Is Your Home Fire Safe for Your Pet?

National Pet Fire Safety Day on July 15th is the perfect time to make sure your home’s fire safety plan includes getting your pets to safety, as well as the people, in the event of a fire. Taking preventable measures can protect your home, your family, and your pets in an emergency situation. Many times our pets are the cause of a fire when we don’t take these precautions.   PET FIRE SAFETY TIPS: Extinguish open flames. Wagging tails and curious kitties can haphazardly knock over candles. Consider using flameless candles. Remove knobs from the stove when not in use. Dogs may jump on the stove and accidentally turn a knob with their paw without anyone realizing it. Use plastic or metal water bowls, not glass for outside. Glass can actually heat up from the sun to the point of starting a fire. Keep leashes, collars, cages, and carriers close to the exit(s) on your fire escape route plan. That way you have a better chance of grabbing them as you exit the home with your animal. Garage’s tend to be a good spot. Fire can happen when you aren’t home to rescue your pet- so you need to have a plan just in case this happens: First, take them to a kennel or family member’s if you plan to be gone for an extended period of time. If you don’t have that option, or aren’t going to be gone long, then make sure your pets are secured in the main living area- this is where firefighters will look for them first (or that you have fire alert window clings, see next). Purchase and place fire alert window clings to help firefighters identify how many pets are in the home and the rooms they may be residing in (if your pooch prefers your bedroom to hang out in, cling it to your bedroom window- because it is likely that’s where they will be). Put your phone number on them as well. Determine which family member is responsible for which pet in the event of a fire. Go over these plans and practice getting you and your pets out of your home to safety! Source

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Spectacular Spaces; Outdoors Edition

Taking the time to make your backyard as inviting as possible is just as crucial to securing a buyer as the interior staging process is! Outdoor living space is often just as important to buyers as the kitchen and living room are, especially during prime outdoor entertaining months in the summertime. Take it from our team of Professional Home Stagers, who have put together these tips to make sure your outdoor space looks spectacular to prospective buyers. 1. GIVE IT A GOOD SCRUB Cleaning isn’t just a must for your home’s interior, it’s a must for the outdoors, too! Remove dust and dirt from your patio, walkways, stairs, window ledges, and outdoor furniture. Finally, hose down the concrete, you may need to use a pressure washer to wash away those stubborn layers.  2. REFINE THE LANDSCAPINGAdding a fresh layer of mulch overtop tired looking dirt, patchy grass, and flower beds will go a long way. It will make your outdoor space look and smell brand new and well taken care of. To go the extra mile, plant some flowers in those beds and get rid of any weeds that may be visible. 3. FURNISH THE SPACEYou want buyers to visualize themselves in your space, so it has to look inviting and liveable. To make this happen, furnish your patio, deck porch, or any areas that let you naturally incorporate furniture and decor (our stagers recommend adirondack chairs). Put out a bistro table and chairs with a vase of flowers on top, or if space allows, a patio dining table or a conversation set of a loveseat and chairs. And don’t forget to remove those grill covers! 4. REMOVE WINDOW SCREENSWindow screens should be removed before you have listing photos taken of your home. This will make them look shiny and clean and allow for the most natural light. 5. POOL CAREMake sure your pool is open and looking it’s best for photos and open houses! Skim the surface to remove debris and leaves to give it that crystal clear look. 6. MAKE IT A SHOWSTOPPERIf you have fountains, outdoor lighting, outdoor fans, fireplaces or pits- turn them on for showings. It will amp up the appeal of the space (go ahead and add some drama!) After all, you want to show off everything your space has to offer.   If you’re looking to buy or sell your home, contact us or call 410.465.6900 today and we will make sure your space looks spectacular for showings!

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