Marlènè Bates Realtor

05/23/2026

🏠 Keep your gutters clean to prevent water damage. 💧 Regular maintenance ensures water flows smoothly and protects your home's foundation.

05/22/2026

When dealing with a dirty oven, self-cleaning features offer convenience...but did you know that you should still hand clean it once per year? Here's everything you need to know about your self-cleaning oven.

When baked-on food spills coat the inside of your oven, it’s time for a cleanup. Here are some things to know about using your oven’s self-cleaning feature.

05/20/2026

Selling your home isn't just about waiting for the right buyer - it's about strategic decisions and adjustments. If your house has been on the market without much interest, here's a guide on when and how to consider a price reduction.

If your house has been up for sale for two months -- or longer -- without a nibble of interest, it’s probably time to ask yourself some tough questions. What causes a house to languish on the market and when should you lower the price? Pinpoint the problem. With a Comparative Market Analysis or CM...

05/18/2026

You've found the perfect lot to build your dream home in an existing neighborhood...but why hasn't someone already snatched it up? Have a civil engineer check for potential grading problems with so-called "orphaned" lots. Here are some more things to consider when choosing a lot.

One of the first choices homeowners face when building from the ground up is choosing the location of their new house. How exactly do you go about picking a lot on which to build? Let’s examine the process of lot selection, whether you’re building a custom home or a tract home. Tract homes. When...

05/16/2026

🛋️ Arrange furniture to create a natural flow throughout the home. Avoid blocking walkways and highlight the best features of each room.

05/15/2026

Don't let water damage catch you off guard! Learn more about water damage coverage and how to safeguard your home in this article.

Will your homeowners insurance pay for unwanted water damage in your home? Like many things in life, the answer is: It depends.

05/13/2026

Before listing your home, be sure to give that tile grout a proper cleaning. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get your grout looking like new again.

If you haven’t cleaned your tile grout in a while, use these tips to get your grout squeaky clean and looking like new.

05/11/2026

When interest rates are high, should that put your dream of home ownership out of reach? Creative financing options that bring down the cost of buying may help you out. Here are three ways you may still be able to get into that home of your own.

Today’s higher interest rates are squeezing would-be home buyers. Consider these creative mortgages if you’re in the market for a home.

05/10/2026

👩‍👧‍👦 Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible moms out there! Whether you're a mom, stepmom, grandma, or a mother figure, your impact is immeasurable.

05/09/2026

⚠️🔥 Prevent fire hazards and improve dryer efficiency by regularly cleaning out the lint from your dryer vents. It's a quick task with a big impact!

05/08/2026

Homes with crawl spaces are susceptible to moisture-related issues like mold and wood rot. To safeguard your home and ensure a healthy environment, consider installing a v***r barrier.

Homes with a crawl space are at risk of soil moisture creating a humid environment. A v***r barrier is needed to prevent home damage.