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Mice Need a Warm Place to Spend the Winter – Don’t Let it Be Your Home

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If these pests have already entered your home, then you need a professional to take care of this problem for good and ensure these pests do not damage your home or put the health of you and your family at risk.

During the winter months, rodents begin looking for a warm place to hide. This understandably makes many New Jersey homeowners worried. Whether it’s mice, rats, or other types of rodents, here’s what you need to know about how to protect your home.

At Gateway Realty and Home Services, you will find the answer to all of your pest control needs. You can expect the best protection for your home because of our customized services created by our highly trained pest management technicians.

When Rodent Season Begins

Rodent season is the time of year when rodents, such as mice, may find your home a convenient new home for them. This season begins as the cooler weather begins to set, typically around late September to October. Having a home infested with mice is a health risk as some carry diseases.

Not only do they pose a health risk, but they can also cause major damage to the structure of your home. They do this by gnawing on wires, leaving urine and excrement around your basement or attic, and chewing on insulation.

No homeowner wants to coexist with mice. How can you prevent mice from moving in, and what can you do if they are already there?

Mice Prevention Tips

Here are few ways to mice-proof your home:

  • Remove clutter – Mice like cardboard boxes, old papers, and other clutter that get stacked or thrown on top of other items. It provides the perfect hiding place for them, and they may go unnoticed for a while before you notice they are there.
  • Watch out for them – When clutter is removed, it is easier to see certain spaces. Therefore, be on the lookout for chewed wires, excrement, tiny holes, or any other proof that mice live there.
  • Don’t leave food out – When you leave food out, especially overnight, it is an invitation for a feast. Try to through trash away in sealed containers, clean up after cooking, and keep areas such as underneath the refrigerator clear of crumbs.
  • Seal cracks and crevices – Gaps around windows or underneath doors are a perfect way for mice to enter your home. They can squeeze through incredibly tiny spaces. So make sure these entry points are properly sealed.

Already Have a Mouse Infestation?

If you’re late to the rodent season, and these pests have already entered your home and started running around, then you need a professional to take care of this problem for good and ensure these pests do not damage your home or put the health of you and your family at risk.

Gateway Realty and Home Services is the NJ pest control specialist who can safely take care of your mice infestation problem. Get in touch with us now to find out more about our services, and let’s get to work.

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Schedule an Appointment Today

Click to Call (732) 749-8700

Cold Weather Can Damage Your Home – We Can Help!

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If winter weather negatively impacts your home this season, Gateway Realty and Home Services is the one-call solution to all of your exterior home maintenance needs.

Low temperatures, fierce winds, and heavy snow can mean trouble for the exterior of your home. Your home and property may have several vulnerable areas that are subject to potential problems. Some of these issues can be fixed in the spring, but others need attention right away.

If winter weather negatively impacts your home this season, Gateway Realty and Home Services is the one-call solution to all of your exterior home maintenance projects.

How Winter Weather Negatively Impacts Your Home

Cold temperatures, strong winds, snow, and ice can negatively affect vulnerable areas of your home and property. Some of the most common ways winter can cause damage include:

  • Roof leaks – strong wind can loosen shingles, ice can put stress on your roof, and condensation can cause damage. If there were parts of your rood already compromised, this added stress could cause serious problems.
  • Gutter damage – When snow and ice build-up, ice dams can form in your gutters. Gutters can crack, and parts can break off.
  • Caulk around windows can crack – Fluctuations in temperature can cause caulk to pull away from windows, creating drafts where warm air leaks out, and cold air seeps in. Not only does this cause a chilly situation, but your energy costs will increase.
  • Driveway damage – Ice melt, shoveling snow, and ice can cause damage to your driveway. These can cause your driveway to chip and crack. De-icing chemicals can corrode driveway materials.
  • Broken tree limbs – Snow, ice, and strong winds can cause tree limbs to break. When they fall, they can damage your roof, siding, and other parts of your house or property.
  • Damage to your deck or fence – While these structures are built to withstand harsh weather conditions, they are not immune to winter damage. Moisture can lead to mold and mildew. Already vulnerable areas can crack and break.

Some of these issues might be able to wait until the spring. However, others such as a leaking roof, broken fence, and gaps around your windows cannot.

We Can Help!

At Gateway Realty & Home Services, we are always here to help homeowners in New Jersey with winter home repairs. If the exterior of your home or property needs some repair, contact us online now, or give us a call at (732) 749-8700.

Tips for Selling Your House This Winter

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Job transfers, downsizing, a need for more space, relationship changes, and more make buying a home a necessity at any time of the year.

Nobody sells their house during the winter months, right? Well, while many people would like to wait until the spring or summer months to sell their home, the reality is many people move in the winter. In fact, a large number of home sales occur during the coldest months of the year.

According to the National Association of Realtors, more than one million homes were sold in the U.S. between December 2019 to February 2020. So, if you are wondering if you should put off selling your home until spring, why wait?

Selling Your Home in Winter

While spring is still the hottest season for buying a home, plenty of people need to buy a home in the winter. Job transfers, downsizing, a need for more space, relationship changes, and more make moving a necessity at any time of the year. There are several advantages to selling your home during the winter months. Whether it’s hot or cold outside, certain factors are not affected by the temperature.

  • Online Property Listings – The majority of buyers go online to search for a home. Potential buyers have instant access to property listings, and this factor has had a huge impact on the typical seasonal buyers looking for a house.
  • Not as Many Sellers – In the spring, the market is flooded with homes for sale. But during the winter, there is a limited number of sellers. The number of homes on the market drops off, which means that you will have considerably less competition on the market if you list your home during the winter. You may end up selling your house even faster because buyers have fewer homes to consider.
  • People Have a Little More Time – While it’s true that some people are less likely to be looking for a home during their hectic holiday schedules, keep in mind that many people have more time off during that time of year. Those that do may want to take advantage of their time and look for a new home.
  • Tax Breaks Before the End of the Year – Selling your home before the end of the year may be a good time for buyers motivated to capture the tax benefits of buying a home before the year is over. A home buyer can write off some of the expenses of their home purchase on their taxes.

Tips for Selling Your Home During the Winter

If you decide to sell your home this winter, here are some tips to improve the chances of selling:

  • Keep holiday decorations simple; otherwise, it can be overpowering to a potential buyer.
  • Make it cozy by lighting a fire in the fireplace, baking cookies, lighting lightly-scented candles, or playing soft holiday music.
  • It gets dark early, so brighten up your home’s exterior with outdoor lighting and keep the inside well-lit all evening long.
  • If it does snow, keep your home’s details as clear as possible so that buyers can see them when they drive by.
  • Take pictures when the weather is clear so that you have clear-weather pictures of your home to post online.

Contact Gateway Real Estate and Home Services

If you are ready to get your house on the market this winter, give the professional team at Gateway Real Estate and Home Services a call or connect with us online to help you through the home selling process.

Choose Gateway Realty and Home

Schedule an Appointment Today

Click to Call (732) 749-8700

6 Small Renovations That Can Boost Your Home’s Value

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Below you can find 6 small things we can help you do that really make a big impact on your house’s value!

Do you want to renovate your home but don’t have the money to go all out? It’s a rather common scenario, especially for people looking to put their home on the market, but not before trying to drive up its value with a few projects.

Here’s the good news: you can absolutely renovate your home on a budget. Below you can find 6 small things you can do that really make a big impact on your house’s value!

1. Replace the Knobs on Your Cabinets and Doors

You don’t have to change your doors or cabinets completely. Just by changing the knobs, you can sometimes completely change their style and appearance!

You likely don’t even notice how worn out the knobs currently are, but when you buy shiny new ones and give the surfaces a good scrubs, most people will assume the cabinets and doors are brand new!

Consider looking for more stylish knob models to really give your cabinets and doors an extra aesthetic boost!

2. Replace the Faceplates and Wall Switches

You use them daily, and at one point, they just can’t take it anymore. The faceplates and wall stickers are among the last things people think to change during a renovation, but doing so really makes a difference.

Try to opt for some color or interesting models to really catch the viewer’s eye! And the best part is that they only cost a few bucks.

3. Install a Rack for Pots and Pans

If your kitchen doesn’t have a lot of space for storing your pots and pans, you can turn them into decor! All you need is a rack in color and material that fits the rest of your kitchen’s aesthetic and some wires to hang your pans.

4. Change Your Faucets

If you can’t afford to change the sinks in your kitchen and bathroom, just upgrading the faucets can be enough to change the appearance. It can reshape the look and feel of these areas with minimal effort and costs!

5. Paint Your Walls

From lightening up a living room to repainting all of the bedrooms, a fresh coat of paint can have a tremendous impact on the inside of your home.

6. Repaint Your Front Door

Add some nice color to your home’s exterior by simply repainting the front door. Potential buyers can know if they want to enter an open home or not right from the curb, and an interesting-looking front door is a great way to make them curious.

Call Gateway Realty and Home Services

If you’re looking for something bigger, Gateway Realty and Home Services offer renovation services tailor to your needs and budget! Get in touch with us now for more information about how we can help, and let’s get started on boosting your home’s value.

Choose Gateway Realty and Home

Schedule an Appointment Today

Click to Call (732) 749-8700

5 Tips For Choosing The Right Countertops For Your Kitchen

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Choosing the right kitchen countertop can be difficult without the right guide, but these tips can hopefully help you get started.

If you want to improve your kitchen, you may be looking for new kitchen countertops. Many people don’t think that this process would take that long until they look into the subject and get overwhelmed by the number of choices there are these days.

So, which countertops are right for you? Check out these 5 tips that can help:

Set a Budget and Stick to It

This is really the place to start when it comes to choosing the perfect kitchen countertops. Quartz countertops may look stunning, but your budget may force you to look in a different direction, such as the cheaper laminate countertops.

Be realistic with your budget, and don’t go for something that doesn’t fit into it. Look for quality within your budget instead of setting your mind on a specific material!

Think of What You’ll Use the Countertops for

Water, knives, or heat can easily damage some countertops, so think of the purposes before choosing material and model. For instance, if you have many children roaming around your house, you’ll want something that is not difficult to clean and can handle the occasional spilled orange juice!

Don’t Ignore the Kitchen Style

Look at the materials, colors, and design or style of the rest of your kitchen furniture, and choose a countertop that will complete the picture nicely. You may look at a model and fall in love with it, but when put next to the rest of your kitchen, it could stand out like a sore thumb.

Consider What Kind of Maintenance You’re Comfortable with

Some countertops require a lot more maintenance than others, so definitely take this into account as well. Stone countertops, for instance, have to be periodically sealed to prevent bacteria from ruining the surface, so it’s a good option if you have the time to maintain it properly.

If you’re looking for something easier because you don’t want to spend a lot of time cleaning, the laminate option is a lot better.

Know the Home’s Aesthetic Well

Even if the countertops will be placed in the kitchen, your entire home likely has a certain aesthetic and style. Use this style to help guide all your kitchen renovation decisions, countertops included. There are so many choices out there that can help you complete the picture; you just have to know what you’re looking for!

Call Gateway Realty and Home Today!

Choosing the right kitchen countertop can be difficult without the right guide, but these tips can hopefully help you get started. If you’re looking for a trained eye to help you make an even better decision, it’s just a few clicks away.

Get in touch with us now for expert tips and support for choosing the perfect kitchen countertops and other amazing home-improvement advice!

Choose Gateway Realty and Home

Schedule an Appointment Today

Click to Call (732) 749-8700

Home Repairs We Can Help You With This Winter

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We can help take the stress off of you this season by completing your home repair projects!

Most people think of cleaning and home repair projects as a spring and summer activity. But have you ever considered getting some of these projects out of the way in the fall or winter months? Not only is it just as easy to do some of these things in the winter, but your home will be ready and comfortable for any company you’ll have this season.

Home Repair Services

Do you feel the need to do some repairs around the house but don’t have the time to invest in a long, complicated project? We can help! Here are a few home repair projects that will not only make your home nicer to look at and live in but will also bring a huge satisfaction and a sense of achievement.

  • Paint the Walls – Over time, walls get scratched and dirty. But having a fresh coat of paint added to one or more rooms of your home can be a significant improvement. It can easily freshen up the look and feel of your home. Hiring an experienced painter will ensure that the project gets done quickly and professionally.
  • Replace Old or Broken Outlet Covers – This is a very subtle change, but you will be surprised by how refreshing the effect is. Broken outlets are a potential hazard, so they should definitely be replaced. Moreover, old ones can give an outdated look to your interior, so don’t wait for them to break or get dingy before getting new ones.
  • Add a Blackboard Wall to the Kitchen or Hallway – We love projects that involve both a practical and a decorative function. Adding a blackboard wall to your kitchen can help you with meal planning, leaving messages to your family members, or just practicing your drawing skills every day.
  • Replace Bathroom Fittings and Accessories – Something as simple as replacing faucets, showerheads, and the accessories in your bathroom can really improve the whole room’s look.
  • Fix Scratches and Cracks in the Floor – Wood floors highlight many homes, but they can get scratches and cracks that can show unpleasantly. We can repair any scratches and apply a finishing, protective product on your floors.
  • Paint Kitchen Cabinets and Add a Backsplash – Your kitchen can be surprisingly easy to improve without breaking the bank or living right next to a construction site for a month. If the cabinets’ material allows it, we can repaint them and dramatically change the aspect of the room. Adding a backsplash with an interesting color or a pattern is also one of the easiest ways to revamp your cooking area.

Choose Gateway Realty and Home

Schedule an Appointment Today

Click to Call (732) 749-8700