On the best days, many of us are germaphobes. My obsession with keeping germs at bay went into overdrive when I became a mom, and then throw in a pandemic, and I’m considering fashioning myself a hand sanitizer holster. Oh yeah, I’d wear it.
Years ago when I worked in retail, even then I had a small bottle of hand sanitizer close at hand. I remember being told that too much could eat away at the rhodium plating on my ring (I had a white gold wedding set at that time). Still, a quick rub here and there kept my hands feeling clean, and, though my ring definitely bled yellow over time, it’s hard to know if that was the reason why—or if it was just general wear and tear.

“To my knowledge, hand sanitizers are not capable of removing tough, albeit thin, rhodium that’s on a piece of jewelry,” says Aithal. “Hand sanitizers come in two varieties: alcohol-based and non–alcohol-based. The ones with alcohol are benign to jewelry items as alcohol is the main germ-killing ingredient. However, non–alcohol-based ones typically use chlorine-based compounds as germicides. These chlorine compounds could react with water and release free chlorine. Free chlorine radical is very reactive and could cause tarnishing of jewelry, especially if it is made of sterling silver. Also, halogens are known to cause stress corrosion cracking in low karat golds, in particular, nickel white golds.”

What about diamonds and sapphires? 

“If anything, people should be cleaning their jewelry more,” says Susi Smither, founder of The Rock Hound. “Think of all that horrid buildup of crud under rings and behind the setting of claw-set earrings. Hand sanitizer kills the baddies then evaporates fast—this shouldn’t have any detrimental effects on your gemstones, even materials such as gemstones and pearls. If you’re worried, at the end of the day give them a rinse and dry when you get home.”

“Sanitized skin should not come into contact with your pearls until completely dry and evaporate—wait about five minutes before putting on your pearls,” says Grosz. “As with perfumes and hairspray, the alcohol in the hand sanitizer can change the surface of the pearl, the two noticeable differences being a loss of lustre and a change in colour—white pearls, for example, will become yellowed if repeatedly exposed to such chemicals. Pearl rings should be removed when applying hand sanitizer, but because they have a mounting which separates them from direct contact with the chemicals, it is safe to put rings back on after a few minutes.”

Bottom line? Most, if not all, jewellery will be just fine, lovers of Georgian and early Victorian pieces should  take special care as water can get into rings with closed-back mountings and affect the appearance of the stones. Also, locket rings or any ring that has a photo of some other decoration under glass should not be washed with water.

But of course, sometimes the simplest advice is the best. When in doubt, it is always better to take your rings off before washing your hands.!

 If you are resting your rings on the sink while you scrub, please be sure the drain is closed, okay

Are You Thinking About Selling Your Home In Saskatoon, Warman and Surrounding Area?

A common thought in real estate is never list your home in the winter offseason.  Perpetuated by industry experts, agents and repeat sellers alike, this saying encourages many would-be sellers to wait until the spring peak to list their homes.  However, studies show that homes listed in the winter offseason not only sell faster than those in the spring, but sellers also net more above their asking price at this time.  Don’t wait until spring to sell.  

If you’ve been thinking of selling your home, here are five compelling reasons to list now.

1. Take advantage of low inventory in Saskatoon and area housing market. 

Since most sellers are waiting until spring to list, local inventory falls during the offseason. However, there are still motivated buyers who are ready to move now and don’t want to wait that long to purchase a home.  According to the National Association of Realtors, 55 percent of all buyers purchased their home at the time they did because “it was just the right time.”  These eager buyers may flock to your home.  You may not need to try as hard to make your home stand out in the sea of other similar homes.  With less competition, more buyers, some of whom may have otherwise overlooked your home if you listed during the peak, will express an interest to buy.  While you’ll likely have fewer showings in the offseason, buyers who do visit will be more serious about writing an offer.  Your home will likely sell faster than it would have during the peak season.

2. Set a higher listing price. 

Homes sold during the offseason sell at a higher price, on average, than those sold during the spring and summer peak.  There are many reasons for this.  First, motivated buyers are willing to pay closer to the asking price for a home.  Second, homes are more likely to be priced right and reflect the economics of not only the local market, but the neighbourhood as well.  Often, homes listed during the peak may be priced to compete with other homes in the area and neighbourhood.  Sellers may be pressured to sell for less than the list price in order to encourage buyers to choose their home out of the others on the market.

3. You’ll receive more attention. 

While our team always strives to give you the personal attention you deserve, when you list during the offseason, we’re able to work more closely with you to ensure your home is prepared for its debut on the market.  We can also take more time to answer your questions, address your concerns and prepare you and your home for the sale.

Additionally, if you’d like to hire a tradesperson to handle routine maintenance or undertake a minor home renovation before you list, you may be able to take advantage of flexible scheduling and cheaper rates.  Many of these professionals experience a winter offseason as well, and they will be able to focus their time and attention on you and your project.

4. Easier to maintain curb appeal. 

Curb appeal is intended to attract the buyers who are just driving by as well as those who saw your home online and wanted to see it in-person.  It sets the stage for what interested buyers can expect when they step foot in the home during a showing or open house.  If you list your home during the peak of the selling season, you may exhaust your time your energy maintaining curb appeal.  You’ll likely spend most of your free time mowing the lawn, weeding, trimming shrubs and hedges, planting flowers in pots and in flowerbeds, pulling spent blooms and watering it all to ensure it looks lush and healthy on a daily basis.  After all, a lush landscape will attract potential buyers and set your home apart from other similar homes in the area.

The offseason eliminates the pressure to maintain a picture-perfect front landscape.  Since most grass, shrubs and plants go dormant at this time of year, you’ll have less to maintain.  If you live in an area that experiences a traditional winter, your landscape will be covered with snow.  Even if you live in a milder climate, you may not have to mow as often, if at all.  It’s still important to ensure your exterior appears well-tended, so make sure your walkway and front porch remains free of snow, ice and debris.

5. Tap into the life changes of buyers. 

Many buyers receive employee raises and bonuses at the end of the year.  If they’ve been saving to buy a home, this extra money may allow them to reach their goal for a down payment and put them on the path to becoming a homeowner.  Additionally, companies often hire new employees and relocate current ones during the first quarter of the year, creating a strong demand for housing.  If you live in an area that’s home to a large company or has a strong corporate presence, this may be the perfect time to list.

 
Thinking of Listing in the Offseason? 3 Things to Do Before You List

Get your home ready to list by following these tips.

1. Schedule maintenance. 

Buyers, especially first-time buyers, want a home they can move into right away; they don’t want to repair the roof or the furnace or replace windows with blown thermal seals before they move in.  Do the scheduled maintenance and make repairs before you list your home for sale.

In some cases, it may help to have an inspector do a pre-inspection of your home.  A pre-inspection will make you aware of any major, potentially deal-killing, issues that will have to be addressed before you list.  It also gives you an idea of minor issues that a potential seller may want repaired.  Overall, it helps you to accurately price your home and may protect you from claims a buyer might make later.

2. Create light. 

Balance out the lack of natural light outdoors by turning the lights on inside.  Since people naturally tend to buy emotionally, turning on the lights helps create a sense of warmth and coziness.  Light a fire in the fireplace, if you have one, fill your home with the scents of the season, such as vanilla or fresh baked cookies, and put a throw blanket on your sofa.

If you plan to paint the interior of your home before you list, consider an off-white shade to create consistency throughout your home and make the space feel larger and brighter.  If you have photos of your garden or the home’s exterior in the spring or summer, display them so interested buyers can get a glimpse of what the home looks like in other seasons.

3. Give your home a thorough cleaning. 

Cleaning puts your home in its best light.  Clean and polish all the horizontal surfaces of your home, including countertops, windowsills and baseboards; have the curtains dry cleaned or otherwise laundered; wash windows, glass doors and their tracks; vacuum carpeting and polish all wood surfaces, including the floor.

Additionally, this is a great time to pack any personal items and family photos as well as sort through your belongings and donate items you no longer use.  This not only eliminates any clutter, but it also gives you less to pack and move when you sell.

If you’re thinking of selling your home in Saskatoon, Warman, Martensville and area give Marla Janzen a call!  

 I would love to help you position your home to sell in our market. I take action to sell my client’s homes and find them the perfect new place to live while negotiating the best terms and price possible. I truly love what I do and take great pride in providing excellence in customer service to all of my clients. Marla Janzen

Find Marla Janzen Online at www.marlajanzen.com 

Marla Janzen is TRUSTED SASKATOON REAL ESTATE EXPERT.

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