All posts by fairclean

More people are buying homes and condos. Sales of homes and condos are up 11.4% in the first quarter of 2010 compared to 2009. The reasons are pretty simple – low prices and low interest rates. Short sale and foreclosures are representing over half of all sales in some markets.
Short sales and foreclosures are presenting some truly amazing bargains and getting one of these great deals is what you’re after. To get the best deal, it’s important to follow some critical steps when buying. This short guide will give you the basics of buying in the current market.
1. Know What You Want
What do you want in a home or condo? How much will you pay? Where do you want to be located? Answer these questions before you get serious. The number of properties available in the short sale and foreclosure markets make this step really important. When you’re browsing, this step is not as important, but when you think you are ready to explore buying, you really must define your wants and needs.
2. Know the Market Where You Buy
You need to know the local market and the smaller markets within the broad markets. You can find a lot of information and pricing trends at , , and many others. These services are great for research, but the information is often a few months behind. More current information is available from an active local real estate agent.
3. Get Your Financing in Order
In many cases these days, we are dealing directly with banks and mortgage companies. When we make an offer on a short sale or foreclosure, financing or proof of funds must be in place.
4. Venture Out
Once you know what you want, it’s time to view properties. Viewing properties is a process. You may start with a list of properties that interest you, maybe 5 or 10. You can get that list from different places, but the best list will probably come from your local real estate agent.
You may like a few or none of the properties on the first list. Don’t be discouraged, this is part of the process and quite normal. What the best real estate agents will do is ask you questions about each property you view to determine what you like and dislike. The next time you go out, you will be seeing properties based on those criteria. You continue through the process until you find the home or condo that meets your needs. Then you are ready for the offer and negotiations.
5. Make the Offer
How low should I go?
The offer you make will be based on a few main factors:
* How long has the property been on the market?
* Are there other offers?
* Competition in the price range
* Time and Patience
* You
A two bedroom – two bath condo on the beach at a low price may draw competitive bids. If the property is on the market for a few days and has multiple offers, going well below the listed price will probably not work. If the property has been on the market for a long time, going low makes sense. For short sales and foreclosures, you will often wait for weeks or months for an answer from the banks, so patience is needed. You have a better chance of going low with short sales. Once the bank has foreclosed on a property, they set a price they are looking for based on current market.
Know the local sales numbers. In what price range are most of the sales taking place? In some markets, homes and condos selling under $200,000 make up over 75% of the market. If you are making an offer in a hot price range, there may be more competition.
The decision on making an offer on a property is yours and depends upon you more than anything else. A real estate can offer guidance, but you need to make the decision. Let the real estate agent get all the information available on the property and the most recent similar sales and tell you what they think, but you need to make the decision.
6. After Your Offer is Accepted
After the offer is accepted you MUST get an inspection. An inspection is necessary for you to protect yourself. You also need to carefully read to Title Report, especially if additions or modifications were made. Make sure what should have been permitted was properly recorded.
Read the Appraisal Report. You are looking for errors, missing features and anything else that could make the appraised value lower than it should be.
7. Get Help
A good real estate agent should make the process as easy as possible. Find out who the best short sale and foreclosure agents are in your area. The agent should have training and certification and a track record of closing these types of transactions. If you hire a lawyer or accountant, hire the best you can afford. Get the best help you can.
Following these 7 steps can help you get a great deal when buying short sale and foreclosure properties.

With an increase of Real Estate Owned (RE0) and short sale properties in the market place, we are seeing an increase of properties being listed and sold in their “as is” condition. Is this a red flag and should a buyer be concerned?
In California, most brokers use the Residential Purchase Agreement, which has an “as is” clause stating the property is sold in its present physical (as is) condition. The simple explanation of these two little words is the property is being sold without any warranty and in its present physical condition.
Just because a property is being sold in an “as is” condition, it doesn’t necessarily mean there is something wrong. Every property purchase is unique and there are things to take into consideration prior to making an offer.
Is the property an REO (Real Estate Owned) property? Usually, with bank owned property, the bank does not know the history of the property. When the bank states that the property is sold “as is” they are normally saying we don’t know what is wrong and don’t ask for any repairs.
Is the property being sold as a short sale? When the seller of a short sale property states the property is being sold “as is”, they are making no warranties or representations, and they too will not pay for any repairs. Remember, the seller of a short sale property has a hardship and the seller commonly has no money to make repairs.
The home could be an older home or a fixer-upper that needs lots of renovation and the seller just doesn’t want to bother with the fixes. He may also feel it better to let the buyer decide on how the repairs and or updates and remodel will be done.
The seller may have inherited the property, never lived there and has no history with what the possible defects could be.
A property that is sold “as is” underscores the importance of having a home inspection. Whether a property is sold “as is” or not, a buyer should always have a professional inspector look at the property. It is also important the buyer have the opportunity to walk through the property with the inspector after he has done his inspection. This is the buyer’s opportunity to ask questions and view exactly what the inspector is referring to in his report.
In California, a seller is required to disclose, disclose, disclose. This is stated three times to emphasis it’s importance. A seller provides the buyer a detailed report called the Transfer Disclosure Statement. In addition to this report, the seller provides any and all inspections they have done on the property. It is the sellers responsibility to disclose any and all material facts about the property. Particularly things that would not be easily discovered by an inspector or the buyer. An example of this would be, the neighborhood has hundreds of children, who trick or treat in the neighborhood every Halloween. Just because a seller discloses everything he knows about the property, it doesn’t mean he has to fix it.
If, during the buyer’s due diligence, the inspection reveals significant defects, the buyer can certainly draw it to the attention of the seller. Sometimes a defect may be found that the seller honestly wasn’t aware of. In this situation, the buyer has a few options. He can submit a request for repair, obtain a credit for the estimated cost to make the necessary repairs or withdraw the offer.
Should a buyer stay away from an “as is” sale. I don’t think so. The important thing every buyer needs to remember; do your due diligence, get your reports and ask lots of questions.

Weeds in your garden are a problem because they’re where you don’t want them. Likewise, in your home, water around your foundation and in your basement is a problem because that water is where you don’t want it to be, and it’s a far worse problem than weeds.
If you could find a major cause of water getting into your foundation, you’d want to solve the problem. That would mean you could head off more serious problems. Your house would be more livable for you and for the person who you want to sell it to. Plus, you’d get a better report from your home inspector when it comes time to sell.
Thankfully, there is something you can do, and it’s not difficult. Get control of the gutters and downspouts.
Gutter downspouts are a major cause of water virtually pouring into your home’s basement. That’s because the water goes right alongside your foundation and into your basement. All downspouts should pour that water at least five feet away from your home’s foundation. If that’s not happening, you need to get downspout extensions.
Granted, the downspout isn’t the only source of water coming into your foundation and basement, but it’s one of the worst problems. Simply getting that pouring water out away from your foundation will help tremendously. Try to take care of this problem yourself before you call a waterproofing contractor. Installing downspout extensions could really make the difference for you.
Here’s something else to think about. If your downspout runs into an underground discharge pipe, but you’re still getting water where it shouldn’t be around your downspout, you might have a damaged underground discharge pipe. It could be letting out water right along the foundation, just where you don’t want it.
There’s an easy way to check to see if the underground pipe is part of the problem. Disconnect the downspout from the pipe and add a five foot extension to your downspout to get running water out farther from the house and above ground. Naturally, if the water stops running into your basement, you’ve solved the problem.
If your underground discharge pipe proves to be part of the problem, dig it up and repair it, or leave things as they are with the extension to the downspout in place.
Now let’s take this another step back for a minute. How clean are your gutters and downspouts to begin with? We all hate to do it, but cleaning those gutters is part of life’s little chores when you own a home. If you want water to go where it should and keep it from going where it shouldn’t be, make sure the gutters and downspouts are working as they were meant to.
When cleaning your gutters, you can use a trowel or garden spade to scoop out the junk that has collected there. Then you want to be sure the downspouts are cleared out.
Before you rinse the gutters, put a hose into the downspout and have someone turn it on so you can check the downspout’s flow. If it’s clogged, pack rags around the hose inside the downspout opening to seal in the hose. Turn on the hose full blast. Hopefully that knocks out the clog. If not, you’ll need to clear it out with a plumbing snake, then recheck the flow with the hose.
Next, flush out the gutter and downspout with the hose. Run the hose at the farthest section of the gutter from the downspout. Do this with each of your gutters and downspouts.
In summary, you could eliminate a major source of water into your home’s basement by having a clean gutter system and downspout extensions that release water at least five feet away from your home’s foundation.

The dangerous effects of asbestos have become common knowledge in recent years. Being a fibrous material, the greatest risk associated with asbestos is breathing in the tiny fibers it is composed of. These tiny fibers can become lodged in the lungs and cause serious health reactions.
Due to the heat and fire resistant qualities of asbestos it was used in many products. Some of the most common include clutches in vehicles, components of transmissions, paints and coatings which are heat resistant, materials for roofing, tiles, insulation paper, cement products, pipe insulation, door gaskets for appliances, and fireproofing products.
The dangers imposed by the existence of asbestos depends on the likelihood that it will become airborne. Asbestos that is fully contained such as in tiles or cement products pose no health risk unless and until the asbestos is disturbed by the cracking or chipping of the item. Once asbestos has found its way into the lungs it can lead to several serious illnesses. Prolonged exposure increases the changes of adverse health effects. The most common diseases linked to asbestos are:
• Asbestosis – scarring of the lung tissue which cause difficulty breathing
• Mesothelioma – a cancer affecting the mucus membranes in the lungs, heart, chest and abdominal lining
• Lung Cancer – a cancer than causes persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest pains and anemia
Lung cancer is the most common ailment attributed to asbestos exposure and mesothelioma is almost always caused by direct contact with asbestos over an extended period of time.
Asbestos Found
There are some more hazardous applications of asbestos than others. A home inspector may discover asbestos in a house that you are considering purchasing. What is most important is to find out if and what the posing risks of such a discovery are. Pipe insulation containing asbestos should be replaced because the asbestos can be easily released into the air. Things like floor tiles and siding which are made from asbestos pose less of a direct threat because it is contained and has little risk of being released into the air. The exception to these rules is when pipe insulation is encapsulated and when tiles or siding show visible signs of deterioration such as cracks and chips.
It is perfectly acceptable to ask that asbestos containing materials be removed before agreeing to purchase a home as it can be quite costly. You wouldn’t want to disregard the discovery only to later be charged thousands of dollars to dispose of it.
To make the decision whether to pursue asbestos removal or not you need to do a little investigating for yourself. Ask the home inspector to show you the asbestos containing material so that you can rate the condition. Based on your assessments your real estate agent can work with the seller to hopefully come to an agreement that works for everyone. In order to be thorough you should have an assessment and a removal estimate done from two separate firms whenever asbestos is found. This can be presented to the seller or used for your own personal reference.

Some thoughts on how to choose a Home Inspector
I will attempt to break down this question as we are seeing some really strange trends in our current economy and housing Market.
As I’ve been a Home Inspector in Lancaster CA for many years I’m often asked the same question over and over again. Clients, friends and many other “folks” want to know what separates one Home Inspector from the next. I will begin with a variation of a checklist that can be found at my website linked in this article.
When choosing someone to inspect your Real Estate Purchase it’s important to remember a few things:
I recommend Making a “Checklist” and calling a few Home Inspectors in your area – try not to book the first one you call! You’ll notice in a series of recommendations I have YOU ASK… I didn’t mention PRICE until the end.
By the way, if our “candidate” is in the middle of an inspection and needs to call back, that’s fine! Don’t get into a hurry!
Experience – Ask the Home Inspector “What type of experience do you have. How long have you been in business? What type of Industry related experience do you have besides being an inspector?”

We’re trying to get an idea as to how long our “candidate” has been around and what his or her background may be. I’m sorry to say but we don’t want newbies inspecting our expensive purchases. I also don’t want someone who… no offense here, was working at a Retail Store this or last year and is now responsible for helping me decide on the most expensive purchase that most of us will ever make.
Are you a member of a Professional Organization and are you “Certified”? The answer here should be YES.

This topic has some debate as to which certifying body is “better”, I could care less. It’s like saying your Real Estate Agent is better because they are from one large firm and not the other. The idea here is that an inspector has made a commitment to be a professional. If they are not a member of Nachi, ASHI or NAHI to name a few… I’d want to know why!
Do you carry Insurance? The only answer here is YES.

If you are a buyer or a Real Estate agent, recognize the fact that most professional and full time inspectors carry insurance. If you as an Agent are “shopping” for your client, be careful if your inspector doesn’t have insurance, you may be liable as the “referring party”.
Are you INDEPENDENT? The answer here should be again, YES

Sorry if this sounds bad, but most Good inspectors I know are independent inspectors… Distant from any binding agreements with “outside” parties limiting their scope and ability to “talk freely” about their thoughts and findings.
Are you LICENSED? The answer here will vary, check with your local areas or state’s website.

Many states (no Licenses are required in California by the way) have License Requirements for Home Inspectors that require State Licenses. Inquire with your State’s Website before you call an inspector. As a Home Inspector in Lancaster CA we have very few requirements here, but this will vary from state to state and area to area.
Who will perform my Inspection? Preferably, the answer for this one is “Me”

Here is another one that I get some “flack” for. In a perfect world, the person answering the phone will be the person inspecting your Real Estate purchase. A couple of reasons for this include: A Real Estate Inspection can be a liability if performed poorly and should be done so by the person who would be responsible! Let’s think about this for a minute… If I have someone that works for me… would they be more likely to mention an “obscure or minor” item knowing that “it’s no big deal and shoot, I’m not responsible anyway” or as ME the owner.. knowing that liability AND reputation are on the line? Easy one I think!
What type of Inspection Report will I receive?

While the best report will come from the best inspector, I’ve decided that the Checklist paper type are too antiquated and are nearly obsolete. They are easier for me, the Home Inspector to use, but are easily less informative than the computerized reports that I now use. It’s the 21st century, request a computerized report with pictures for goodness sake! The inspector generally has the ability to store relevant information and common situations that are relevant to your local area and the paper type are generally not. I could be wrong on a small scale, but not by much!
Can I attend the Inspection?

The answer here is a very important inspector should actually “encourage” you to be there. If they didn’t I consider it a red flag, unless you indicated prior to asking this question that you couldn’t be there! The reason I say it’s a red flag is because of this, a shy or reserved type of person may be a great inspector, but is likely to find it difficult to be comfortable explaining items and “being under the gun”. Does that make sense? It should! So this is actually a good time to tell if your inspector is a “Chatty Kathy” or “Mr. No personality”. There is a really bad inspector in my area that people really like and he does well, simply because he is so friendly and well spoken. His or her clients should be reading these questions before calling him though:-)
How long will it take to get my Inspection Report? The answer should be either: Soon or Very soon!

Meaning this, inspectors that takes several days, especially during the workweek to deliver reports creates a lot of problems. This is because: Most inspectors I know have very good memories, but good enough to have 4-6 reports backed up and waiting to be written? No, of course not. Myself, I have most of my report done when I’m leaving the inspection, thanks to the advent of a portable tablet style laptop ( a necessity in my book) I could probably go “out to the truck” and send it out. I don’t though. I insert my photos and proof read my work and send it out later that day or by the next morning or so. We all have ways that work for us, I just don’t see how many inspectors can write accurate reports several days after leaving the job site.
Can I call you if I have any questions after the inspection or after I receive my report?

Most inspectors are going to say YES! Try to remember in this “interview” with your potential home inspector whether you got a feel that this person is a sociable one or just in a hurry to get off the phone. As mentioned, if he or she is in the field and offers to call back, don’t hold it against them. See if they do and think of it as an opportunity to see if they do as they say! After all it’s easier to answer a phone that to make time to call people back. The last question should be “How Much”. Not to say that this isn’t important to you, it just should carry a smaller “weight” if you will. I think that people put way too much emphasis on the cost of a Home Inspection rather than looking at some facets that I have made available for you here!
I will be writing another article on a topic ” I’m buying a Home As-Is, should I get it Inspected?” Yes you should, I’ll write more about it soon.
I hope that you find this tips helpful and if I can be of further service visit my website Home Inspection in Palmdale CA.
Thanks again for reading and good luck!
By Tim Spargo, Certified Residential and Commercial Real Estate Inspector

When a home inspection contingency is part of a real estate purchase agreement, the buyer often requests certain repairs (called out in the inspection report) to be completed by the seller prior to closing. A home re-inspection is a way for him to verify that the repairs have been done properly. He calls back the same home inspector he hired originally, who then examines, either for free or for an additional fee, the specific defects thus identified, and he excludes everything else.
This verification home inspection is often confused with what is known as the “verification of property condition,” but the two are actually different. The latter term refers to a final walk-through the buyer takes through the property to make sure that the house is in the same condition as he expects. It is not a tool for further negotiations, nor does it in any affect the binding terms of the contract. In other words, it doesn’t remove any obligation the seller has to complete repairs to which he has agreed, but it also doesn’t permit the buyer to tack on additional demands. All the walk-through really does is absolve the real estate agent(s) of liability.
It is also important to distinguish between the original home inspection, which is the work of a generalist, and follow-up work or “further evaluation” recommended in the inspection report and performed by specialists. Some clients object to having to shell out additional money for more inspection fees, but the home inspector is not licensed to make repairs or to render an expert judgment in areas that require special qualifications, such as pests, chimneys, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, foundation, soil, septic/sewer, and hazardous materials such as radon, lead-based paint, asbestos, and measuring air quality. Many inspectors do acquire additional, special licensing, but even then they need to be careful to avoid conflicts of interest. Washington State permits inspectors to repair defects they inspected only after a year has passed.
Use the same home inspector hired originally to conduct the verification inspection. Otherwise, you are really paying for another complete home inspection. The first inspector is already familiar with the house and can immediately tend to the specific defects highlighted by the client.
Some home inspectors charge a re-inspection fee (typically about a third of the original fee). Others provide this service free of charge for a limited period of time, typically up to a year after the original inspection. Members of each school of thought justify their position with sound philosophical and ethical reasoning, differing primarily in how strongly one feels it is necessary to stay above all suspicion of taking kickbacks, despite having vowed to adhere to ethical Standards of Practice.
Some inspectors shy away from doing a verification home inspection. There are certain liability dangers that arise when the seller hires a layperson, without financial protection or license, to make repairs. The layperson may, intentionally or unwittingly, make only cosmetic repairs, and the inspector may be unable to tell that the real problem remains unaddressed. In this case, the only recourse the client has is to come after the person conducting the inspection. Because of this, many inspectors will not agree to do a home re-inspection without proof (e.g., invoice) that the contractor was a licensed professional.

Fireplaces should be inspected as part of a routine home inspection before homebuyers purchase their new property. This is a basic safety assessment. Just as a roof caving in could be a hazard, a fireplace that has improper ventilation or creosote build-up can cause harm to homeowners.
Fireplaces are one of the top three features people look for in a home, behind upscale kitchens and outdoor porches, according to the National Association of Home Builders. While new homes are usually equipped with gas fireplaces that produce less pollution in the air and are glassed in to prevent contact with the fire as well as reducing the risk of embers and wood rolling out onto floors, there are still many places that offer wood burning stoves. Most people are aware that chimney flues should be cleaned out once a year in order to prevent creosote from building up on the inside of the chimney. Creosote is a by-product of burning wood and can catch on fire. Creosote fires have been responsible for entire homes burning down.
Home inspectors will also be looking for cracks or leaks which can lead to toxic fumes entering the home. Debris that has gotten caught in the chimney, such as sticks and twigs or birds nesting in unused chimneys can cause a fire inside the chimney that can spread to the home or cause an explosion.
Blockage in the fireplace can lead to fumes being pushed into the home instead of released out. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can cause death and can leak back into a home with a chimney that doesn’t offer proper ventilation. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is essential for any home with a wood-burning fireplace. Lives literally depend on it.
While fireplaces can add a 10% increase to the value of a home, open fireplaces shouldn’t be used as a sole source of heat. While the heat close to the fire is evident, fireplaces suck up heat from the rest of the house, causing other parts of the home to remain cool or cold. Wood burning stoves are a great alternative.
A home inspector will also ensure the fireplace damper works. If left open when a fire isn’t burning, air gets sucked out of the home. A damper that doesn’t open can cause smoke and fumes to spread into the home.
For those looking at homes with fireplaces, be sure to have a trusted home inspector look at all the aspects of the fireplace during the inspection. Having the chimney cleaned before moving in is recommended unless the current homeowners can provide proof of cleaning within the last year.

Those who sell homes have one thing to rely on every time they try to make that one important deal with their buyers: their reputations. And what better way to keep one’s reputation as a seller as untarnished as possible than to make sure that all the properties he sells are of superb quality and free from those defects, which usually cause the downfall of one too many agents or sellers? A good seller must know when to seek the help of other professionals like him, and in the case of selling homes, seeking a pre-listing home inspection before you decide to put your property out there in the market is indeed a smart move.
Home inspection is essential for that one important factor in every business transaction: consumer satisfaction. As a seller, it is important that your buyers are satisfied with their purchasers. Purchasing a home after all is a big deal. That satisfaction must last not only for the first three days after they purchased the home, but for many more years after that transaction. You would not want to be swamped with complaints after some time just because there were some defects which both you and the consumer failed to see before the perfection of the contract. It is important for you to realize that the buyer will be relying on your words as a seller, and especially in cases of professional sellers and agents, you would want to establish a healthy relationship with the consumer market.
Also, as a seller, you are offering your buyer the guarantee that the home you’re putting up for sale is of great quality. As a professional, you must always be fair and truthful to the buyer. And though you may want to be fair by informing them of all the defects of the home, you may just want to have these defects repaired so you can offer something better to the public. In this way, you save both yourself and your buyer from potential hassles.
By having pre-listing home inspection, you will be able to make a better offering to the public, by selling homes which are livable, free from defects, and safe for the welfare of your buyer. It is the task of home inspectors to identify, through a non-invasive and visual examination, material defects in the different components of the home. Basically, he spots which parts need repair so you will be able to improve on it before you sell it to the buyer, or at least inform the latter of the imperfection in the property. Home inspection also provides an inspection report, which provides a detailed description of the inspected systems and the material defects. In some cases, the reports also contain recommendations which the client may act upon later on. As a seller, these reports will be very useful as your guide in making the repairs or as a reference for your buyer.
As a professional engaged in this business, the last thing you would want is having accusations of defrauding or tricking the buyer being thrown at you, or even worse, lawsuits. And you would not want any of these just because you failed to exercise a little more diligence by seeking a professional home inspection.
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Are you considering using a laundry service in the Newcastle area? If so, then you’re on the right track. As we will discuss below, there are all kinds of reasons why using a professional laundry and ironing service is a good idea. Read on to find out more. 

Laundry Services Save You Money

Doing your laundry at home can involve some pretty hefty start-up costs. You have to buy a washing machine and dryer and pay a professional to create the right fittings in your utility room. It can end up costing you thousands of pounds. And we haven’t even included the cost of all the equipment you need for ironing either. 

For many people, therefore, paying a small regular fee to use a professional in the Newcastle area offers much better value. You make low, manageable payments and don’t have to go into debt to finance the equivalent services at home. 

Laundry and Ironing Services Save You Time

Doing the laundry and ironing at home is not only expensive, but it cuts into your time too. Who wants to spend all day sorting through clothes and getting rid of creases? Not you. You would prefer to save that time and invest it in something more productive and enjoyable. 
Ironing and laundry services take almost all the labour out of the process. Not only do they offer full washing and drying facilities, but they can often collect your dirty laundry and deliver it back to you once it is clean, removing the need to travel. 

Laundry and Ironing Services Use High-Quality Equipment
While manufacturers have improved home washing machines, dryers and irons over the years, they can’t compete with professional, high-quality equipment available at laundrettes in Newcastle. Top laundry services segregate fabrics and clean them in such a way that prevents dulling and colour bleeding. With their professional approach to washing and quality detergents, you can rest assured that your clothes will come back smelling and looking beautiful. 

Laundry and Ironing Services Offer You More Options

Laundry and ironing services in Newcastle know that some people are allergic to specific detergents. Many, therefore, offer a customizable service that allows you to choose which detergents and softeners you use. You have a choice of bio and non-bio and can even instruct the laundrette to use specific brands. 
You also give you a choice of how you would like your clothes to be washed. Many offer handwashing and specialised services for delicates, including household upholstery. 

Laundry and Ironing Services Work Around Your Schedule

If you’re a busy person with a hectic life, then laundry and ironing services in Newcastle can help you better organise your time. Most services will bend over backwards to fit around your schedule, allowing you to get on with your day without worrying about when you’ll be able to do the washing. 

Laundry and ironing services, therefore, give you professional results without the hassle. With them, your clothes will always look great, and you won’t have to dedicate your precious free time to chores. 

When challenged with cleaning your entire house, it can be overwhelming. Your key to a successful and clean home starts with being organized and efficient. Using a Home Cleaning Checklist will keep you on task and provide you with direction. Below are some suggestions to help you stay on track.
1. Write a checklist starting with your most important cleaning chores that need your attention. You can print a checklist from the internet by typing “Home Cleaning Checklist” in the Google toolbar if you don’t want to write one yourself.
2. On your checklist start with a headline of your first area of your home. Title the section with the name of the room, like Master Bedroom, Bathroom, Kitchen or Living Room etc. I suggest underlining the Title for emphasis. Under these titles you will write down your tasks in respective category.
3. List all the cleaning chores under each main title, such as lamp shades dusted and wiped down under “Living Room”.
4. When you have completed the chore, draw an empty box beside it to show you have finished the task. Do this for every room you have listed. Be as detailed as possible.
5. Last but not least. Jot down any cleaning supplies you might need to complete your chores. Be sure to review what you already have to ensure time and money savings. There is nothing worse than going to the cupboard or pantry and finding two of this or three of that.
6. Add a cleaning schedule to your Home Cleaning Checklist if you have time restraints. Write in the time you would like to start cleaning these sections or areas of your home. Make sure you write down hourly goals for each section or whatever time you will think is necessary to complete each chore.
7. Draw a box next to the time of day to check off the entire area of your home when you are all finished. I like to hang my home cleaning checklist on the fridge. Then I can check off each item as I go. Happy Cleaning!
Note: If you have anyone living with you or you have children get them involved. Let them be a part of the planning and give them daily jobs too. This makes cleaning a lot of fun and you will actually look forward to planning your daily cleaning schedule and writing your cleaning checklist.