Getting Ahead Before Spring
Prep Now for Your Next Move
If you’re thinking about buying or selling, this time of year can have you feeling like things are on hold. It’s not that the market is necessarily different, but the period between the end of winter and the beginning of spring has a way of slowing things down. But even with the unpredictable weather and limited daylight, there are things you can focus on right now.
some constructive planning. Maybe your family has grown, and everyone feels on top of each other. Maybe you’d like some extra space for an aging relative. Maybe the kids are out of the house, and you don’t need so much space. If you find yourself moving in one of these directions, the first step is to look at the numbers. Figure out your purchasing power and talk to a lender to see what your actual monthly payments would be. At the same time, reach out to a Realtor to see what’s available that fits your needs and learn what your current place would likely bring in today’s market. Some people discover they can move sooner than they thought. Others learn they need more time. Either way, you are dealing with real numbers rather than just guesses. If you are planning to sell, February is the best month to tackle inside work. Start with some
cleaning and organization. Clear closets, storage rooms, and the garage. Pack extra things into bins and decide what can be donated or thrown out. Once the clutter is under control, look at simple interior projects. Painting is a good place to start. Touch up worn areas and calm down any loud accent walls that might not appeal to buyers. If the living room carpet is old, consider having it replaced. The same goes for dated cabinet faces and hardware. Sometimes sanding, paint, and new pulls can make a kitchen feel brand-new. If you need more extensive work, this can also be a good time to get bids from contractors because many of them are limited on work. Even if you end up staying put, these projects will make your home cleaner and more comfortable. Think of this time as a reset period where you can prepare yourself and your home for whatever comes next.
Are you a potential buyer? This is the perfect time to assess your needs and do
Create a Wood Slat Wall That Wows From Blank to Bold
Vertical wood slat walls are a popular decorative accent for living rooms and other areas of the home, but the cost of hiring a contractor to create a wood slat feature can be steep. Despite this, a wood slat wall is among the easiest beginner projects for a wannabe home remodeler. Check out the easy steps to create your own DIY accent wall! What You Need At a lumber store, buy 1-by-2-inch slats of pine or poplar wood cut to a length that fits the height of your wall. Select slats that are straight, not warped, and save scraps for later use. If you are using pine, sand the slats with fine-grit sandpaper and stain them to the wood tone that best suits your decor. Although poplar slats cost more than pine, they offer a more high-end look. Additionally, they don’t require staining or sanding, as they’re beautiful in their natural
state. For either type of wood, add a layer of polyurethane as a sealant.
Assemble your supplies, including the slats, a nail gun, and wood conditioner, plus wood stain if desired. Remove any baseboards from your accent wall. We recommend painting the wall behind the slats a dark color to accent the natural beauty of the slats. For this, you need the usual painting supplies, including paint, painter’s tape, a drop cloth, and paint rollers or brushes. Attach the Slats To help you envision the final look, use painter’s tape to position the slats at different distances. If your slats are 1 inch wide, experiment with spacing them 1/4–7/8 inch apart. (Any farther apart, and you risk creating a zebra-stripe effect.) Use a scrap piece as a spacer between slats. Then, attach the slats to the wall using the nail gun,
inserting one nail each in the top, middle, and bottom. When nailing slats to an area without a stud behind the wall, use two nails, driving one downward and a second upward, creating an X behind the slat to hold it firmly in place. Use the spacer as you drive a nail into each piece, ensuring your slats are vertically straight. Once your slat wall is finished, relax and enjoy the warmth of the wood tones and the visual interest you’ve created! You’ve transformed an ordinary wall into a highlight of your home.
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