Posts in category Tips and Ideas

Virtual Staging Offers Cost and Time Effectiveness!

Nov06
2020 Written by mary.w

With the onset of Covid and a desire to make staging more affordable for sellers, virtual staging software is a new and exciting part of the staging industry. This allows sellers to upload photos of their vacant rooms to a computer program and then literally furnish those spaces like a model home.  If you would like to stage your home but have not done so due to the often very high cost of bringing in a staging company and paying rental on the furniture along with the labor cost of using a physical company. If this is something that you have been wanting to pursue, I’ve listed below several national company websites. You can also search online for local companies that offer this as part of their services.  Happy Selling!

https://stuccco.conm/virtual-staging

https://virtualstagingrenderinggroup.com

https://3dstagers.com/virtual-staging

www.padstyler.com/virtual-staging

Posted in General Information, Market News, New Features, Selling Tips

Ceiling Fans are the Energy Efficient Way to Cool/Heat Your Home & Save $$$!

Jun26
2020 Written by mary.w

Did you know that the simple and fairly inexpensive process of installing ceiling fans will not only create more energy efficiency but will also save you $$$ on your utility bills! With even the lower end fans including remote operation, cooling your home and fattening your bank account is as easy as click click click!

Q: Can I use a ceiling fan instead of air-conditioning?Image result for Ceiling Fans
A: Not only can you, there are many benefits to doing so.

  • Ceiling fans are quiet. You don’t hear anything when you turn it on or off, or even when it is running constantly.
  • Ceiling fans save energy. They only use 50-75 watts of power. That is the same as a light bulb and less than one-tenth of the power it takes to run a medium-sized air conditioner.
  • Ceiling fans save money. Running a fan costs considerably less per month than running an air conditioner. Plus so many also have lights that you can add more lighting, including dimmer type, to your room for style and savings.    Silver Orchid Finlayson 52-inch Lighted Ceiling Fan with Reversible Blades

Q: How are ceiling fans beneficial in the summer?
A: Although a ceiling fan will not lower the temperature in your home, it will make a room feel cooler. When you open doors and windows, warm air is circulated from inside the room to the outside of your home. This action can make you feel up to eight degrees cooler! Inside tip: During the summer, run your ceiling fan in a counter-clockwise direction for maximum efficiency to lower electricity costs and to conserve energy.

Q: What kind of ceiling fan should I buy?
A: Energy Star fans are a good choice and boast being fifty percent more efficient than conventional fans!

Q: What size ceiling fan should I buy?
A: It is a grave mistake to install a huge fan in a big room or a tiny fan in a large room. Not only will it look awkward, but you might not get enough airflow.

  • Large rooms (15-by-15+): Use a fan with a blade span of 50 – 56 inches.
  • Medium rooms (12-by-12): Use a fan with a blade span of 42 – 44 inches.
  • Small rooms (8-by-8): Use a fan with a blade span of 32 inches.

Q: Where should I install a ceiling fan?
A: You should install ceiling fans in the rooms that get the most use. Once you choose the rooms, you should hang your ceiling fan in the center of the room, 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling. If the blades are too close to the ceiling, the air will not circulate.

NOTE: A great often overlooked benefit of ceiling fans is that by reversing the blade direction in the winter, you can help your furnace also be more energy efficient as well and keep your home comfortable while saving money!! In Image result for Victorian Style Ceiling Fans With LightsImage result for Ceiling Fansaddition, there are so many beautiful styles, now you don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort. Overall a good home purchase!

Posted in Decorating on a Budget, General Information, Home Improvement, Selling Tips, Uncategorized

Re-Purpose a No Longer Used Trampoline for Outdoor Fun!

Apr17
2020 Written by mary.w

 

Looking for a great way to add a comfy lounge area for your yard this summer while utilizing an old trampoline? This is just one of many options how to reuse something your family has outgrown.  Great as a reading/resting retreat or perfect for a kids sleepover with more room and imagination building than a tent!

Photo from Facebook page  La Roue De Secours En Corse

Image may contain: outdoor

Posted in Decorating on a Budget, General Information, Green Living, Uncategorized

Quick Budget Friendly Kitchen Updates!

Mar04
2020 Written by mary.w

The open design of most contemporary and recently renovated homes, places the  Kitchen as the centerpiece of the layout.  It’s important to note that the Kitchen is one of the rooms of most importance to potential buyers. Do you want your kitchen to radiate a contemporary and upgraded appearance that will be remembered, without the hassle of draining your bank account?

Here are some quick upgrading tips that will allow your outdated kitchen to show off some modern flare:

• Upgrade the lighting. A simple task like this will brighten the entire room, while diminishing the old fixtures that look like rusty antiques. Scattered track lighting is the Image result for small kitchen recessed lighting ideasbest approach, and adding dimmers will provide even more lighting options. If you have a little bigger budget or are handy yourself, recessed lighting is always a plus because it automatically creates the sense of higher ceilings and an expanded space. Put on dimmers for an added bonus that buyers love!

• Upgrade the cabinets, without replacing them. If new lighting displays more nicks and stains than you knew existed, sand the cabinets and paint a glossy finish over them. Or paint them white. To add a unique feature, replace a few cabinet doors with glass doors that allow you to show off your fancy dishware. If the finish is in good shape, you can create a whole new look by changing up the hardware. Check current magazines and online articles to see what kind of hardware their decorating articles are highlighting.

• Upgrade the seating arrangements. If your kitchen includes a breakfast nook, upgrade the light fixture or the window treatments. Add a rug, in order to separate it from the rest of the kitchen. Purchase new breakfast bar stools or add pendant lighting over the bar. If your large kitchen displays wasted space, add an island! This doesn’t have to be expensive. There are so many portable islands on the market that are quite affordable.

• Upgrade the sink. A dirty, scratched up sink doesn’t allow a potential buyer to imagine a clean environment. Polish up the existing sink, purchase a new faucet for the sink. You might even consider adding a garbage disposal or a water filtration system.

• Upgrade the countertops. Decorative laminate is available for a reasonable price, and the décor looks much like the expensive options, such as granite. Laminate also lasts forever and is easy to clean, which a potential buyer should appreciate. If your area has many competing homes with granite check on prices on a basic bullnose style at a wholesale granite business. This eliminates the middle man costs of buying from a big box or design store.

If you’re really adventurous, try shopping at stores like “Restore” which benefits Habitat for Humanity. This is a great place to find that new cabinet hardware, portable island, light fixtures or even some new cabinets or cabinet faces.

Posted in Buying Tips, Decorating on a Budget, General Information, Home Improvement, Uncategorized

The New Year is Almost Here!

Dec27
2019 Written by mary.w

Image result for free images of new years resolutionsIt’s that time of year when everything we see and hear is telling us that we should be setting New Year’s Resolutions and begin the new year with a revived energy for making the changes in our lives that we want and perhaps need to pursue. Perhaps the last year was filled with challenges, disappointments and a sense of failure. On the other hand, perhaps it was filled with successes and more happy moments than disappointing ones. Perhaps you experienced life changes:  New Job/Job Loss…New Marriage-Relationship/ Breakup/Divorce, Expanded Family/Loss of Loved Ones. The list can go on and on.

Making New Years Resolutions to change the things you disliked about the last year or to expand on the good things can be good and bad. Setting unrealistic expectations can set you up for another year of failure/loss/disappointment. The key to setting goals is to make them a challenge to reach vs setting them so high they’re unattainable and thus set you back emotionally and possibly physically. Ex: To go from no exercise to bench pressing 300 lbs in 6 weeks is both unrealistic and dangerous…physically and emotionally. Expecting to go from an entry level position to top management within a year, again, can defeat you emotionally which will also affect you physically. Determine to sell your home Secret to Sellingfor top dollar in under a month can be possible in some markets but without the proper research, homework and exposure….this can set you back emotionally and financially.

New Years Resolutions need to stretch you to grow without destroying you due to unrealistic expectations. Determine the most important goals you have for the new year and focus on a few instead of creating a list of multiple resolutions causing you to not Image result for free images of new years resolutionsaccomplish any due to overload. Set one or two realistic goals and then once you’ve achieved that goal…determine the next and then the next and so on. Want to pay down your debt so you can buy your dream home. Create a realistic budget and payoff plan and then work at it daily.

The most important factor leading to your success or failure is to take time at the end of each day to celebrate the successes and fix what didn’t work. Then plan for tomorrow. A key to success in goal setting is to never start your day until it’s finished. In other words, at the end of the day after celebrate/fix set up your goals and plans to accomplish tomorrow. This way you don’t waste time at the beginning of the day saying, “should I do this or should I do that?” You’ll already know exactly what you need to do and have a plan for success. Work through that day and then repeat the process.

Experiencing little success and celebrations along the way give us the energy to keep on keeping on to a Happy, Healthy, Successful New Year!

Posted in General Information, Uncategorized

Holiday Marketing Pros and Cons

Dec05
2019 Written by mary.w

The holiday seasons are upon us and inevitably, whether selling or buying, you may be asking yourself; “Should I continue to market my home/search for my new home from post-Thanksgiving until post-New Years. Review the pros and cons of both.

SELLING PROS:

  • Many other sellers remove their homes from the marketplace during this time which reduces your competition. Lower inventory means that you can stand out to those that are shopping and possibly be rewarded with a higher price.
  • The fact is that regardless of the season, there are always buyers in the market to purchase due to job transfers, divorces, end of leases, seasonal closing on their own home that they’ve sold and people who want to take advantage of the current low interest rate before it goes up.
  • As long as you don’t go overboard, the sights, sounds and aromas of the seasonholiday-dinner cause buyers to imagine what it will be like to enjoy their own holiday gatherings in front of your roaring fire and beautifully displayed Dining Room table.

SELLING CONS:

  • The number of buyers shopping during the holidays is smaller than in the more active spring season.
  • If you live in an area that experiences extremes of cold, snow and ice, you have the added task of making sure your exterior areas are clear and safe to travel. You also need to prepare yourself for the frustration of no shows and reschedules in the event of inclement weather.christmaslights
  • If you do a lot of entertaining, you might have to be more diligent with regard to keeping your home “show ready”.
  • In many areas affected by the time change, it gets dark a lot earlier making evening appointments more challenging thus you should prepare yourself to be doing more weekend showings.

BUYING PROS:

  • The reason someone may have their home on the market during the holidays is because they have a “need to be sold by” deadline ie: starting a new job, moving to help out with a family situation, downsizing due to a job loss or reduction in income, etc. This may provide a great opportunity to purchase your dream home at a reduced price.
  • Due to less homes being sold during the holiday season, title companies may have a more open schedule to ensure the closing date you prefer.
  • Like the “Greek restaurant dilemma” of a menu that is so large it’s hard to make a decision, by having fewer homes to choose from, your shopping process may be far less stressful and more effective.

BUYING CONS:

  • Since many people take their homes off the market at this time, you will have less inventory from with to choose.
  • Due to holiday entertaining, viewing appointments may be more difficult to schedule BUT keep in mind if someone is choosing to sell during this season, they will most likely work with you to find a convenient time.
  • If you live in an area with inclement weather, getting to and from appointments might be more challenging.
  • In many regions, with the time change, it gets dark a lot earlier making evening appointments more difficult (hard to see addresses, hard to see exterior negatives about the home) which means you will most likely want to schedule viewings for the weekend, which can be more difficult. That said, if the seller is motivated, they will understand the local weather impediments and most likely be willing to be accommodating.

Whether you’re selling or buying, you can take advantage of the holiday season to achieve your desired result and toast in your Happiest New Year!!gift

Posted in Buying Tips, General Information, Selling Tips, Uncategorized

You Can’t Sell in the Winter! Or Can You? Should You?!

Nov17
2019 Written by mary.w

Depending on where you’re located, winter might seem like the worst time to put your home up for sale. The air is cold, the ground is covered with snow and daylight hours are shorter. But selling your home during the winter doesn’t have to be an impossible task and in actuality can be the best time to find Your Best Buyer. People who shop for homes in cold, snowy weather are deadly serious buyers who have a strong reason to buy NOW. Perhaps a job change, end of a lease and not wanting to sign on for another year, family necessities,etc. You can use this season as an opportunity to set your home apart from all the others. As an added plus, lots of people take their homes off the market through the winter and holidays so there is also less competition if you do choose to offer your home through this season. Here are a few ideas to help you achieve success!

Create a Safe Environment Free from the Weather

Make sure that walkways and driveways are salted and snow is shoveled. Nothing makes for a worse first impression for potential buyers than if they slip on the ice and injure themselves. They’ll be sure to remember your home, but probably not in the way you want them to. Also keep these areas well lit!

Minimize Your Holiday Decor

For most people, winter is a time for holiday decorations. But while your home should look festive, you will want to keep your decor attractive without becoming christmaslightswithout becoming overwhelming. A few well-placed lights will accentuate your home’s natural curb appeal, but maybe you should save the giant blowup doll for next year.

Cleanliness is Crucial

Winter is a difficult time to really show off the exterior of your home, so you should instead concentrate on accentuating the interior. Winter visitors are more likely to notice dirt and clutter because they are not distracted by the exterior of the home, so make sure it is absolutely spotless inside. Kids and adults coming in and out during this time can create messy floors and closets so try to keep a strong focus on those items.

 

Illuminate

To counter the dreary winter weather,  make your home as bright and airy as possible. Open curtains and blinds to let in natural light, and keep the lights on throughout your entire home (including closets and basement) when showing it to potential buyers. This creates an inviting atmosphere while also highlighting the great features of your home.

Cozy & Comfy

Raising the thermostavisual-interestt a couple notches will set a warm, welcoming atmosphere and provide a great first impression. Serve hot chocolate, hot cider or tea and coffee with holiday cookies if it’s close to Christmas.  A fire burning in the fireplace says, “Ahhh”. You can even play some soft background music to set the mood.

Pictures are Worth a Thousand Words

Displaying either individually or in an album, spring, summer and autumn photos will allow prospective buyers to see the home’s full potential and to visualize themselves living in the home beyond this season. Create a takeaway brochure of photos from all 4 seasons so the buyer will remember your home and all it offers once they have left and are considering all the homes they’ve seen.

Posted in General Information, Selling Tips, Uncategorized

Time To Refinance?

Oct25
2019 Written by mary.w

With mortgage rates at near historic lows, you may want to consider refinancing your loan, but should you? If you plan on staying in your home for at least 5 more years then depending on your current interest rate, going through the refinance process may be just the thing to reduce your monthly payments and relieve some unnecessary stress from your day to day life. And if you don’t need to use the extra few hundred dollars per month that you may save, you can either use that to make extra principal payments and pay off your mortgage sooner or add to your kid’s education fund or even take that family vacation you’ve been wanting to provide for your family.

With the lower rates offered today, you may be able to switch from your 30 year fixed loan to a 15 year and not see a dramatic change in your monthly payment. The end savings however could be phenomenal!

Many areas of the country have seen huge increases in market value meaning without doing anything at all, your equity has increased as well. So, if you need extra funds now for college, medical expenses, family needs or home improvements, with your home’s increased equity and lower interest rates, you may be able to increase your primary mortgage with little change in your payment instead of tacking on a second mortgage home equity loan.

A lot to think about? Perhaps. But for you, now may be the time to be thinking about it and moving forward. Do some online research and then sit down with a trusted professional to walk you through all your options and bottom lines. If you decide to refinance at the right time, you could be putting thousands of dollars into your own needs and savings!!

Posted in General Information, Uncategorized

DISCOVER YOUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD VIA FALL FESTS!

Sep27
2019 Written by mary.w

Fall Festivals can be fun, exciting, family friendly, filled with laughter and perhaps your best way to discover some hidden gems of amenities in your brand new neighborhood. One of the great parts of Autumn is the abundance of festivals…some adult focused and some all about family. Based on your personal situation, this may be your best, informal pumpkinFALLway to meet new people in your area with shared interests and discover adult and kid activities available in your community.

ADULT focused activities may include: Oktoberfest celebrations, Craft brew festivals and bar crawls, art fairs, evening concert festivals.

FAMILY focused activities may include: Oktoberfest celebrations (many are family friendly with specific kids areas to let them enjoy the weather, music and fun), Pumpkin patches and farms where kids can choose their own pumpkins, ride horses, enjoy hay rides, play games, etc., Apple picking farms allow kids to run in the orchards and choose which apples they want, pick, bag up and then pay for…usually have hay rides out to the orchards, kid focused concerts and plays in the park, church halloween events so the kids don’t have to go door to door.

Check your neighborhood activities by joining facebook groups and sites like nextdoor, an online website that allows you to pinpoint activities in your specific neighborhood or within a chosen perimeter.

The key is using all the abundant Fall activities to acclimate and familiarize yourself with your new community while also meeting new friends for yourself and your kids!

Tip: If you’re selling, be a gracious seller and leave a list of all the community activities available in your area in your home for the new owner. They’ll appreciate it and you’ll feel great for having done such a simple, yet kind gesture for your buyer.

Posted in From Buy Owner Customers, General Information, Uncategorized

Autumn Flowers Add Color and Life to Your Curb Appeal

Aug28
2019 Written by mary.w

As we move into Autumn and our summer flowers are starting to wither into dormancy or just outright dying, adding the deep oranges, rusts and mustard yellows to your landscape can give your curb appeal the boost it needs.  Mums are a great choice because you can get several different rich colors and types to blend into a dynamic foray of Autumn colors. If you don’t have the time or style of landscape to plant the mums, use potted ones just as effectively, either individually or grouped together.

If you’re selling, try to keep what you’re adding seasonal but not “holiday focused” such as halloween decorations. If you are a die hard Halloween decorator, keep it limited to the day before and only on Halloween. Then pull it down and focus on getting sold!

If you’re lucky enough to have nature screaming autumn around your home and you’re How-Much-Is-A-View-Worththinking of selling, DO IT NOW!! The most effective and cost effective landscaping you could hope for!

Posted in Decorating on a Budget, General Information, Home Improvement, Selling Tips, Uncategorized
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