BBB: Allergens in the Home

Your home should be your refuge, a place of comfort, safety, and health. If you or someone in your family are not feeling healthy in your home, it is possible that there are allergens that are triggering reactions.

The two big questions are always first, how do you know for sure, and second, what can you do about it?

As for how to know what may be triggering an allergic response, you would likely need to see a doctor and have some testing done. In the meantime, there are some simple ways that you can reduce the allergens in your home which will decrease the opportunity for an allergic response.

The most effective way, and possibly the hardest, to deter allergens from your home is to declutter. By minimizing the stuff in your home, there are fewer places for the most common home allergens like dust, pollen, and mold to hide.

Beyond decluttering there are three relatively simple things you can do to help maintain an allergen-free home.

TAKE OUT CARPETS OR UPGRADE YOUR VACUUM AND VACUUM REGULARLY

Unfortunately, wall-to-wall carpet is a major culprit for holding in pet dander, dust, pollen, and just about every other allergen. If you can replace your carpet with hardwood or tile, even one room at a time, that will help tremendously. If you can’t replace your carpet right away, make sure your vacuum is a high-efficiency machine that has good suction and is equipped with a filter that blocks allergens from escaping.

TACKLE THE BIG THREE

If you want your house to stop triggering potential allergies, there are three rooms that need your immediate attention.

Bedroom - Your bedroom, full of soft surfaces and with minimal traffic (but where you spend at least 8 hours daily sleeping), is the first. Although dust mites would rather you stay away, a thorough deep cleaning is necessary. Also, you can put dust mite proof covers on your pillows and mattresses to help deter the icky buggers.

Bathroom - As much as dust mites love bedrooms, mold thrives in bathrooms. Keeping moisture to a minimum in your bathroom is a must to keep mold spores from taking up residence. Make it a habit to wipe all standing water. Use the fan anytime you are in the bathroom and leave it on for an additional 30 minutes after showers and baths. Regular cleaning also keeps mold at bay and discourages new growth.

Living Room - Your living room, although often traveled, can be a catch-all for any number of allergens. From pet dander to mildew to pollen, this busy room must be cleaned regularly to stay ahead of any sort of allergen invasion.

CLEAN YOUR AIR

Starting with your filters, make sure that all recycled air coming into your house is clean. Regular filter cleaning goes a long way towards making sure of that. Beyond the filters, you may want to consider purchasing an air purifier to keep the air clean and healthy for your family. If you have excess humidity, a dehumidifier could also be a good purchase.

These steps might seem like a lot but in all honesty, once you implement a system it will become second nature in no time and your home will again, be a welcome and safe refuge for your family.

You can check out the article on Wesley Chapel Weekly, too!

THIS IS TAMPA: PODCAST AT THE FAIR IF YOU DARE

In this episode of the This is Tampa Podcast, Rob + Jen take a trip to the Florida State Fairgrounds 🎡 to talk with Director of Sales, Terri Parnell-Longphee! Terri comes with an impressive resume, previously working for the Olympics + Visit Tampa Bay. 🌴 We discuss a TON of info, including the history of the fair (its 116 years old!)📜, the behind-the-scenes, new attractions (check out the new Craft Beer Garden 🍺 with LIVE music 🎶 or the SOAR Bird Show 🦅- with huge birds performing incredible acts!), and of course, the FOOD! 😋 Did you know you can purchase Foodie Crawl tickets to try an assortment of Florida State Fairgrounds items?! Speaking of Fair Food, don't forget to stop by Mama Jane's Funnel Cakes for your own DELICIOUS "Orie", Peachey's Baking Co for a tasty donut (we loved the S'Mores flavor!)🍩, Chester's Gators and Taters 🐊, or DeAnna's Steak Sundaes for a Deep Fried Strawberry Lemonade Shortcake 🍓 or Steak + Eggs Sundae! Did we forget to mention you can get TONS of other one-of-a-kind fair food at the Florida State Fair!, including original Wisconson Cheese Curds 🧀, Shrimp-N-Grits Sundae 🍤, Deep Fried Hot Chocolate, a Donut Burger 🍩🍔, and SO much more! You'll also enjoy the Ripley's Believe It or Not! show, the Florida Department of Agriculture 🐎 area (great for kids!), a petting zoo 🐏, TONS of rides 🎡, Cracker Country (Florida in the 1800's), and so much more! At the beginning of our epiosde you'll hear the band JUNK behind us, which uses recyclable objects to create instruments- you can find them in the NEW Craft Beer Garden 🍻 by Gate 3!

The #FloridaStateFair runs for 12 days and the LAST day to attend is this Monday, 2/17❗ Make sure you go, go, GO! Did we mention parking is FREE? https://floridastatefair.com

Don't forget to LIKE, FOLLOW + SUBSCRIBE to the This is Tampa Podcast, on #Facebook, #YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher! 5⭐ REVIEWS are always appreciated!

BBB: BUY OR SELL YOUR HOME IN THE WINTER

‘Tis the season and one of the BUSIEST times of the year but as they say, whoever “they” are: “There’s no place like home for the holidays!”

I am often asked if this time of year is a good time to buy or sell and my answer is a resounding “YES”! The buyers out right now are motivated and there is less competition from home sellers.

At the end of the year, businesses prepare for their upcoming quarter, causing job transfers and families wanting to get their children settled in before school starts back. We don’t have the National Association of Realtors nationwide data for November 2019 yet but here in Tampa/St. Pete, closed and pending home sales are UP over the 5-year November statistics. Home SALE PRICES are up here as well.

Lastly, new construction is wrapping up for 2019 and builders are trying to close out their books. In any instance, NOW is a great time to buy OR sell.

Here are a few quick tips if you are considering it this winter

1. Hire a qualified Realtor - Trying to sell “for sale by owner” typically increases days on market and generates a lower sales price compared to using an agent. It is always crucial to have someone marketing your home properly and who can walk you through a real estate contract. As a buyer, its completely free to hire an agent, so thats a no brainer!

2. Cozy Up - As a seller, make your home cozy. It’s true, a lot of buyers will get a “feel” from a home. When it’s cold out, make your home an inviting place to walk into. Turn on lights, soft music, and consider an appropriate temperature. Nothing gets buyers out the door faster than a hot house in the heat of summer and a cold house in the dead of winter.

3. Buyers Prepare - If you are a buyer, be prepared. You MUST have your ducks in a row, especially now when there are fewer homes available and more buyer competition. Get your pre-approval done prior to seeing homes, that way you are ready to go when making an offer.

4. Post A Video Tour - Have a video tour of your home available on the web. Personally, I do multiple videos for my clients, including a professional cinematic style one, but not all agents go to this length. A video of your home is extremely helpful to buyers, especially ones who don’t want to go out in the cold, or since we’re in Florida, out in the pouring rain!

5. Be Ready To Act Fast! - If you’re a buyer, strike while the iron is hot! The end of the year is a great time to buy as sellers are typically motivated. Also, if you close on your home purchase before the end of the year, you can deduct certain costs from your tax return including: mortgage interest, loan points, & property taxes.

6. Lastly and most importantly: PRICE TO SELL. Set your price competitively based on comparables, so you don’t sit on the market. This is especially important in the traditionally slower seasons.

In closing, as far as real estate goes, NOW is by far one of the best times to buy and sell! By using my tips and tricks, you will have a successful transaction and that is the ultimate holiday gift! I am Jen Wiggins and a local Realtor here in the Tampa/St.Pete area and am always happy to chat, even over the holidays! You can call or text me at (813) 539-1678 or on Facebook & Instagram by searching “Let’s Talk Tampa”. If you aren’t local, I would love to help you find a qualified Realtor in your area.

Thanks for reading and happy holiday home shopping- or selling!