AMANDA GATES, REALTOR
FIVE TIPS FOR SPRING CLEANING
Spring is just around the corner and for those selling their home, there’ s nothing more beneficial than doing a great spring cleaning job. It will not only make your home look great, but it can get rid of clutter that could distract potential buyers.
Here are five spring cleaning tips that will help you sell your home:
Mow the lawn, pick up leaves and trim the hedges. Buy some colorful flowers and spread fresh mulch in flowerbeds. Fill in bare spots on your lawn. Clean gutters, wash the welcome mat and put away tools.
Clean windows bring more light into a room and allows buyers the chance to see the view from their potential new home. Include all sliding glass doors, garage windows and outside doors.
Inspect each room for things such as holes in the wall, outlets that are missing a cover or doorknobs that are loose and squeaky. Check caulking around sinks, faucets and tubs, as well as grout in counters or bathtubs.
Power washers are easily rented from a home improvement store and they can remove layers of grime from stone, porch, deck and fencing.
Go through closets and bag clothes that don’ t fit, are out-of-style or you don’ t wear anymore and donate them to charity. Take your old books, toys and knickknacks and hold a garage sale. A de-cluttered home is always more attractive to the homebuyer.
AMANDA GATES, REALTOR
336-682-6822( Cell) Amanda. Gates @ BHHSCarolinas. com
Text“ BHHSAmandaGates” to 87778 to download my FREE mobile app!
F EBRUARY 2017
HOME BREWING FOR DUMMIES
Hi Friends,
I recently had the pleasure of seeing how beer can be made in the convenience of your own home. Two years ago Jon Eilbes had the brilliant idea to open a homebrewers supply store. Homebrewer’ s Clubhouse happens to be the only true dedicated store to home brewing in Winston-Salem. Jon allowed me to pop in and see how“ home brewing” really works.
To my surprise home brewing is quite simple, so simple in fact anyone can stop in and pick up one of his kits and take it home and begin brewing right on their own stove top! Jon opened his store in September of 2014 and has been brewing his own beer for about 10 years. Jon likes to take the historical perspective when it comes to brewing. Home brewing is part of history, part of the human experience. When you think about it almost every culture throughout the world has created some form of beer. People have brewed beer with a stick and pot for years, even before they really knew what they were doing. Beer is one of the oldest beverages humans have produced, dating back to at least the fifth millennium BC and recorded in the written history of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and was spread throughout world.
For anyone who is concerned about the complexities of beer making Jon says,“ The worst thing that can happen is you are going to make beer, nothing you brew can make you sick …”“ Brewing has not changed much, the equipment has just gotten better!”
Jon showed me how a brew starts and explained that a simple brew only takes a few hours to get started. Just like when you make a cup of tea the first thing to do when brewing from grains is to steep the grains for 30 minutes in hot water. Next you drain the grains just as if you were removing a tea bag from hot water. Then, extract is added and the brew is boiled at a rolling boil for 1 hour, in which hops are added. Next, the brew must be cooled 15 to 20 minutes using an ice bath or special equipment. After being cooled to a specific temperature you can then pump in the oxygen, add the yeast, and let it sit to ferment for 7-10 days. Depending on the type of beer you are making it could be longer. Most ales are a 4 week process, whereas a lager can take 6-8 weeks to perfect.
Jon is always available for questions about brewing and will soon offer classes on home brewing. Jon is also a member of the Winston Salem Worthawgs Brew Club that anyone is welcome to join, beginner or expert. It is easy to come in, grab a starter kit, go home, follow the step by step instructions and voila your own home crafted beer! Anyone can become a home brewing expert if they have the desire! So next time you are in the area or want to try something new, come in and see Jon at the Homebrewer’ s Clubhouse.
Follow Jon on Instagram @ homebrewersclubhouse 1312 S. Hawthorne Rd. WS 27103 336-293-4550 Store hours are: Tues-Wed 10am-5:30pm Thu-Fri 11am-6:30pm Sat 10am-5:30pm Sun 10am-3pm
F EBRUARY 2017