Ready, Set, GO! The start of the Season for absolutely loving life in the Palm Springs area is nearly here – the time when we get to go-Go-GO all day and all night long with things to do, places to go, and people to see. Before we get to go, though, we’ve got to take care of “Ready” and “Set” and you know what that means.
Wait. Seriously? You don’t know what that means? No worries. I’m Stephen Burchard, The Desert Bowtie Realtor, and, as always, I’m here to help.
“Ready” means getting your house ready for action after its months of lazing in the summer heat. “Set” means setting the stage of your home to make it a private paradise you can keep for yourself or share with others. And since I’m a realtor, let me tell you, all of these actions are money in the bank if you’re thinking of selling in today’s hotter-than-hot desert real estate market.
Ready!
Here are 7 great steps to get your home ready for the desert’s High Season:
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Wash Your Home’s Exterior – We all need a nice soak sometimes and your home is no exception. Grab your garden hose, add a cleaning wand attachment and wash away the dust of the last year. You may need to give your windows a little personal attention to keep them streak-free and sparkling.
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Clean Your Deck or Patio – Clean and re-seal as needed, use an all-purpose cleaner to bring your patio furniture a facial, then have a ball browsing the shops for new cushions to give it all a fresh new look that will make you want to lounge with a mimosa forever.
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Give Your Home an Airing – Fling open those windows, take in your gorgeous mountain and valley views, and run your air conditioner on low for a while. This will clear away the closed-up air of summertime and bring you a fresh start for fun.
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Perk up your garden – Say goodbye to anything that didn’t survive the summer and hello to colorful new annuals. Trim, prune, mulch and plant your way into a state of bliss. Take stock of any less-than-thrilling views you got from those open windows and turn them into stunners with some clever plantings and outdoor art.
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Review your exterior paint – Is your house’s exterior looking dingy or bleached out? Then it’s time for a fresh coat of paint. Just like a haircut, maybe you just need a touch up or a trim. For a home that’s calling for a pop of color, think about the latest Palm Springs trend and use a matching power accent for your front door and mailbox.
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Have your chimney cleaned – There’s nothing like cuddling by a fire on a chilly night, so if you’ve got a fireplace get your home cuddle-ready with a good chimney cleaning and inspection. And if you have an outdoor firepit, clean it and get it ready by checking the fuel line or laying in a supply of wood or propane.
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Freshen up your decor – Last year’s decor is soooooo 20-then. Move into the fabulous new season with a few changes that move things into 20-now. Pillows are quick, easy, and completely necessary for midnight pillow fights. Rearrange your furniture a little, hang fresh new towels in the bathroom, get a new accent piece for your mantel and you’re good to go.
Set!
The best place to enjoy the Season is in the perfection of your own backyard. Whether you’re looking for romance, fitness, or parties – lots and lots of parties – you can make your backyard the place where everything happens. Take a look at my blog, Your Backyard, Your Personality, for my take on having a yard that fits your style and your needs perfectly.
If the kitchen is where you spend the most time, pouring your heart into every dish you make, then here’s my blog, Happy Kitchen, Happy Home, to help you update the heart of your home into the ultimate place to uplift and embrace you as you home chef your way to culinary perfection.
Look around your home for the space you love to be in AND for the places that are constantly overlooked and make a choice: Do you want to enhance what you love or transform an underused space into something you adore? With a little effort and imagination, you’ll make your home a tantalizing place all your friends will drool over.
Go!
Whether it’s time to downsize, scoop up the profits your improvements have made in your home value, or move into a blank slate you can make completely your own, I’m here for you. I work tirelessly for you, keeping your home on the top of must-see listings and covering every detail with you from start to closing. Contact me.
I’m Stephen Burchard, The Desert Bowtie Realtor, taking the (k)nots out of real estate.
