National Coconut Day: 9 Ways to Use Coconut Oil Around the House

Coconut oil is a versatile kitchen staple that can also be used for a variety of household tasks. In honor of National Coconut Day on July 26, we’re sharing nine ways you can use coconut oil around the house.

1. Condition and restore wood

Coconut oil can help to condition and restore wood furniture, making it look shiny and new. Simply rub a small amount of coconut oil into the wood with a soft cloth. You can also use coconut oil to remove scuff marks from floors.

2. Prevent water stains

If you have hard water stains on your shower doors or windows, coconut oil can help to remove them. Mix equal parts coconut oil and lemon juice, then apply the mixture to the stained area with a cloth. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes, then wipe it away with a clean cloth.

3. Halt rust and fix squeaky hinges

Coconut oil can be used to lubricate squeaky hinges and prevent them from rusting. Simply rub a small amount of coconut oil onto the hinge with a cloth. Coconut oil can also be used to unstick zippers.

4. Keep appliances running strong

Coconut oil can be used to keep the motors of your appliances running smoothly. Simply rub a small amount of coconut oil onto the motor with a cloth. Coconut oil can also be used to polish stainless steel and bronze appliances.

5. Remove sticky labels

If you have a sticky label that won’t come off, try using coconut oil. Rub a small amount of coconut oil onto the label with a cloth, then let it sit for a few minutes. The label should come off easily after that.

6. Remove crayon marks from walls

Coconut oil can also be used to remove crayon marks from walls. Rub a small amount of coconut oil onto the mark with a cloth, then wipe it away.

7. Clean and moisturize leather

Coconut oil can be used to clean and moisturize leather, making it look new again. Simply mix equal parts coconut oil and lemon juice, then apply the mixture to the leather with a cloth. Wipe away any excess oil.

8. Clean showers

Coconut oil can be used to clean showers and remove dirt and grime. Simply mix coconut oil with baking soda to form a paste, then apply the paste to the shower with a sponge. Let the paste sit for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse.

9. Repel mosquitoes

Coconut oil can also be used to repel mosquitoes. Simply rub a small amount of coconut oil onto your skin, or add a few drops of coconut oil to your favorite bug spray.

So there you have it! Nine ways to use coconut oil around the house. Next time you’re looking for a natural and effective way to clean or maintain your home, reach for coconut oil.

At Refresh Services, we offer a variety of cleaning and maintenance services that can help you keep your home looking its best. We use a variety of natural and non-toxic products, so you can be sure that your home is safe for your family and pets. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Streamline Your Apartment Turn Process with Refresh: A One-Stop Shop for Property Managers

As a property manager, one of the most challenging tasks is managing multiple vendors during the apartment turn process. From scheduling carpet cleaning to repairing damages, it can be a hassle to coordinate with different vendors to ensure a smooth and efficient turn process. However, Refresh offers a unique solution by providing a one-stop-shop for apartment turns, which can save property managers time, money, and hassle.

Refresh is a full-service apartment turn company that offers a range of services to help property managers streamline the turn process. They offer apartment cleaning, painting, carpet cleaning, and repair services, all under one roof. This eliminates the need for property managers to coordinate with multiple vendors and ensures that the turn process is completed in a timely and efficient manner.

One of the most significant benefits of using Refresh is the time-saving aspect. With one point of contact, property managers can save a significant amount of time by not having to manage multiple vendors. They can focus on other important tasks, such as leasing and managing their properties, while Refresh takes care of the turn process.

Additionally, using Refresh can save property managers money. By bundling services, Refresh can offer competitive pricing, which can save property managers money in the long run. They also offer a satisfaction guarantee, which means that if the work is not up to the standards of the property manager, they will return to fix it at no additional cost.

Another benefit of using Refresh is the hassle-free aspect. Property managers can rest assured that they are working with a company experienced in apartment turns and has a team of professionals dedicated to ensuring a smooth and stress-free turn process. Refresh makes sure the process is smooth from the beginning to the end because customer service is our focus.

In conclusion, Refresh is an excellent solution for property managers who want to save time, money, and hassle during the apartment turn process. With a range of services offered under one roof, property managers can streamline the turn process and focus on other important tasks. Refresh is a reliable and experienced company that is dedicated to ensuring a stress-free turn process for property managers. Contact Refresh today to learn more about how they can help simplify your turn process.

Tips for Keeping Your Multifamily Home Profitable

Market News, Real Estate Investments

Multifamily homes are great for investors because they provide multiple, cash-flowing units and can help you build a strong real estate portfolio quickly. These properties are also much easier to manage than multiple homes in different locations. They may even be able to provide you tax savings, among their many other benefits. If you’re invested in multifamily real estate, or are considering a multifamily home for the first time, you’ll want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep the property’s cash flowing in the right direction. In this post, we go over a few of the things that you can do to help keep your investment profitable.

Tip #1: Make sure the units are appropriately priced

First and foremost, you need to make sure you’re charging the right amount in rent for each unit. In order to do this, you’ll have to do a little bit of research on your own. Look into rents for multifamily units that are like the ones in your property. That mostly means units that are of a similar size and age, although keep in mind that certain renovations/amenities can affect that price. The location of the property and the neighborhood it’s in can also be a factor. If you’re having trouble finding a tenant after a while, you may actually be overcharging, so don’t be afraid to lower the price a bit until the unit is filled.

Tip #2: Keep the units occupied, but also screen your tenants

Of course, in order to get the most profit from your multifamily home you need to make sure every unit is occupied and producing rental income. That doesn’t mean that you should rush to fill every unit though, and that can actually come back to bite you. You don’t have to look far to find horror stories of awful tenants and costly evictions. To avoid such a situation, you’ll need to spend some time screening your tenants. Most landlords will recommend you run a credit check, since it helps you get an idea of the tenant’s ability to pay you in a timely manner, and some suggest a background check as well. Although it will likely take more time to find the right tenant, these actions can save you money, or maybe even more importantly peace of mind, in the long run.

Tip #3: Stick to practical renovations

If you want to increase the rental income of a particular unit or property, the simplest and most cost efficient way would be to Refresh it instead of doing a complete renovation. You should take care not to overspend, and instead you should focus on Carpet Cleaning, Painting, Janitorial, and Refinishing the bathrooms and kitchens – all of which Refresh can do for you with one call! Essentially, that means avoiding style choices that may not fit everyone’s tastes. A fresh coat of paint, new lighting fixtures, and deep cleaning flooring are some of the most effective ways to update a unit and increase its value, while not costing you too much. If you are planning major renovations, try and focus on high traffic areas like the Kitchen, Bathroom, and living areas. Remember, your goal is to add as much value to the property as possible while minimizing the financial hit you will take.

Tip #4: Maintain the property regularly to avoid future complications

This next tip is actually great advice for all sorts of real estate investors. You should have any property you’re investing in inspected to uncover any major issues that may need costly repairs. On top of that, regular maintenance and inspection of a property will make sure any problems that do occur don’t spiral into larger, more complicated issues. As for multifamily properties, the units will experience regular wear as they’re occupied, so you should conduct move-in and move-out inspections to uncover any items that may need attention. Not only will this prevent more costly repairs down the line, but it also means you’ll have an easier time filling any vacancies, since great units will attract more tenants.

Connect with Refresh today to supplement your regular maintenance or to get those make ready’s turned faster and more cost effectively!

Tips for Success to Motivate Property Managers

A property manager’s main role is as a tenant concierge. Their job is multi-faceted but breaks down to the following:

Maintaining a safe and profitable asset

Safety is a concern of every good property manager. How do you keep your tenants safe? The first step is keeping your property maintained and clean. Dryer vents is a good example of this.

About five years ago, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) co-funded a study to measure how many fires in the United States begin with clothes dryers or washing machines. They looked at most major forms of housing: single family, multifamily, duplexes, condominiums, townhouses, apartments, and row housing, and what they found, in a nutshell, was the following:

The leading items first ignited in clothes dryer fires were dust, fiber, or lint (27%) and clothing (26%). In washing machine fires, the leading items first ignited were electrical wire or cable insulation (26%) and appliance housing or casing (24%).
Most of these home fires involved clothes dryers (92%).
The leading cause (31%) of home clothes dryer and washer fires was failure to clean.Refresh can make sure those dryer vents are clean so you can keep your properties safe and profitable. Refresh also offers janitorial services including a porter service to help with general cleanliness and safety. No one wants to deal with slip and fall law suits when you are trying to keep your properties profitable.

Maintaining every lease and the tenants’ satisfaction

Refresh can help here too! We can help you stay profitable and maintain leases and grow your retention without breaking the bank by refinishing your outdated countertops and cabinets, and repairing and refinishing your bat tubs and showers. We also do paint and Carpet cleaning as well, and you can schedule it all with one call, so you don’t have to spend all day trying to work with different service companies to get your make ready apartment turn list checked off. In fact, you can schedule it all online today in less than 5 minutes, and the turn around for job completion is faster than most make ready services as well, because we are able to create a work flow that makes sense and saves you time and money.

Maintaining accurate budgets for the building owners.

One more reason to hire Refresh, is we can do all of your apartment turn services through one company, so keeping track of the paperwork is a breeze. You can always access your billing history through our online portal and all your makeready services for each unit can be on one bill instead of hundreds of bills. We want to make your job easier, call us today!

Archives for Property Management