Springtime brings a case of the sneezes and allergy irritations every year for many people. Reducing contact with things that trigger your allergies is the first step for controlling them. Even if you don’t personally suffer from allergies, cutting out allergens can still be a healthy choice. Studies have found that dust in your home can contain potentially harmful substances such as phthalates and flame retardants. So how can you avoid allergens in your home?
Control Your Air
It may be tempting to open the windows during spring to let that fresh air in – but is it really so fresh? Opening your windows allows allergens from outside to enter your home. Try cooling off with your A/C unit instead. This can also help lower the humidity and make it harder for mold and dust mites to grow.
Be sure to maintain your A/C, though. For window units, clean the filter regularly and watch out for little black dots around openings where the cool air comes out. This may indicate there’s mold inside and that it’s time for a new unit. For central A/C, go with a high-efficiency disposable filter and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how often to change it.
Try an Air Purifier
Portable air purifiers remove pollutants from the air, which is great for those with allergies. An air purifier can only work one room at a time, though. Be advised to stay away from “electrostatic precipitator” or “ionizer” purifiers, which can emit ozone and irritate your lungs.
Vacuum Regularly
Dust in your home can contain a number of nasty things – dust mites, mold, pollen, animal dander or fur, and even cockroach droppings. Vacuum weekly to get all the nasties out of your home. Those with allergies may want to consider a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Additionally, bagged vacuums release less allergens back into the air than bagless models when they need to be cleaned out.
Move to Showering at Night
By washing at night before bed, you rinse off the allergens that have attached themselves to you during the day and lower the risk of bringing those allergens into your bed.
Clean Your Bedding Correctly
Dust mites, microscopic creatures that feed on dead skin cells, can accumulate in the fabric of your bedding. This is especially troublesome if you’re allergic to them. Wash sheets and pillow cases regularly. Some washing machines have a built-in heater with a sanitation setting, but an extra wash may help remove more allergens. Consider buying “woven fabric” sheets with a fabric pore size of 6 micrometers or less. This means that a dust mite can’t penetrate the fabric.
Keeping your home clean and allergen free will both allow you to relax more and help you to maintain it better. You should take pride in your home and taking care of it is a huge part of home owning.
Looking for help with mortgage services? You can rely on Stonebridge Mortgage Group!
For professional assistance with mortgages, look no further than Stonebridge Mortgage Group. You can rely on Stonebridge Mortgage Group to help guide you through the home buying process. If you’re ready to apply for a loan and want to go through the process online, Stonebridge Mortgage Group offers online applications. We also help get you pre-approved for a mortgage and help with your real estate loans and other mortgage solutions, both residential and commercial. Stonebridge Mortgage Group serves the greater Portland area and are in Gresham, Oregon. Don’t wait to get quality assistance with buying your home!
One of the biggest things that comes with owning a home is needing to maintain it. Cleaning oftentimes gets put off for longer than it should, which is what leads to the urge to do a deeper spring cleaning each year. However, with a schedule that you regularly stick to, cleaning becomes easier. Letting work pile up always makes it more stressful. Save yourself energy and stress by getting into the habit of daily, weekly, and monthly cleanings.
Things to clean every day
Smaller chores can be done daily, and keep your home looking neat and tidy. Every day, you should:
• Make the bed(s). • Pick up clothes; throw dirty items in the laundry. • Clean the bathroom sink and shower after each use. • Straighten up newspapers, magazines, and other papers. • Load dishes into the dishwasher after each meal or wash and dry them by hand. • Clean the sink and wipe the cooking surfaces after each use (including the microwave). • Wipe down dirty counter tops. • Empty the garbage in the kitchen.
Things to clean every week
Some more intensive task can wait until once a week. Do these chores less than weekly, and your home can quickly become messy and unkempt.
• Dust furniture, shelves, radiators or air registers, woodwork, pictures, and mirrors. • Vacuum rugs and floors. • Vacuum or brush upholstered furniture. • Empty the wastebaskets around the house. • Wash bathroom basins, fixtures, and floors. • Sweep or mop the kitchen floor. • Clean range or cook top burners. • Wipe the refrigerator and the front of kitchen cabinets. • Do laundry.
Things to clean every month
Chores than can wait monthly involve cleaning bigger appliances and furniture to keep everything feeling fresh.
• Vacuum or brush curtains and draperies. • Clean under and around furniture and appliances. • Wipe woodwork, windowsills, and walls where needed. • Dust or brush lampshades and blinds. • Polish hardwood floors and furniture, if needed. • Vacuum books and bookshelves. • Organize or store books, photos, and other loose paraphernalia. • Vacuum upholstered furniture, cleaning under cushions and in crevices. • Clean the oven, as needed. • During the appropriate season, clean the filters on your room air conditioner, dehumidifier, or air purifier.
A home is a big investment in more ways than just the financial cost. Owning a home requires you to put your time and energy into taking care of it. When you do, though, it benefits your greatly. Doing these chores on time every time will allow you to take pride in your home.
Stonebridge Mortgage Group can advise you on your mortgage needs
For a professional assistance with mortgages and related services, look no further than Stonebridge Mortgage Group. You can rely on Stonebridge Mortgage Group to help guide you through the home buying process. We help get you pre-approved for a mortgage and help with your real estate loans and other mortgage solutions, both residential and commercial. Stonebridge Mortgage Group serves the greater Portland area and are in Gresham, Oregon. Don’t wait to get quality assistance with buying your home!
Boosting your home’s curb appeal – or its appearance from the outside – is an excellent way to boost your home’s value. Whether you’re looking to sell or if you’re just looking improve your home for your own sake, there are plenty of easy and inexpensive ways to boost your home’s curb appeal.
Add Some Greenery
Plants and flowers are an easy way to spruce up your home’s exterior. Few things are as cheerful and eye catching as a spread of flowers and healthy, growing things. Don’t have the time or money for a proper garden? Don’t worry! You can achieve the same effect with planters and window boxes. Plants can be used to frame key visual points of your home, such as windows and entry ways, and make your home seem more alive and welcoming.
Take Care of Your Lawn
Basic lawn care will make your home more appealing as well. Regularly mow the grass, rake off leaves, pull weeds, and keep it well watered. The key to easy lawn care is to keep up with it so it doesn’t become a huge project.
Add a Pop of Color to Your Front Door
A pop of color always draws the eye. You can boost your curb appeal by painting your front door to stand out rather than blend in. Keeping the colors of your home in mind, find something bold that enhances the look of your home. Get a few swatches to hold up against your door to help you decide on the color you like best.
Light it Up
Dark entryways aren’t welcoming, so get some light in there. If you already have light fixtures that aren’t working, fix or replace them. Make the area look fresh and clean. Clear away cobwebs and other debris around the doorway. If things still don’t seem bright enough, consider adding in some porch string lights or lights along the walkway.
Make it Symmetrical
You can make pleasing focal points using symmetrical decorations. Matching lanterns or plants on either side of your front door or garage door, for example, make your home seem more put together.
Mailbox Makeover
Mailboxes don’t have to be plain – make it stylish! This easy project costs between $50-$200 and is a simple way to make your home stand out.
Stonebridge Mortgage Group can advise you on your mortgage needs
For professional assistance with mortgages, look no further than Stonebridge Mortgage Group. You can rely on Stonebridge Mortgage Group to help guide you through the home buying process. If you’re ready to apply for a loan and want to go through the process online, Stonebridge Mortgage Group offers online applications. We also help get you pre-approved for a mortgage and help with your real estate loans and other mortgage solutions, both residential and commercial. Stonebridge Mortgage Group serves the greater Portland area and are in Gresham, Oregon. Don’t wait to get quality assistance with buying your home!
The timing of the spring home buying market will change depending on where you live, but one thing stays the same — the spring housing market is extremely competitive. If you’re planning on buying a home in spring, you need to be well-prepared beforehand. Know what you want, what your budget is, what you’re willing to compromise on, and what you’re not. You likely won’t have the luxury of sleeping on a decision in the spring home buying market. Be decisive and prepared to make an offer quickly.
If you’re set on buying a home in spring, here are some helpful tips:
Get preapproved by a local lender. The best competitive choice is to make sure you’re backed by a local bank of local mortgage broker. If your offer comes with a local lender’s preapproval letter, it will probably get preference among other applicants.
Focus on the house, don’t focus on the owner. It can be easy to get caught up on how the home is being sold – if it’s a foreclosure, a short sale, or owned by a traditional seller. What you need to focus on is if the house meets your needs, if it’s in an optimal location, and if it meets your budget.
Hire on a neighborhood specialist. All real estate agents have their areas of expertise. If you hire an agent who specializes in the area where you want to buy, you’ll be provided with incredibly useful information about that neighborhood. Additionally, a real estate agent who specializes in the neighborhood you’re looking in will likely be well known and respected among the area specialist listing agents. This works entirely in your favor.
Be prepared to pay the list price. Get a Comparable Market Analysis from your real estate agent to determine the actual value of the home. Keep in mind that sellers can ask for whatever they want, so you can’t judge the worth of a home based on other homes on the market. If you find a home that you want at a price you can afford, go for it. In the grand scheme of things, whether you pay $1000 more or less makes little to know difference and you likely won’t care a few years down the road.
Give the seller something other buyers will not. Make your offer stand out. You can negotiate about things other than price, and give your seller something beneficial to them without actually waiving your rights. Ask your agent for advice on this. For example, something as little as giving the sellers an extra day to move out can make your offer more appealing.
Allow Stonebridge Mortgage Group to assist with your search to buy a home. For a professional assistance with mortgages and related services, look no further than Stonebridge Mortgage Group. You can rely on Stonebridge Mortgage Group to help guide you through the home buying process. We help get you pre-approved for a mortgage and help with your real estate loans and other mortgage solutions, both residential and commercial. Stonebridge Mortgage Group serves the greater Portland area and are in Gresham, Oregon. Don’t wait to get quality assistance with buying your home!
Spring is a time of new beginnings. New life blooms everywhere; the sun shines with the promise of warmer days to come. It’s no surprise that when spring comes everyone is ready for a fresh start. Committing yourself to giving your home a good spring cleaning can be quite the undertaking, but the results are satisfying. To get your home looking beautiful inside and out, follow these simple steps!
INSIDE
Start with the inside and work your way out. Over the winter, plenty of things will have piled up that need putting away. Cleaning and de-cluttering your home will leave your home feeling like a breath of fresh air every time you walk inside.
First, go through your closets. Discard or donate unwanted clothes and clean winter coats. With you plan to keep cleaned, pack away winter clothes (or have them stored at a dry cleaner).
Next, take care of your bedroom. Rotate mattresses and wash mattress pads and blankets. Hang blankets on a clothesline to air out before putting them away. Wash curtains and draperies or have them dry-cleaned.
In the kitchen, clean the oven if necessary. Dust the coils behind or underneath the refrigerator.
Make sure to clean blades of ceiling fans. Shampoo rugs and upholstery to rid them of dirt and dust accumulated over the past year. Clean or replace filters in room air conditioners; vacuum and reinstall units. Clean all of the bathrooms, including the mirrors.
OUTSIDE
Making the outside of your home look as refreshed as the inside will instill a new sense of pride in your home.
First, clean around the central air conditioner unit and have it serviced. You’ll want to ensure your AC is working for when the weather gets warmer. Open up your attic louvers.
Check on the state of your roof and the sidings. Secure any loose shingles or siding. Clean gutters and downspouts. Make sure the roof is free of any debris.
Remove storm windows you have and patch screens.
Lastly, Work on your home’s outward appearance. Touch up paint on the exterior of the house, and make sure the windows are washed.
COUNT on STONEBRIDGE MORTGAGE GROUP for YOUR MORTGAGE NEEDS
For professional assistance with your mortgage loan, look no further than Stonebridge Mortgage Group. You can rely on Stonebridge Mortgage Group to help guide you through the home buying process. We help get you pre-approved for a mortgage and help with your real estate loan needs and other mortgage solutions, both residential and commercial. Stonebridge Mortgage Group serves the greater Portland area and are in Gresham, Oregon.
David is so professional and accommodating. I appreciate his level of professionalism and willingness to help.
Chris Ertel
2021-02-04
Verified
We have chosen Stonebridge a couple times now, and they are always a pleasure to do business with.
Sean Kerr
2020-09-21
Verified
David with Stonebridge has helped me on multiple occasions, between financing a new home as well as a couple of refi's over the years. I cannot stress how communicative he is when it comes to keeping his clients in the loop. Even when there was a slight lull during my most recent refi I would receive an email just letting me know that nothing new had transpired yet so I never had to question what was going on.
I have worked in the Real Estate field for almost three decades and David is by far the most responsive and professional mortgage Broker that I have dealt with.
If you need help purchasing a new property or help with a refi you can't go wrong by hiring Stonebridge!
Sean
Allie Petrina
2020-08-24
Verified
Refinancing our home through Stonebridge Mortgage was a great experience. They locked in a great rate, laid out each step along the way, and provided regular updates throughout the process. It couldn't have gone more smoothly and now we are saving $300/mo! Thank you Stonebridge Mortgage!
Al Greenwood
2020-01-23
Verified
David is very easy to work with and makes the entire process very simple. I have used Stonebridge for initial purchase and refinance and it only gets better. Get the straight answer quickly from Stonebridge
Blake Koch
2020-01-16
Verified
I've had nothing short of an amazing experience working with Stonebridge. I bought my first home over 2 years ago and without their help I may still be living in an RV. I intended to refinance my home later this year and I will most definitely be working with Stonebridge. I highly recommend. PS, I was qualified at the time with a credit score of 640
Dawn Dauble
2020-01-06
Verified
David was wonderful to work with. He was highly recommended to me by my partner who had worked with David a few years ago.
The day I contacted David he immediately put everything in motion
to assist me in refinancing with a much better interest rate.
We were able to handle everything by email /phone and Fax. He
responded quickly to questions I had. And let me know immediately
if something needed to be done or changed.
I would definitely work with David in the future if the need arises. The process went smoother than any other time I have worked with mortgage
companies.
Dawn
Sarah Harrah
2019-09-20
Verified
David was an absolute pleasure to work with! He was consistently responsive, on top of every detail and always so upbeat and funny! (An added perk that I truly appreciated during the stressful process of selling AND buying at the same time!) I will be recommending him to everyone I know!
bob ephrem
2019-04-07
Verified
David was a good man to do business would
do business again
