not damage the grout or surrounding tile in any way. Also, we’ll give you some tips for regular tile maintenance that goes a long way in the quest to keep your tile grout looking great. Contact Our Cleaning Experts Today Don’t let dirt, mold, and soap scum get the best of your kitchen and bathroom – contact the experts at A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning and sign on for professional tile cleaning today. Whether you decide to get in touch online or over the phone, expect a free quote from our professional cleaning company in Englewood. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
17 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your House
Selling your house can be both exciting and stressful, especially if it’s your first time. Regardless of why you decided to sell your home, there are a number of pitfalls you can easily fall into, making your home selling experience less than ideal. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of the most common home selling mistakes people make so you can sell your home knowing you have your bases covered. Underestimating the cost of selling your house While you should ultimately profit from the sale of your home, many home sellers forget about the costs associated with selling a house. For starters, you should expect to use five to six percent of the total sale price of your home to cover the commissions of both the seller and buyer agents. For example, if you sell your home for $300,000 you could wind up paying upwards of $18,000 in commission. Furthermore, this hefty cost doesn’t include possible concessions homebuyers might want you to make during the negotiation phase, such as making repairs suggested by a home inspector. Not budgeting for your move When you consider the moving process, you have two options: hiring a moving company or borrow your buddy’s truck and doing it yourself. By hiring a moving company, rather than doing it yourself, you’re getting someone who will pack, move, and then unpack your belongings. This means that a full-service mover can be well worth the investment when you’re preoccupied with all of the other tasks associated with selling your home. Not to mention, when you hire movers your belongings are insured so you’re covered if anything breaks. Selling a house you owe more on than what it’s worth If you still have a remaining balance on your mortgage, you’ll most likely use a portion of the sale proceeds of your home to pay off the existing mortgage. Make sure you don’t owe more on your mortgage than what your house is actually worth or you won’t make enough money on the sale to pay off your mortgage. The best option is almost always to wait on selling your home so that it can build more equity. This way you can sell your home and buy a new one without having two mortgages at the same time. Pricing your home incorrectly If you price your home too high, your home may fall into seller’s limbo, sitting on the market for what feels like an eternity. On the other hand, if you price too low then you will likely sell your home quickly but you risk missing out on a significant amount of money. The first step to understanding how much your home is worth is utilizing an online calculator. Afterward, meet with your real estate agent to discuss a good pricing strategy for your home. They will look at other comparable properties in your neighborhood that sold recently as well as bring keen insights into what the housing market is currently doing. Together, you’ll determine a good starting price as well as a pricing strategy that will incentivize buyers if your house begins to sit on the market for too long. Skipping a pre-listing home inspection before selling your house Selling a house is stressful enough, even when everything goes right. But if a homebuyer hires an inspector who catches an issue like mold, pests, or a cracked foundation, then your stress levels will multiply as you risk losing a potential sale entirely. Given the affordability of home inspections, there’s not much reason to avoid them. Getting a pre-listing home inspection will put your mind at ease as you’ll either know that your home is in sound condition or you’ll be able to tackle problems before homebuyers have the chance to bring them up during the negotiation phase. If an issue does arise, you can either fix it or you can let buyers know and then make a concession during the negotiation phase by reducing the price of your home accordingly. Not refinishing hardwood floors or cleaning your carpet If you’re reading this at home, look down. How do your floors look? Even if they don’t look terrible, there’s a pretty good chance they’re starting to show their age. Since potential buyers are going to be inspecting every aspect of your home, you should start thinking of refinishing your hardwood floors and cleaning your carpet. Whether you’re selling in Atlanta or Portland, the best time to have your carpet cleaned or hardwood floors refinished is right before you stage your home. Since you’ll already be moving most (or all) of your furniture to either a new home or a storage unit, this is a great time to get your floors done (like the floors above) and make them a selling point to potential homebuyers. Not staging your home for a quick sale The main point of staging your home is to allow potential homebuyers the chance to picture themselves living in your space. They get to see a home with furniture and art that’s arranged in a way that highlights key features of your home, rather than an empty house that echoes every sound. Staging your home pays off too as 21 percent of agents told the National Association of Realtors that staging a home increased its’ sale price by as much as 10 percent, making it a worthwhile investment. Forgoing professional real estate photos With the advent of cameras on smartphones, everyone likes to think of themselves as a photographer these days. Even though that picture you took of your dinner last week looked like it could be featured in advertisements, you’re still probably not ready to take your own real estate photos. A real estate photographer will make sure that your home looks great when you list it because not only do they have the equipment, they understand the angles that best sell a home. If you have a large home, a stunning view you want to show off, or a large amount of land, you