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Posts tagged adding value to a home

Home Seller: Storage Matters!

Oct20
2008
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

These days, everybody seems to need more space. And whether you’re trying to sell your current home or just looking for new storage methods, options are available that you might have overlooked!

Maximize your square footage with these clever ways to de-clutter and add storage space!

In the garage, take advantage of every inch of space. This includes the ceiling! Hang a bicycle rack, place boards across the rafters to create a “loft” or hang a bag of sports equipment. Then add shelves to the walls.

In the bathroom, add a shelving unit over the toilet. Use clear or wire trays in the cabinets so that you can see into them for what you want. Store things together that you use together. If your linen closet is on overload, roll up towels and place them in a basket on the sink. If you own a pedestal sink, surround it with a skirt to store items underneath.

If you absolutely need more closet space, investigate what rests behind your walls. Many areas are just drywall and paneling. Unless you find wiring, you can create a closet or custom cabinetry in the wall!

In the kitchen, add a pantry or an island for extra storage space. On the budget side, add a cart on wheels that you can place anywhere.

Use long table cloths or bed skirts to secretly hide storage underneath a table or bed. From an outsider’s point of view, it’s smart decorating. Only you will know what they can’t see!

Instead of purchasing a coffee table, use a chest that you can fill with blankets, pictures or dishware. Instead of displaying end tables on the sides of your bed, use nightstands with cabinets. Chic furniture can multi-task!

Organize! Label boxes in the closets, attics and under the beds. Write what is inside, number them or take pictures. Decorate the boxes. Make organization fun! That way, you don’t even need to hide your storage.

The key to keep in mind with your organizing is enhancing your home: the better your creative organization, the more spacious your home becomes! This is a plus for you while you live in your home and an even bigger plus for buyers who come to visit. Sellers, take note: storage matters!

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged adding space, home selling, increasing space, organization, real estate selling, selling a home, storage
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A Dozen Ideas for Your Spare Room

Sep19
2008
3 Comments Written by Alicia

When looking for a new home, do you cross off houses because it’s hard to imagine what to do with extra space? Perhaps it’s time to lose that viewpoint and realize that a blessing has been bestowed upon you! Don’t leave the spare space empty and definitely don’t fall into the common rut of using it as a catch-all for junk and clutter. There are plenty of ways to turn a spare room into something you can use. To prove it, here are a dozen ideas for making the most of your extra room:

1. An Office is a popular option. Whether you work from home or just spend a lot of time online, a private office space offers you a quiet area designated for that use. To create an office, add a spacious desk to become the room’s centerpiece. The most efficient desk will include abundant shelving space for a printer, files, books and office supplies. Add a couch or table area to the room for a relaxing break from work or for an open writing space.

2. A Guest Bedroom is another practical idea. Fill this room with the same type of furniture found in other bedrooms, all in neutral colors and designs to fit any age or personality. To offer the most comfortable stay possible, opt to provide a bowl of mints, a pile of fresh towels or a stack of magazines. Right before guests arrive, clean the room from top to bottom for a fresh appearance each time.

3. A Library is the perfect option for a quiet escape into a peaceful atmosphere. If reading is one of your favorite activities, why let your beloved manuscripts collect dust in boxes? Add wall-to-wall bookshelves filled with your favorite novels, poetry or short stories. Include the most comfortable chairs or couches for the coziest read you’ll ever experience. If writing is your thing, provide a table with paper, a typewriter or a computer. With your favorite books surrounding you, finding motivation will never be a problem.

4. A Game Room offers optimal entertaining space. Did you always want an old-fashioned Pac Man machine but could never figure out where to put it? Placing these gaudy items in a spare room will keep them away from everyday view and create the perfect atmosphere for fun time! Hang up pictures of your favorite athletes or the logos of your favorite teams. Add shelves for board games or supplies for pool/ping pong tables. The fun space you always dreamed for is now possible.

5. A Media Room is ideal for those who continually keep up with the latest technologies that become available. Turn this space into an electronic lover’s dream with an enormous flat-screen TV, a surround sound system, a high-impact stereo or a massive videogame arena. Don’t worry about chords visibly extending through other rooms or loud sounds inconveniencing others. Load it all into one room for the best movie or videogame experience of your life.

6. A Social Room is an option for those of you who love to hang out with friends and catch up on each other’s lives. For a mature atmosphere, create a wine cellar. Wine cellars no longer need to be hidden away in basements. Design with French décor, add wine shelves along the walls and place chic furniture to relax in. If wine isn’t your thing, build a bar inside the room with electric hookups and bar stools. Add a TV to watch sports games or include a refrigerator for snacks and drink options that everyone will enjoy.

7. A Fitness Room is a modern approach now that most weight-lifting equipment and workout machines are available to purchase. Why waste time joining a gym when you can create one in your own home? Set up your favorite machines, such as a treadmill or an elliptical, and maintain an open area. Add a stereo system, a TV or a stack of magazines to keep you entertained while you burn calories. Decorate with photos of your favorite athletes or with pictures of summer beaches. These will motivate you to keep at it!

8. A Pet Room is ideal for someone trying to sell a home or for someone who wants to keep a new home in top-notch shape. A pet room keeps your furry friends away from expensive furniture, but it also offers them room to roam! Allow caged animals to wander freely in an enclosed area or just place your dog or cat in the room when guests with allergies come over. Fill the room with pet toys, pet beds and pet litter. By keeping this clutter refined to one area, you won’t feel guilty for letting your pet take over a room.

9. A Toy Room creates a separate space for kids who come over. Instead of constantly tripping over toys around the house, enclose these youngster adventures to one room. A child will love to have his or her own space to scatter toys around freely. Decorate in bold colors or with a theme, such as clowns, dolls or ninjas!

10. If you enjoy scrapbooking on a regular basis, fill a Hobby Room with ribbons, glitter, poster board, cutouts, photos, you name it! Don’t worry about making a mess when you put aside a space just for that. Is keeping up with old acquaintances your favorite pastime? Scatter photos around the room and create a comfortable setting for writing letters or talking on the phone. Do you enjoy constructing ships in a bottle, architectural ideas or interior design projects? Fill the room with the supplies and space you need.

11. A Meditation Room is a supreme idea for someone who carries an abundance of stress with him or her on a daily basis. Sometimes you just need to let loose and forget about everything, but perhaps you don’t know how. Create a serene, peaceful atmosphere filled with soft aromas, candles, fruit, wine, chocolate or anything that helps you relax. Whether it’s playing a CD with ocean sounds or just lounging on a pile of plush pillows, create the perfect atmosphere to become stress-free.

12. A You Room is for those who can’t decide which idea suits them most. Perhaps you enjoy socializing, reading and working out. You can create a combo room with a roll-up yoga mat, a stereo for fitness and pleasure, a sitting area and a shelf of books! You can also use this room to display your proudest accomplishments. Decorate shelves with bowling trophies, hang published paintings or display jewelry that you made from scratch. If you just want a “feel good” room to relax in whenever your spirits need a rising, fill the space with photo albums, objects collected from nature or photographs of your favorite city.

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged buying a house, customizations, home decorating, home shopping, seeing potential in a home, spare room, utilizing space
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Swimming Pool Accessories

Jul09
2008
Leave a Comment Written by Carrie

swimming poolSummer is here! Temperatures are rising all across the nation. It’s that time of year when people are just waiting to hear those four little words: “Our pool is open!”

A swimming pool should be treated with care, with the same attention you give your house or condominium.

Just as you sweep the kitchen floor, dust the living room furniture or polish the bathroom fixtures, your swimming pool also needs to be cleaned and maintained. So why can’t it be decorated, too?

You could spend hours painting interior walls, choosing drapery patterns and picking out a custom hardwood floor. So why not take a little time to make the outdoor area of your property just as aesthetically pleasing and comfortable as each room inside your house?

You could turn a mundane backyard into a private resort-like oasis! Here are a few ways to give your swimming pool some personality.

Decorative Accents: Colorful murals at the bottom of your pool add a bit of flair. The addition of stately statues or Roman columns gives the pool an elegant European bath type of look. Placing plants around the perimeter makes the pool come to life! They can also create a seamless connection between the pool and the lush landscaping of the rest of the backyard.

Fencing & Decking: Fences serve two functions. Depending on the design, a fence can help maintain the privacy you would like your property to have. For example, wood and vinyl fences keep pools well-secluded and hidden from outside view. Lattice fences uphold privacy, but still allow for generous air-flow. Installing fences is also a safety precaution. Fences keep access to the pool controlled and they prevent accidents. Decks are also a great way to accent a swimming pool. It could be an efficient solution to connect your home to your pool so that you may easily entertain guests.

Lighting: Looking to create a warm ambiance in your swimming pool? Fiber optic lighting will do just that! It’s easy to install and maintain, and your pool could be virtually any color of the rainbow at the drop of a hat! They are also low in energy costs. If your pool is outdoors, you will need lights to do any outdoor swimming. Centrella tiki torches brighten the area around the pool and ward off pesky bugs. Solar lights use no electricity! As the sun goes down, your pool lights up! If your pool is inside a lanai that boasts electricity, you don’t even need to add lights. However, if you would prefer a little mood-lighting, floating pool lights work well, too.

Swim Spa: A swim spa uses a propeller system, made of jets or paddles, to create a current in your swimming pool. It is an effective way to “swim laps” if your property is not big enough for you to build a large swimming pool. Referred to as “treadmill swimming” by many, this is a space-effective and economical way to do water aerobics in your very own backyard. Each swim spa can be adjusted to varying speeds to accommodate both trained and beginning swimmers. Some swim spas even come equipped with underwater stereo systems! Another perk is that you can install a swim spa in both an inground and an aboveground pool!

Extra Water Features: A fountain draws your attention to the pool right away. It can spray water high into the air or flow into a small basin. Looking for something different? The soothing sound of a waterfall is just as pleasing as the sight of the flowing water trickling down rock formations. Building vanishing edges (also known as an infinity edge or negative edges) makes it seems as though the water is disappearing into thin air. This is especially pleasing to the eye if your pool over looks the ocean or a lake!

Posted in Tips and Ideas - Tagged enjoying your home, home ownership, pool equipment, summer fun, swimming pool, taking care of a pool
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Types of Flooring

Apr11
2008
2 Comments Written by Becky

FloorsFrom cozy Berber carpeting to gleaming hardwood, there are so many types of floors to choose from, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Some flooring adds value to your home, while others are simply used because they are comfortable, inexpensive, or easy to maintain. When you’re thinking about what kind of flooring to install in your home, here are some options to consider.

Hardwood

Aside from its obvious beauty, hardwood flooring offers many additional benefits. It increases the value of your home, and its appearance actually improves with age. Easy to maintain, hardwood flooring is also incredibly long-lasting. There are so many different options available, everything from handscraped hardwood for a more rustic look to exotic hardwood from all around the world, so you can choose something that will perfectly suit your taste.

Negatives: It may scratch easily and is sensitive to humidity.

Alternatives: Bamboo is a popular alternative to hardwood flooring, as it is environmentally friendly and boasts a smooth finish.

Laminate

Best for active areas of the home, laminate flooring can give you the appearance of wood, ceramic or stone without the hassle. Thanks to advanced technology, laminate looks more realistic than ever. It is also extremely durable, easy to care for and less expensive than real wood, stone or ceramic flooring. Plus, a wide range of colors and styles gives you a lot to choose from.

Negatives: Although it is durable, laminate won’t last as long as real wood, stone or ceramic flooring. And because it isn’t real, it won’t add the same value to your home.

(Interested in tile flooring options? Keep your eye out for an upcoming article!)

Carpet

Carpeting is certainly the coziest flooring option, as it is soft under your feet, and it adds warmth as it insulates the home. Some other benefits of carpeting include its sound-deadening quality, making it much quieter than hard surface floors. It also costs less to install than a lot of the hard flooring does, and it comes in an assortment of colors to complement any room’s decor.

Negatives: Some types of carpeting shows tracks and can hold more dirt, so it’s usually not best for high-traffic areas.

Stone

Variations in color and surface appearance mean that no two pieces of natural stone flooring are alike, making it an extremely unique choice. There are many different kinds to choose from, each with their own appeal. Marble adds a touch of elegance, while travertine provides a more worn, aged look. Durable and stain-resistant, slate flooring offers a rustic charm. Granite is one of the most durable stones, and it also doesn’t scratch or stain easily.

Negatives: Some types of stone flooring, particularly granite, can be very expensive.

Alternatives: Along with natural stone, there is also manmade stone flooring like terrazzo, which is not only beautiful but also highly durable.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged carpeting, flooring, hardwoods, home improvements
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