Tuesday Tool Day/ Table Saw

This portable table saw is great.  It works great for cutting wood in various applications.  It is especially handy for homeowners who are laying down their own wood floors as you can easily rip boards to just the right width.  It folds up tightly which makes it easy to store.

Tuesday Tool Day/ Hammer Drill

My 18 Volt Cordless Hammer Drill is a staple in my tool arsenal.  The hammering action provides a short, rapid hammer thrust to provide speedy drilling with less effort.  Keep an extra battery charged so you never have unwanted downtime during your home improvement projects.

Considering initialing your tools if you plan on lending them to friends, family, and neighbors. 

This drill has seen it's share of action!

Consider your commute

You have been searching for the perfect home and you think you found it!  It has the perfect amount of square footage, is close to amenities that matter to you, in a great school district, and it is a price you can actually afford.  Where do you sign?  Not so fast!  There is still one thing to consider…your commute.  No one wants to commit to a mortgage to find out that traveling to and from home is enough to make you want to pull your hair out.

If you are moving to a new area of town or moving in from out of state I advise taking the time to travel your commute to school, work, day care, and any combination of these that you will be making on a frequent basis.  You will get the best idea of what your future “day-to-day” will be like if you carve out the time to make your commute during the time of day that you intend to travel it.  As you make the drive (or bus) imagine doing it 5 days a week.  Is it worth it?  You may find that even though you are a short distance from where you need to go it may take you more time than you want to get there.  Or, maybe the house is so great that those extra 10 minutes are worth it. 

In addition, mapping out your commute time may assist you if you are trying to decide on two or more homes.   

If you can’t find the time to make the commute consider keeping an eye on local traffic websites during the times that you plan to travel.  They can be a great tool to help gauge traffic levels and drive times.

Life has enough surprises in it already.  Take the time to do your homework and your commute does not have to be one of them.

Tuesday Tool Day/ Screw Gun

The Portable Screw Gun is a handy tool that should be in everyone’s tool box.  It is light to medium duty and is handy because it can screw at various different angles.  It is great for those awkward spaces.  I really like this one from DeWalt.

Your Nose Knows

Small Things That Make a Big Difference in Selling your Home/ Scent

When you put your house on the market there are lots of little things you can do that will make a big impact on buyers.  Let’s talk about smells.  Our sense of smell can trigger emotion in a split second.  When selling a house, we want to avoid smells that alarm people and promote scents that evoke a sense of home and comfort.  It is not uncommon for a buyer to quit looking at a house if they find indoor odors offensive.  The first whiff of your home needs to be good!

Every house has its own smell and we don’t necessarily smell them since we live with them every day.  Some common odors that are obvious to people are:

·         Cigarette smoke

·         Pets/ fur/ litter boxes

·         Strong cooking odors

·         Damp, musky smell

·         Garbage

These top 5 smells are fairly easy to deal with.  Here’s how:

If you are a smoker, resolve to smoke outdoors while the house is on the market.  Open the windows and air out the place.  Clean the carpets and if possible wash items that hold smoke smell like sofa slip covers, drapes, and throw rugs.  If you are really industrious wash the walls if your paint allows it (don’t do this if you have flat paint).

When people do not have pets the scent of yours can be immediately obvious.  Make sure to wash the dog once a week.  If bathing is not an easy option there are wipes that you can buy that sanitize and freshen fur on all animals.  Clean pet blankets and bedding often.  If they sit on the sofa a lot, consider washing the slipcovers as well.   If you have a litter box, clean it every day and throw the waste away immediately outside.

Strong cooking odors can linger for days.  Make sure that you are using your ventilation system in your kitchen (most often the hood above your stove).  If possible, open the windows and get some fresh air in the house.  Try to avoid cooking things like curry, fish-y fish, lots of garlic/ onions if you know you will be having a showing in the next 24 hours.

Basements in Minnesota can get a little dank and musty smelling during the summer months.  You can keep your basement air smelling as fresh as possible by using a dehumidifier.  It pulls extra moisture out of the air and keeps things much drier and cleaner smelling.

Make sure to empty your house garbage cans several times during the week.  This includes kitchen, bathroom, kids’ rooms, and nursery’s.

Tuesday Tool Day/ Pancake Air Compressor

You can tell this compressor has seen some action!

The tool of the day is a Pancake Air Compressor.  I really like its compact size.  It makes it easily portable and runs almost any pneumatic tool.