November 8Can I Still Decorate While My House Is for Sale?
Yes, you can still decorate while your house is for sale. I’d just keep it simple.
Read the full article →Curly Kim’s field notes
Practical advice for the place you call home.
Real estate, home maintenance, East Tennessee communities, and the questions people usually ask after they have already started worrying.
November 8
November 4What’s your favorite view?
What do you want to see when you look out the window?
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November 2Before you buy the paint, call me.
You don’t have to fix everything before we talk about selling. I’d rather see the house as it is and help you decide where to spend your time and money.
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November 1That’s where my chair would go.
Now you’re picturing yourself living there. You’ve figured out where your favorite chair fits, and you’re deciding which wall gets the painting you’re taking with you.
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October 31I’m looking at the porch
You’re looking at the Halloween decorations. I’m looking at the porch. 🎃
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October 30Would you buy a haunted house?
You’ve found THE house. Love the kitchen. Love the porch. Then you hear it might be haunted.
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Selling · October 23Don’t Wait Until Spring
People buy houses in the Fall and Winter, too. Jobs change. Leases end. Life keeps moving.
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Home care · October 20A Little Fall Yardwork
Fall is one of my favorite seasons in East Tennessee. It’s also a good time to give the yard some attention.
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Selling · October 19What Do You Love About This Home?
I ask my sellers that question because they know the home better than anyone.
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Behind the scenes · October 14Realtor® or Mobile Hardware Store?
Open my car and you will understand why I never have trunk space.
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Real estate technology · October 13AI or Not AI?
Take a close look at Room A and Room B. Can you tell which one was created with AI?
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Selling · October 12Where Are You Going Next?
Before I recommend a listing date, I ask one question: Where are you going next?
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Closing · October 10The Keys I Want Waiting at Closing
Before closing, I ask the seller for every key, remote, and code that belongs with the house.
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Buying · October 7Are We Buying a House to Fit the Sofa?
I’ve asked buyers more times than I can count: “Are we buying a house to fit the sofa?”
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Home care · October 6October Is for Planting
October is one of the best times to add trees and shrubs to an East Tennessee yard.
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Selling · October 3The Decorating Rule I Use Before Listing Photos
When I help a seller get ready for photos, I use groupings of three.
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Selling · October 2My Favorite Listing-Photo Trick Costs Nothing
Want more light in your listing photos? Remove the window screens before the photographer arrives.
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Home history · September 17From Outhouses to Indoor Commodes
In 1940, nearly half of American homes still did not have complete indoor plumbing. By 1960, that number had dropped to about one in six.
Read the full article →What Buyers Appreciate During a Showing
When buyers enter a home, they appreciate good light, a comfortable temperature, and enough room to move through each space.
Read the full article →A Home Warranty Is Not a Blank Check
A home warranty may help when a covered system or appliance stops working, but every plan has limits, exclusions, and service fees.
Read the full article →Before the Listing Photos
Before I schedule photos, I walk through the house like a buyer will. Replace burned-out bulbs, touch up chipped paint, tighten loose handles, and clean the front door.
Read the full article →The small maintenance jobs that prevent expensive repairs
Check exterior caulk, clean gutters, test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, change HVAC filters, and look under sinks for slow leaks.
Read the full article →What to fix before listing, and what to leave alone
Start with safety, water, active damage, and the items every buyer will notice. Paint and lighting may help.
Read the full article →What an online listing cannot tell you about a house
Photos do not show road noise, drainage, the surrounding streets, or how the layout works in person.
Read the full article →Your East Tennessee seasonal maintenance calendar
Spring is for drainage and storm checks. Summer is for cooling systems and exterior wear. Fall is for gutters and freeze preparation. Winter is the time to watch moisture.
Text Kim →Why the monthly payment is not the whole cost
Taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and possible community fees matter. A clear budget accounts for the house after closing day.
Call to plan your search →Pricing a home without chasing the market
The strongest price comes from recent comparable sales, current competition, condition, and buyer behavior.
Email Kim about value →Five places to look for hidden water trouble
Check under sinks, around toilets, at the water heater, below exterior doors, and along basement or crawl-space walls.
Text Kim your question →City, suburb, lake, or mountain town?
Commute, utilities, internet, road access, taxes, and maintenance can change quickly across the region.
Explore the region →How to read an inspection report without panicking
Separate immediate safety and active damage from maintenance, aging components, and cosmetic notes before deciding what matters.
Call Kim →When to service your HVAC system
Schedule cooling service before the first hot stretch and heating service before cold weather. Replace filters regularly.
Text Kim a question →What happens between contract and closing
Inspections, repair decisions, appraisal, title work, insurance, loan approval, and the final walk-through happen in a short window.
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