Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 7 Ways to Declutter Your Kitchen If you’re always short of cabinet and counter space, it’s time to declutter your kitchen. But that’s a chore that seems to get relegated to “someday.” According to Country Living Magazine, the job may be easier if you know where to start. If you want to give yourself more kitchen space, begin by getting rid of the following: Your plastic container collection.  Most of us have far too many plastic containers haphazardly stuffed somewhere in our kitchens, including those empty deli and margarine containers we’ve saved. Limit yourself to containers in two sizes, and no more than five or six of each–with lids. Your weirdly sentimental mugs.  Too much shelf space is often given up to mugs that you’ll never use–from vacation souvenirs to those with cutesy sayings. Harden your heart and get rid of most of them. It’s almost guaranteed that yo...

brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties For many of us, mom’s ‘use-it-up, make-it-last, wear-it-out’ mantra was our introduction to thriftiness—a traditional value that has largely been kicked to the curb due to a more materialistic lifestyle. But the truth is, most of our common throwaway items have not yet reached their full potential. Here are a few smart re-uses that will help keep junk out of landfills and make our life a little easier: Banana peel as silver polish.  Run the peel through the blender with enough water to make a paste. This makes a great silver polish when applied with a washcloth and rinsed off with water. Citrus peels as freshener . Burnt smell in the oven? Freshen the air by baking a few orange peels for a few minutes at 350 degrees. Or throw a few peels in a jar with some white vinegar. In a day or two, you’ll have a great-smelling and effective all-purpose cleaner. Lastly, lemon peels that are run through the gar...

1. Change the locks. You really don’t know who else has keys to your home, so change the locks. That ensures you’re the only person who has access. Install new deadbolts yourself for as little as $10 per lock, or call a locksmith — if you supply the new locks, they typically charge about $20-$30 per lock for labor. 2. Check for plumbing leaks. Your home inspector should do this for you before closing, but it never hurts to double-check. I didn't have any leaks to fix, but when checking my kitchen sink, I did discover the sink sprayer was broken. I replaced it for under $20. Keep an eye out for dripping faucets and running toilets, and check your water heater for signs of a leak.  Here’s a neat trick: Check your water meter at the beginning and end of a two-hour window in which no water is being used in your house. If the reading is different, you have a leak. 3. Steam clean carpets. Do this before you move your furniture in, and your new home l...