Today's Secret's - 3/03/14 - House buying and selling - hints and tips to get the best bargain possible

Firstly Selling - Clean, clean, clean. Repaint areas that are very grubby, tidy away everything non essential and wash down anything like sofa's etc. They may not be buying those things but you need to show your house at it's best. NO clutter!

Ask a friend round to have a look and give you a brutally honest review. Take on board what they say and try to change the things they didn't like. It is all about pleasing the public not yourself. Fix any little annoying jobs like a dripping tap or a squeaky door.
Clean your windows and remove nets to let in light.
Don't use strong air fresheners or brew coffee as it makes buyers suspicious.
Keep pets out of the way and do not have too many people in the house as it can be intimidating.

Research estate agents - register as a buyer and see what sort of service you get. If you go with an estate agent get a friend to register as a buyer and see if they get told about your property. Make sure any pictures taken are in colour.
Never say you want a quick sale.

To see what sort of price you will get look at four properties near by for sale and work out their average price, remove 5% to get a realistic selling price. (Aim to put yours on the market for about 10% more than you actually want at least)

If the house you are selling is empty get the mail cleared regularly and air the property.

When a potential buyer turns up make them welcome and offer a drink, turn off the telly and be nice.
Give them an information pack about building plans, utility costs, local transport and a map showing the area.

Solicitors? Don't go with the agents recommendation look for yourself and ask friends. Get a solicitor in place as soon as you put your house up for sale to save time. Keep a record of everything your solicitor does and all contact just to cover yourself.

Buying - If you find an area you like check local papers for any information like flooding, crime or plans for new runways!
Go to the area as much as you can to look around and get to know the streets and people also look for new for sale signs then get in first for a viewing.

Look at the rooms and not the furniture. Would your large sofa fit? Would there be room for your huge TV or would the room be dwarfed?

Check cupboards and under stairs for signs of damp and be suspicious of strong fragrances as these could be being used to cover a damp smell.

Look for a new home over C
hristmas or the holidays as this is a quiet time and you can get a good deal.

View the house at different times and different days and if you don't feel too silly doing it go at night and sit nearby in your car. You can see if the neighbours party all weekend or have a large dog that barks into the night.

Willow trees near by could mean an underground water supply but this could mean damp. Check the property well before making a decision. Bulging walls can mean the roots of the tree's are interfering with the property structure so get this checked out. Think about the leaves you will have to tidy up and how the house will look at different times of year. With no leaves on the trees will the house be overlooked?

Try out a tap upstairs to make sure the water pressure is good.

Always change the locks in a house when you move in to be sure no one else has access.

Today's Secret's - 2/03/14 - Clothes cleaning and hints to make them last longer

Ok by special request - Clothing. Washing and mending, hints and tips on making clothes last longer.

If you go out to buy trousers but have no time to try them on then wrap the waist of the trousers (still done up) around your neck, if the ends touch then they will fit your waist. To check socks wrap them around your clenched fist, if the heel meets the toe then they will fit.

I hate static on my clothes and have always used hairspray to stop skirts sticking to my legs or tops to my tummy but you can also use metal, a safety pin put inside a top or skirt that you know gets static filled will eliminate it. Other metal works too.

Put woolies in a pillow case when washing to protect them and keep them in shape, using glycerine in the wash can stop them being itchy and spray them lightly with hairspray to stop them shedding.

Bicarbonate of soda can boost your washing detergent liquid, soften your water and save you using fabric conditioner.
Use slightly less detergent than recommended to stop clothes retaining detergent after a wash and keep them looking newer longer.

Get out blood stains by getting the person who's blood it is to suck on the stain (Yuck!). Their saliva will help remove it.
Use methylated spirits to remove grass stains, for coffee use egg yolk and glycerine and sweat stains can be removed with a soak of vinegar before washing.

Dirty collar's on white shirt's? Oily hair shampoo can help remove the dirt ring. A couple of crushed aspirin in the wash can also help.
For really grubby work clothes (Not white ones) pour a can of coke over them, soak and then wash them.
White socks gone grey? use lemon juice on them, soak them for five minute and then boil them to make them white again.

Turn white t-shirts inside out when washing and dry in the shade to stop them yellowing.

If you use a line to dry your clothes then remember to wash your pegs now and then as they can leave dirty marks on your clothes.

If you iron a piece of clothing and it looks shiny. Dampen a cloth and place it over the shine them steam iron for a short while. Remove the cloth and check the item if it still looks shiny then repeat until it looks better. Still shiny? Dry a little black coffee brushed over them and repeat the above.
To put in a good lasting crease for work trousers put a tiny bit of paper glue on the inside of the trouser leg along the crease and then iron.

If clothes keep falling off their hangers use a rubber band on each end of the hanger to keep them in place.

Worried about damp in your cupboards? Add a few sticks of chalk to soak it up. Moths don't like bay leaves or cedar chips so put a few of those in as well.

Buttons keep falling off? Use a little nail varnish on the thread to strengthen it.
Mend a hem in an emergency with a stapler.
Sometimes jeans get a white line down them, if your in a hurry use a blue felt pen to fill it in. If you have a little longer then use some blue dye mixed with water and brush it on to the white areas carefully.

Treat wigs with fabric conditioner to keep them looking great.

Trying to save money? Don't be afraid to look in charity shops and boot sale's for clothes. Sometimes you can get a real bargain. I hate to buy children's clothes and shoes brand new as they grow so quickly, nearly new sales and other places sell off items that are still in great condition and at a fraction of the cost. Wash all items thoroughly when you get home as although they may be clean you may find you or your children's skin won't get on with what ever washing powder the previous owner used.