Date Archives: April 2020

The Richmond community is coming together in a spirit of solidarity. It's never been more important for everyone to work together: Locals, nonprofits, and our real estate agents are heeding the call. Plenty of charities and nonprofits are staying active around Richmond in this testing time.

Social distancing makes everything a little more complicated, but brave volunteer workers throughout the Richmond area are still finding ways to help out their community. One big way to do your part is to participate in one of the many Richmond food drives.

Even if you don't have the time to volunteer, it only takes a few minutes to drop off a donation – and it can help, especially for families with young kids!

Looking for a chance to make a difference? You're in luck. There's another Richmond food drive coming up on May 1 that will offer you the perfect opportunity!

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COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, has altered our lives in unimaginable ways. All of our families, friends, and neighbors in the RVA have had to face dramatic changes to their lifestyles, one of which includes now wearing protective equipment when we leave the house. According to the CDC, most individuals should wear face masks when walking through public spaces.

While N95 masks or surgical masks should be used by medical professionals only, all other individuals should use cloth masks, which include homemade masks. These masks are surprisingly easy to make and are a fun arts-and-crafts project to take on while we're all sheltered in our homes during social distancing mandates.

How to Make a Mask for Coronavirus

In addition to washing our hands frequently and keeping at least six-feet between ourselves and others in public, wearing a face mask over our noses and mouths in public will also slow the spread of the coronavirus. Homemade masks can be effective in preventing the spread. However, the right methods must be used. Because the coronavirus is tinier than other bacteria, not all fabrics can trap it. The virus seems to attach itself to water droplets that come from our nose and mouth, which means these droplets containing the virus can be blocked with a simple fabric like cotton.

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With kids home from school for the foreseeable future, parents in Richmond are wearing many hats these days! In particular, parents getting ready to list a home have extra obstacles to face.

Potential buyers are utilizing virtual tours to view properties in the Richmond area to help narrow down their home search. While they might not be seeing your home in person, staging your home is still a must. 

The following tips from our real estate agents can help you stage your home for virtual tours without causing too much disruption.

1. Box Up the Extra Toys
   Children regularly play with less than half of their toys. Have your children choose which of their toys they want to keep out, and which toys they want to pack up for the move. Ideally, you will want to clear the rooms of more massive toys such as dollhouses, playsets, and other items that dominate their bedroom or playroom.
2. Invest in Storage Containers
   Keeping your children's toys in storage containers will help keep their bedrooms, and your home, neat and tidy. This will make it so you can show off storage space in a neat and organized way. These storage containers can be repurposed at your new home to keep that space orderly.
3. Repaint the Rooms
   If your children's rooms are brightly colored, it is advisable to repaint the room in a neutral color. Neutral colors make it easier for prospective buyers to visualize their personal uses for the room.
4. Tackle the Cleaning
   It's always a challenge to keep a home clean when you have children. It's even harder with everyone being cooped up. Staying on top of the cleaning and clutter will make this less daunting. Take one day to tackle your spring cleaning and then do touch up cleaning throughout the week to keep your home looking spotless and camera ready.
5. Fun Incentives
   If your kids are old enough to understand that you're getting ready to sell the home, enlist your children's help in keeping the house clean. Let them know when virtual showings will be happening. Make it a game or offer them rewards for doing chores like wiping down countertops, sweeping floors, putting their laundry in the basket, etc. Possible incentives you can use to help get them involved in the action include video game time, takeout from a favorite restaurant, or a small allowance. 
6. Get Rid of Your Clutter
   One of the best ways to get kids to declutter their rooms is to lead by example. Have your children help you sort through the cabinets, pick through your closets, empty the garage, etc. Seeing you do what you are asking them to do will make them enthusiastic helpers.
7. Limit Activity Areas
   You might be trying to find new ways to keep your kids entertained at home, and some of these things might get a little messy! Whether it's a science experiment or an art project, some of these entertaining activities might come with a bit of extra clean up. Limit these messier projects for a designated area, like a certain table or play area. This will limit the clean up to one specific area before your virtual showing. 

Contact us for more staging tips that can help your home stand out among the Richmond homes for sale this season. 

Spring is here, and in between listing Richmond homes for sale, you'll also find our REALTORS® working diligently on their spring cleaning for the year.

There are plenty of cleaning and tidying tasks that can easily end up at the bottom of the priority list. 

Stainless steel is one area where homeowners often find themselves scratching their heads about the best way to proceed. After all, it is called "stainless" – but discoloration can and does happen. The question is, what to do about it?

How Does Stainless Steel Work and Why Does It Sometimes Get Rusted?

Stainless steel is designed to be highly resistant to rust and other forms of corrosion.

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