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Clever strategies to clean and disinfect your home!

We have shifted our daily lives during the novel coronavirus pandemic, leaving many of us adjusting to working from home. As we adapt to social distancing, and kids settle down to online learning too, your normal cleaning routine has become more like disinfecting quarantine zones. If your spring cleaning has transitioned into sanitizing everything for a germ-free home, these tips will really help! Get ready to toss out how you cleaned before, and revamp your household chores. As we all take action to stop the spread of the virus by staying indoors. From the best EPA-Approved disinfectants, to how long COVID-19 stays on surfaces, below are a few ways you can clean and sanitize to a germ-free, healthy home!

Clean vs. Disinfect

The CDC recommends cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces in your home at least once a day, especially if you have had contact with the outside world in some way. Knowing what needs cleaned to remove contaminants, versus disinfecting to kill pathogens, can make a huge difference to how often surfaces will need to be cleaned. Focus on those areas first and maintain your normal cleaning routine for other areas of your home.

Target Zones and Surfaces

Breakdown each area in your home by zones, and target cleaning to your home’s high-touch surfaces. Coronavirus can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours and even longer on cardboard and stainless steel. With everyone doing their part to self-isolate and children home from school, these high-touch surfaces that you typically would clean are more susceptible now to germs. Think about your door knobs, kitchen countertops, toilet seat and handle, computers, remote controls, anything in your home frequently touched and used throughout the day. Clean first with soap and water, and then disinfect using an EPA-Approved disinfectants. Finish with Lysol Disinfectant Spray to clean and sanitize and then air dry to kill off any remaining germs including the COVID-19 virus!

See the full list of EPA-Approved Disinfectants here: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

If you have run out of household cleaning supplies and waiting for stores to stock their own shelves, there are alternatives including homemade solutions you can make on your own. Use bleach diluted with water or isopropyl alcohol (70%) mixed with water as a solution to sanitize and clean surfaces. Set aside time daily based on the level of cleaning needed for each zone in your home, and the surfaces most often touched. Make it a team clean effort, with everyone that lives in your home pitching in and adapting to a new cleaning schedule you can use year-round!

Try this homemade bleach cleaning solution recipe from houselogic.com:

5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) bleach per gallon of water, or 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of hot water

Windows & Mirrors

Add your normal spring cleaning routine in the mix and wash your windows and mirrors. Remove window treatments and put them in the dryer on a low or no heat setting to remove allergens and dust particles.

For a great solution to your window washing, try the cleaning solution below!

Combine:

2 cups water

1/2 cup white or cider vinegar

1/4 cup rubbing alcohol 70%

Pour in a spray bottle and for a streak free shine don’t clean windows on a hot, sunny day. Spray the solution on a paper towel or soft cloth first before cleaning mirrors. See 8 Best Homemade Cleaners - How to Make DIY All Purpose Cleaners from Good Housekeeping.

It may seem like an overwhelming feat to an overstressed family self-isolating at home! But it’s important to maintain a good cleaning plan to have peace of mind during these times. If you feel more frazzled than enthused on what needs done, try this interactive room-by-room guide from nbcnews.com! 

We’re in this Together ❤

Our top priority is the health and safety of everyone in our community, and we just want to take a moment to thank our Marrick Homes’ team, and all the agents, brokers, and local realtors for their continued hard work and efforts during this time. We are in this together, and appreciative to our homeowners and prospects too, who continue to support local businesses (like yours truly) in Southern Maryland and beyond.

You'll love how easy buying your dream home can be!

Are you ready to buy your dream home this year? If you have contemplated buying a home, we are here to help make the process more clear! A huge step like this you’ll want to educate yourself with all the resources and tools you need to achieve dream home success! From budget to financing, finding and customizing - design and build the home that includes the perfect style, options and features built just for you!  

There’s no time like the present, and our first gift a home buying checklist from start to finish! 

Score one for Credit … or down for more Payment!

Are you excited to begin house hunting for your new home? Before you begin Operation Move-In, the first most important step is to scrutinize your financials! Do a credit check to see what could possibly hold you back from getting approved. You can get a copy of your credit report for free once a year from all three major credit bureaus at:  annualcreditreport.com. Find out your credit score and see if there are any errors or discrepancies you can correct, verify information and protect yourself from identity theft. This could take time so call in reinforcements if need be to meet with your bank, a financial advisor or lender to help you review your credit and financials.

Things to keep in mind: Generally speaking, lenders love good credit scores because it’s assurance to your financial worth. If you have a low score, don't get discouraged if you can't get the loan you'd like. Save and continue to work on improving your credit score, and when you’re ready we have a group of preferred lenders that are ready to help find you a loan program that fits your needs! 

Spend Time Saving!

Save! Save! Save! You should have a down payment equal to 20% of the sales price of the home. An affordability calculator can be used to estimate how much you can afford for a home mortgage within a geographic region you’re looking to buy a new home in. Keep in mind the affordability calculator will not account for all your monthly expenses, so be sure to factor in your household and other expenses and gain insight into your finances. Make adjustments as needed to your dream home list to see what you can compromise on for a home that you love and can afford! 

Don’t forget to factor in closing costs into your overall home-buying budget and…Bonus Tip! If your home search takes you to Southern Maryland, buy a new Marrick Home and save with fabulous incentives offered such as closing costs when using a preferred lender!

House Hunting has begun!

Start your research online or with a local agent or broker to narrow down the neighborhoods that offer what you need and desire for your home and location. Your house hunting journey will be easier once you figure out what you need and prefer to have in close proximity to your dream home. For example, commuting distance and travel times to and from work or school can impact your life daily and your decision on where you buy a home.  Other important factors to consider include school districts, walkability, distance to shopping, dining, entertainment etc. Once you figure out the right neighborhood, take multiple tours of the community, amenities and area as a whole to make sure it’s the perfect fit for you! You may discover something new and exciting about the location you choose and that is a definite win!

Make a Purchase Offer

Make a purchase offer as quickly as possible after finding the perfect home! Remember that other buyers are looking at the same homes and may have their eyes set on the same new home too! A strong purchase offer should factor in market comparable, as well as any advice given by a real estate expert. Once the agreement and deposit is made its escrow time! During this short period of time the seller will take the house off the market with the contractual expectation that you will buy the house. You can now begin the wonderful process of designing and customizing your dream home with the options and features that’s perfect for you! Check out investopedia.com for a complete home buying guide including more helpful tips!

Search and Rescue

We include this step at the end as a reminder, do not despair if you hit a speed bump along the way to your dream home! Just turn to the professionals along the way to help you with the home buying process and Q & A! From realtors and agents to lenders and Marrick Homes’ amazing sales team, experts in home purchasing and real estate ready to help you when the going the gets tough! Stay up to date on the current housing trends and real estate market to make sure you’re getting the best mortgage, interest rates and purchasing at the right time. Realtor.com is a great website to use as a resource for keeping up with the latest in the housing market!

Visit our communities throughout Southern Maryland and our team will help guide you through the process and find the perfect home for you!  We also have a variety of preferred lenders to ensure you receive the best financing available when purchasing your new Marrick Home!  Your experience will be seamless and the result will be dream home success!

Are you ready to start the New Year in Southern Maryland? Whether a native here or just starting out, welcome friends to our hometown and the birthplace of Maryland! The holidays are over and it’s time to start new, from rolling hills of farmland and natural landscapes, to the waterways and scenic bays to enjoy a winter wonderland! Embrace the season indoors with more museums, shopping, restaurants and historic parks! It’s a new year of opportunities to explore the counties on the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. So get on with it you say…? Okay, no more suspense...! Here’s our top picks for all your sightseeing, ice skating and maritime fun and when you’re done, step inside for a warm winter to remember in a new home for the New Year!

  1. Calvert County

Embrace the winter season in Calvert County! Strap on your snow boots and bundle up for a day to explore the outdoors on a walking or hiking tour! Enjoy the art and scenery at the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and follow paved walking paths that weave through the enchanted forest of scenery and outdoor sculptures. 

Or take a walk at Jefferson Patterson Park, with 560 scenic acres along the Patuxent River that are ready to greet you! The hiking trails are endless, and archaeological discoveries are waiting to be unearthed too! The Park is also home to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC Lab), which houses over 8 million artifacts!

Join the world’s largest Treasure Hunt for a day of Geocaching with your family. Use a GPS in this outdoor game to hide and seek “geocaches” at specific locations. Winter is the perfect time with nearly 100 geocaches hidden around Calvert County, and not so hidden with a landscape more sparse during the winter season! Give geocaches a go for a day and visit one of these great park locations where geocaches can be found like Dunkirk District Park, King’s Landing Park and Flag Ponds Park.

King’s Landing Park - Find Your Chesapeake

2. St. Mary’s County

Discover the charming streets of Historic Leonardtown. For a unique hometown experience, visit the ”most convenient place” in St. Mary’s County and picture yourself living close by!  Start your day with a walking tour, and learn more of the history with a walking map brochure or even a podcast to follow. Retrace the steps from the Tudor Hall Mansion and then on to see history at the courthouse and old jail museum, with many charming shops to explore along the way!  

Tudor Hall Museum

Oh and there’s nothing as sweet as Heritage Chocolates on Washington Street! Handmade fresh daily, you can watch the chocolate production from inside the store - start to finish for a Scrumdiddlyumptious candy treat! 

Stop on by the art and entertainment district, and when your travel through history is done is done for the day, relax your feet and dine at one of the many fabulous restaurants here!

Enjoy more of living in St. Mary’s County with Leonardtown First Fridays. Held on the first Friday of every month, it’s the perfect community event to get acquainted with Leonardtown! An evening of live entertainment, activities, food, and fun for the whole family!

Visit: http://firstfridaysleonardtown.com/about/ for the event calendar to make this your First Friday tradition!  

3. Charles County

Ready for more recreation and sports? The Capital Clubhouse is Southern Maryland’s ultimate sports complex, fun for all ages and so many activities, open year round! A NHL-size ice rink, multi-sport courts, rock climbing wall, rooms to throw parties and rinks to throw sticks (surely we kid)! Learn how to skate or just watch from a heated balcony – it’s a recreation complex that everyone will enjoy!

4. Prince George's County

Located minutes away from our Nation’s Capital, Prince George’s County is home to some of the metropolitan areas biggest attractions! Take in breathtaking views from the Capital Wheel at the National Harbor and soar 75 ft above the Potomac River from your climate-controlled gondola. After you’re finished, explore all the restaurants, shopping and scenery at the National Harbor!

DC Waterfront Resort | National Harbor

Come enjoy Southern Maryland firsthand with the perfect place to live in any one of our beautiful communities! Visit us to see amazing locations and enjoy a warm winter to remember in a new #MarrickHome for the New Year!

From Drab to Fab: Add Style and Space to your Basement!

Are you a homeowner ready to transform your basement from dark and drab to bright and fab? A fully finished basement can feel incomplete without the final touches of furnishings and décor. A partially finished ground floor can leave you feeling stuck in the middle of what to do with the leftover space. Basement not finished at all? Consider it a wonderful blank slate and a foundation to start from and create a perfectly designed space for you! We have a few ideas to inspire you to think outside the comfort zone below you - for an upside down space to become an area the whole family will enjoy (hey Stranger Things have happened!)

The Bare Necessities

If your basement is finished, the best way to get started is to develop a basic plan for the type of space you envision the lower level to be. Is there enough room to have a guest bedroom and den, or a playroom for the kids? Once you have a concept in mind, layout each area to determine the best way to utilize space without overcrowding furnishings or compromising style.

Back to the Drawing Board 

The basement is a preferred choice in many households as the designated spot for entertainment, recreation and fun. Use the opportunity to experiment with your décor, select different wall accents and go bold  with paint colors to let your creativity and personality shine! Hang a textured wall panel behind the sofa to add depth, and a light color palette for the ceiling and walls can help make the space feel more expansive. Complete the look with artwork or a gallery wall with bright colors to help give the illusion of extra space! 

Or opt for a more traditional basement design like this room using a soft neutral color palette with cream cabinets. See 10 more chic basement designs here from HGTV.com.

Lighten and Brighten

For furniture, pass on dark colors and go for lighter neutral colors instead like taupe, gray and beige. Basement windows are often smaller so add lighting such as floor lamps and wall sconces to help brighten up any room.

It’s Showtime!

Add a cinema-themed room to enhance your movie watching experience! One option to achieve a theatre room is to install a high-resolution LCD projector, when mounted to the ceiling can produce amazing theater quality images nearly exact to the width and height of the walls!  Enhance the media experience with recliner sets, lounge and bean bag chairs. Add media themed wall accents, décor and a popcorn machine to complete the look and keep the popcorn kernels popping!

Imagination and Innovation 

Here’s a fun room inspired by pure imagination, and creatively designed just for kids. Turn an unused room in your basement into an innovative children’s playroom!

Complete with rock climbing walls and indoor jungle gym, this playroom designed by studio*nuovo is the perfect solution to create indoor fun on rainy days! See how to bring this design to life and more basement design ideas from the Spruce!

Stash and Store Away!

Keep storage confined to one area of the basement, closed-off from the other rooms. Instead of cramming and breaking your holiday ornaments, maximize space with a built-in shelving and storage units that can stack from ceiling to floor.

Find even more ways to organize your basement from familyhandyman.com!

A no-trick all-treats decorating guide for a stylishly spooktacular home!

October is the best time of the year to incorporate the styles of fall into your home décor. Get in the spirit of Halloween by adding stylishly spooky (and simple) accents and décor!  We have a gathered here a few Halloween decorating ideas to try - guaranteed to impress neighbors, guests and ghouls alike! *Scaring is caring after all!👻

The Great Pumpkin Alternative!

No time to find the great pumpkin for a jack-o’-lantern this year? Try these ghostly glam substitutes! Use a roll of gauze, glue and googly eyes to create a pumpkin mummy for haunting your front porch in the most adorable way!

Don’t mummify this crafty cute pumpkin 🎃 idea! Find this and other pumpkin alternatives here from elle decor!

For a “Boo”-eautiful option add some metallic pumpkins - simple with just a few shades of shimmery silver and gold paint! Display a few on your front porch or dining room for the perfect centerpiece to add more style than scare for Halloween!

Shimmery Metallic Pumpkins - Elle Decor

Haunted Accents!

Try this easy concoction to transform your dining room into a mad scientist’s laboratory! Use empty Mason Jars and fill them with assorted creepy crawly oddities – candy eyeballs, fake bats and bugs, and water mixed with dark food coloring sets this scary scene! Finish the look with an old, antique candle holder filled with dripping black wax candles and a black tablecloth to bring it all together!

Or enjoy a fiendish feast with family and friends using handmade Halloween décor like this table –a terrifying twist for a frightful good time!

Find more frightfully fun ideas from HGTV.com!

Subtly Spooky!

For a timeless look, stick to black + white as a classic color combo like the photo below that can easily be updated with the changing seasons. Use high-contrast hues or mix in pops of color to give your home a festive fall look! 

Faux flowers, paper rolls, and construction paper can be used to create a ghoulish decorative piece! Dust artificial flowers with black spray paint to transform your foyer, or hang a wicker wreath like the photo below. With glued-on ping pong balls for eyes, black feathers and plastic skeleton pieces to create a stylishly spooktacular entrance to your home! 

Wicked Wreath - Halloween Decorating Ideas 

Have fun and be creative with your stylishly spooky home décor that will impress neighbors and guests for Halloween’s to come!

Warm days are fading fast, and soon the sunshine to greet you will be replaced with the ice frozen to your windshield! Whether you anxiously await for the first snowflake, or ready to be like a snowbird and flee, your home needs to be ready to take on whatever weather the seasons may bring. So don’t let the disappearing sun leave you sulking in the shade, prepare now with 6 ways to get your home ready for the colder months ahead!

Begin on the Outside

1. Fall Landscaping & Lawncare

Late fall is a great time to prep your lawn for the cold months that follow. Fertilize and when you’re ready to cut the grass one last time, make sure to run the lawn mower until it’s out of gas to maintain the fuel line and preserve the motor until next spring. Prune trees and cut limbs and branches off that may fall and cause damage to your home during a severe winter storm. The reward will be a beautiful lawn by next spring, and your neighbors seeing green with envy!

2. Prepare Now OR Prepare FOR...Pipes on Ice!

Make sure all pipes are well insulated and shut-off exterior faucets and valves earlier rather than later to prevent leaking and damage from freezing temperatures. Wait until after leaves have fallen to clean out gutters and downspouts to remove dirt and debris, preventing wintry weather from damaging your home. See 10 more Fall Home Maintenance Tips from HomeLight! 

3. Check Windows and Doors

Don’t let Jack Frost come knocking at your windows and doors, now is the time to look for drafts and seal up leaks. Walk around the outside perimeter of your home to find any cracks or holes around the outside of your windows, walls and doors, and seal them up with exterior caulk.

Weatherstripping for the inside is a great option to apply around the window and door frames and will help cut down on energy costs. For more warmth, add door sweeps to the base of drafty doors to keep heat in and Jack Frost out...for good!

Now on to Fabulous Fall Décor!

4. Layer up!

Keep your home energy efficient and warm up your style too with seasonal accents and décor. Start in the bedroom and swap out light duvet covers and cotton sheets to cashmere and flannel for staying warm. Instead of a heavy comforter, try a few throw blankets that can be layered on and off; and on again for the changing of the seasons.

Like this style? See more from houseinthemiddle and TheSpruce.

Layer up the living room with style and comfort by adding plush throw blankets, microfiber or faux fur.  Add seasonal accents with pillows rich in texture and colors such as beige, grey or deep blues. Area throw rugs layered on carpet and floors can also be a great way to add warmth and comfort to your home while keeping your feet nice and snug on cool nights and brisk autumn days.

See more fall fabulous ideas and luxurious decor from freshome!

5. A Fireplace Sweep

It’s a great time to begin prepping your fireplace too for the brisk autumn nights and winter days ahead. Clean out remnants from last winter and check to make sure your fireplace tools are in working order. If you don’t have a fireplace or prefer not to use it, candles can also be great addition for ambience and to brighten and warm up any room during the winter months!

6. Check your Garage

One last way to get your home ready is to clean out the garage for parking your car! Make sure the garage door has good insulation, and the garage door opener is working properly with a fully charged battery. Frigid temperatures and a door stuck halfway shut is not a good situation for you, or your home to be in! Weather-proof storage containers work great for storing away summer gear, and heavy-duty shelves to organize yard tools and supplies to keep safe and secure from the harsh winter weather.

Fall is here and the start of a new school year which makes it the perfect time to get your home organized!  If busy schedules and endless to-do lists leave you in a frazzled state of disarray, your home can too feel the effects and quickly go from spotless clean to full-on danger zones! Stop clutter from taking over with these smart storage solutions to organize and have your home looking amazing just in time for the holiday season!

A Smart Way to Start your Day!

A dry-erase wall caddy is an easy way to prioritize and organize your day! Use it as a functional and stylish solution to hang in your entryway, kitchen, or home office. With compartments to stash your glasses, mail, keys and everyday essential and a dry erase board to jot down a quick reminder before running out the door!

There are more options to consider for your family command center! Magnetic, cork and chalk boards or a variety of to hang photos, school activities or drop a quick note to your family! Get more smart wall storage ideas from HGTV!

Clutter...? Okay, that don’t impress me much!

The entryway offers a home’s first impression, so your welcome home greeting shouldn’t be from a barrage of household stuff! The entryway is easily the first place in your home to quickly get buried up with coats, shoes and backpacks. A permanent solution to a foyer in disarray? Utilize the empty wall space with shelves and hooks to hang up everyday essentials. Or place baskets by the door to toss shoes inside. 

Find more Entryway Organizing Ideas on MarthaStewart.com

Another fabulous option for your entryway is a stylish console table, perfect for  storing keys, mail, or a multi-device charging station dock to check your electronics at the door! (It’s okay...your phone probably needs a quick charge anyway!)

This one is available on Amazon!  Organize It All Multi-Device Charging Station Dock & Organizer with Drawer

*Key to a Clutter-Free Entry: stay organized from the start with solutions for your entryway to prevent clutter from spilling over in to other spaces of your home!

Don’t forget about the Doors!

The doors in your home are the most often overlooked and under-utilized space! Use the back of doors for over-the-door storage spots, in your laundry room for storing supplies, and your closet doors for hanging shoe storage bins. Even simple hooks mounted to the back of your garage or entryway closet doors can help free up floor space and are useful for hanging up dog leashes, backpacks and more!

This room offers a crafty solution for storing gift wrapping supplies by hanging assorted racks and bins on secure hooks to keep everything in place. Craft and art supplies can be neatly organized and put away to keep the floor clutter-free! See more creative ways to keep your space clutter free from HGTV.com.

Divide and Conquer!

Room dividing shelves and storage walls can be custom built to fit and save space wherever you need it the most! Storage walls or not just for bins and baskets alone, a built-in shelving unit also has room to include multi-media entertainment systems, electronics and display photos and décor. For stashing away the rest, select stylish boxes and baskets for a stylish smart solution to your Rec-Room, Family Room or any room you see the need!

Get inspired with more ideas from HGTV for a beautifully organized space!