Real Estate Market

 Garbage disposals. Do you have one. Do you know how to use it correctly?

There are a lot of homes out there with garbage disposals.

And there are a lot of home owners who don't know how to use a disposal the correct way.

Routinely, while conducting inspections of the kitchen appliances and plumbing piping at the kitchen cabinet, I will run the garbage disposer and check the hot water control location (left) simultaneously.

A homeowner recently became very concerned when she observed me conducting this ritual. I politely asked if something was wrong and she replied, "I've always been told you never run hot water into your garbage disposal."

Well, while there is some merit to what she was alluding to, it deserves further explanation.

Here's the short list of when to use cold water or when not to use hot:

• DON'T use hot water when grinding food waste. Hot water causes grease and oils to liquify and accumulate, causing drains to eventually clog.

• It is OKAY to use hot water when cleaning the disposer. We have detailed previously about using equal parts of white vinegar and baking soda, then flushing with boiling water. Also, a sink full of hot water and dishwashing soap (free of food debris) released into an operating disposer is acceptable for cleaning.

• There is no issue with running hot water into an operating disposer, if not grinding food wastes.

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Clint  McKie

by Carla Hill

Today’s sellers may face challenging conditions in many markets, but that doesn’t mean choosing to sell is a bad idea. There are many reasons to sell and most are good ones.

Here are ten tips to get you on your way to getting your home sold.

1. Hire a Professional. This is no time to be navigating the rough waters of the real estate market on your own. You want someone who can help you accurately price your home, bring in potential buyers, handle contracts, and market your home to the masses.

2. Fully Disclose. Are you selling because your current home needs more work than you can handle? Are there infestation problems you’d rather not talk about? You must disclose all of these facts to potential buyers. If they find out after the fact that you withheld information you could be in a whole heap of trouble.

3. Be Realistic about Pricing. It is much wiser to price a home correctly from the start of the selling process than to have an overpriced home sit on the market for months only to have to do a price reduction. You get much more traffic on a well-priced home and newly listed home.

4 . Detach Emotions. Sellers may have the inclination towards adding sentimental value to a home. They see the memories and work they’ve put into a property and think every buyer should recognize this. This kind of attachment will make it harder to make smart and timely decisions about offers.

5. Be Involved. Yes, you’ve hired a professional to handle the legwork and legality of your sale, but you’ll rest much easier at night if you understand the process and all that is going on. Be sure to have regular conversations with your agent.

6. Stage your Home. Staging is a perfect way to help buyers see the true potential of each room. This may mean, however, that you have to tone down your own style and pack away any clutter or extraneous decor.

7. Don’t Hover. Sellers can put a lot of heart and soul into staging and getting a home ready for the market. They might want to hang out during an open house. Resist the urge. This makes it very uncomfortable for buyers. So, during showings of any kind, be sure to make yourself scarce.

8. The Next Step. Are you going to be buying another home? Have you decided to rent? Under normal sales, you’ll have plenty of time to make arrangements, but you also might get a buyer who needs to move in right away. Be ready to take your next step.

9. Be Flexible. It’s no secret that today’s market can be challenging for many sellers. Some markets have seen sharp price declines and shallow buyer pools. This means you need to be flexible on both price and terms. Don’t compromise on your bottom line, but understand that you must be willing to negotiate.

10. Positivity. Focus on the good in today’s market. Pull your attention to the feedback you get from your agent and prospective buyers! Most of all, don’t get discouraged. You will find a buyer!

Selling in today’s market can be a tough, but rewarding. So, whether you’re selling to move up, downsize, avoid foreclosure, or are following a job, be sure to keep these ten tips in mind for smooth sailing.