Posts tagged winter

Brighten Up a Drab Day

Feb26
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

sunshinehouse

Unless you live in a state that shows off year-round sunshine, the month of February tends to be a little drab and dreary. The cold winter weather lingers while the spring rain tests its waters. It’d be easy to acquire a gloomy state of mind until the grass is green again. This year, fight the gloominess by incorporating color and brightness into your home! The perk of a personal living space is that it can be as bright and cheerful as you want it to be, without any regard to what the world looks like outside.

Aside from the fact that bright attributes in your home will brighten your mood, they will also grab the attention of those passing by or visiting and could create an interest in potential buyers, if you are or soon will be selling your home.

Here are some ideas on how to brighten up a drab day in your colorful confines:

• Visit a flea market or a local antique shop and purchase some affordable and unique table lamps, floor lamps or sconces to add literal brightness to any room.

• Trade in your thick window curtains with Roman shades or lacy curtains that allow light to seep through. Choose deep red tones or floral prints that will emphasize sunshine and sunsets.

• Purchase white or light wood furniture, and outline the drawers or legs in a bright color of paint. With stencils, paint a design all over the piece.

• Add colored panels to flank your outside windows. Opt for royal blue, maroon, deep red or off-white, depending on the tone of your exterior.

• Switch your front porch lights with colored bulbs. Opt for purple, pink, bright yellow or some other pastel that reminds you of the upcoming spring.

• Add some plants or flowers to your front porch or a visible garden. Research what types of plants will grow in your area in February, such as skunk cabbage, Russian sage, white fir or winter honeysuckle.

• Hang a wallpaper border in your kitchen or bathroom, displaying bright sunflowers or ruby red apples. It will brighten a room without changing the paint color. If you grow tired of it, you can remove it with minimal work.

• Cozy up by a fire or the television with a bright-colored blanket. When not in use, throw the blanket across the back of the couch. It can add a bright flare to any room.

If you have your own ideas on how to add color and cheerful brightness to a drab room, share your idea with other Buy Owner Blog readers. Warmer months are in our future!

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , ,

Move Past the Holidays

Jan22
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

holidaycards

Wrapping up the holiday season and moving on can seem like a chore not worth doing. Often, we feel lazy after all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, as well as discouraged to strip down our holiday décor, and we don’t know where to go with the sweaters that didn’t come with gift receipts. However, if your house is currently or soon to be on the market, you really need to step things up and move on from the holiday season.

Homebuyers are already prepared to move on from the holidays and to now keep themselves busy in a new way: finding the perfect house. If other home sellers are prepared to show their houses before you, that could lose you a sale. How do you make sure this doesn’t happen? Prepare your home now by reorganizing with these five simple steps!

• Find space for your new gifts by cleaning out drawers and closets. Replace old clothes with new clothes, and then bring the old clothes to a home shelter or a local charity.

• Don’t allow your children to cover the home with toys from Santa. Keep the toys in one designated room, and provide containers for the toys to be neatly put away after playtime.

• Take down all of the holiday décor, restore it in boxes and then store the boxes in the basement, attic or somewhere away from sight. Reposition your regular décor, so the house doesn’t appear bare.

• Sweep, dust and clean after the decorations are successfully stored away. Sweep up remaining pine needles or sparkles of tinsel, dust away leftover food crumbs, and clean windows where stickies might have left marks.

• Keep a homey, cozy atmosphere available for visiting homebuyers, without it feeling like the holidays. Light a fire in the fireplace, brew fresh coffee, replace winter candles with spring aromas, and have little pieces of chocolate on hand.

Homebuyers will be impressed at your quickness to move on from a time we all love, and to get down to business with selling your home. Good luck!

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , ,

Beat the Winter Blues

Jan08
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

winter-house1

After the holidays come to a close and the decorations are neatly restored into boxes, our homes tend to appear emptier and drabber. There are no more strings of multicolored lights, sparkly tinsel and fuzzy Santa hats to brighten our spirits. Though this drab feeling will pass with time, and you’ll soon remember what you love about your year-round décor, why not add a bold touch here and there? Little additions to your home’s winter décor will add just enough flare to beat the winter blues!

• Add throw rugs, pillows, vases or other miscellaneous knickknacks in warm, earthy tones that will increase the energy of a room. These tones will lift your mood by reminding you of the warmer days ahead. When those warmer days arrive, your décor will already be ready for them!

• Hang a new piece of framed artwork on your wall. Anything new to your eyes will lift your spirits. Opt to hang a framed picture of your family or friends, from over the holiday season, to remind you of the good times you shared.

• Go shopping at an antique store, a thrift store or a flea market for small and affordable finds. You can add flare to your home without feeling guilty for shopping post-holidays.

• Switch your winter, holiday candle scents with fragrances that will remind you of spring, the season of rebirth. Choose floral favorites or an ocean/rain aroma.

• Purchase some herbs to plant in indoor pots, and set the pots on a windowsill or near a window. The herbs will provide natural fragrances and a healthy addition to meals. When summer arrives, bring the pots outside!

• Replace heavy curtains with light, airy alternatives. These will allow the short hours of sunlight to stream inside, and it will remind you of warm summer breezes to come.

• Drape blankets and throws over your couches and chairs to add new patterns to a room and to have on hand during blistering cold nights. Also, keep fresh logs of wood in the fireplace for a quick strike of a match!

• During winter clearance sales, score some visually appealing mugs and some convenient hot chocolate, tea or coffee mixes. Place packets of hot chocolate or tea inside the mugs, and use these sets as a centerpiece that is easy to reach!

Before you know it, you’ll be hanging red hearts and Cupids around your house while you nibble on chocolates. After that, spring will be here before you know it!

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , ,

Holiday Decorating Safety Precautions

Dec18
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

candle

Most homeowners or renters look forward to showing off their holiday décor this winter, and we love to look at it as much as you love to show it off! However, did you know many house fires and electrical dilemmas occur around this time of year, along with physical injuries? To prevent these possible predicaments, here are some quick and easy safety precautions to follow when setting up your holiday décor.

To prevent physical injuries:

• Set your tree in a stand that is sized and weighed correctly for the trunk of your tree. In other words, if you chop a larger tree than usual this year, don’t expect your old stand to hold this tree up too. This will prevent falling trees.

• Try to hide your outdoor wires behind bushes, away from the walkway. Inside, have the wires line the outer walls. This will prevent tripping injuries.

• When hanging lights on the roof, have someone hold the ladder in place. Wear shoes that will grip the roof. Hang lights in the daylight. This will prevent falling injuries.

• When lighting candles, use a long lighter or match. Only allow adults to light candles, or children under strict supervision. This will prevent burns.

• Opt for tinsel, garland and other non-metal decorations that are not hazardous if consumed by a child or pet. This will prevent poisoning and choking.

• Wear gloves when dealing with lights, cords and plugs, and work only in conditions that are not overly dry or moist. This will prevent electrocutions.

• Hang heavy or breakable ornaments low on the tree. That way, if they fall from the tree, it will help prevent scattered glass. Also, keep all breakable decorations away from a child’s grasp.

• When picking up heavy boxes filled with holiday décor, bend your knees and use your whole-body strength to lift. This will help prevent back injuries.

To prevent electrical problems:

• Cover outdoor electrical outlets with duct tape. This will prevent rain and snow moisture to drip into the outlets. Also, make sure the extension cords and lights you use outside are made for outdoor use.

• Use an electrical strip to connect multiple plugs together. Do not attempt to connect one electrical strip with another strip, or to use more wires than there are plugs. This will prevent electrical fires.

• Turn all the lit decorations off at night. This will prevent possible fires. You might also want to consider unplugging decorations too, which will save energy.

• Replace damaged cords and lights. When replacing a burnt bulb, make sure to replace it with a bulb of the same wattage. This will prevent electrical problems.

• When purchasing an artificial tree, make sure the label reads “fire resistant.” With real trees, make sure it’s fresh rather than dry and brittle. This will prevent fires.

• Keep lit candles in clear view, burn out when leaving the house or going to sleep, and keep away from flammable objects, such as the tree. This will prevent fires.

• Do not throw wrapping paper into a fireplace. The paper burns fast and intensely, which could cause a sudden burst of flames. This will prevent fires and burns.

• Clean out your gutters before hanging lights on the roof, and opt for smaller bulbs instead of larger ones. These steps will prevent hot lights from burning dried leaves and starting fires.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

10 Winter Decorating Tips: Interior

Dec11
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

holidaycards

Last week we offered 10 winter decorating tips for your exterior. Now, it’s time to discuss interior decorating for the winter holidays! Although the exterior is what every guest will view first, it does not have to be what they remember most. In the warmth of your own home, without venturing out into the bitter cold, you can give your personal space cozy ambiance that everyone will want to spend time in!

Here are 10 winter decorating tips for the interior:

• In the winter months, daylight disappears earlier than ever. Create a holiday spirit inside by turning your overhead lights on dimmers and lighting an array of candles! Purchase a large candle, tie a bow around it and place it in the middle of a wreath on a table. Or purchase numerous small candles and scatter them around each room. Choose wintery scents, like evergreen, gingerbread or cinnamon spice.

• If you have a Christmas tree, it should be located in the largest or most popular room. If your house displays a large front window, setting the tree in front of it is an ideal way to decorate the inside and out! Place a tree skirt around the bottom, where gifts can be placed, and decorate the tree with your personal approach, whether that be lights, garland, tinsel, ornaments or all of the above!

• Can’t decide whether to display a real or artificial tree? Real trees radiate a natural glow and scent, but they are a chore to chop down and attach to your vehicle. Artificial trees are expensive at first, but they are a cinch to set up each year. To help you decide, read this past article for more helpful advice.

• If your house contains a fireplace, use this highlight to your full advantage! After all, you’ll want Santa Claus to be impressed when he arrives through the chimney! Line the mantel with lights or garland, hang a wreath above or on the mantel, set Hanukkah candles in the middle of the mantel, hang stockings, or create a nature scene made up of poinsettias, pinecones, pine needles and red berries. On cold evenings, keep the fire burning brightly!

• To make every meal this month more special, create a memorable centerpiece for your dining room or kitchen table. Purchase one already made, or fashion one yourself! This could be made with candles, roses, poinsettias, wreaths or homemade creations. For example, set up a sleigh on the table, with or without reindeer, and fill the sleigh with post-dinner treats!

• Afraid of the environmental impact that your decorating will produce? Read this past blog about how to have a green Christmas. Decorate with recyclable items, host a green dinner party, and reuse your decorations after the holidays! Read the article for more great advice.

• Holidays are not the time to skimp on homemade goodies! When hosting guests, showing your home to potential home buyers or just enjoying a Saturday afternoon at home, fill your kitchen with natural scents! Bake sugar cookies with holiday cookie cutters, create a gingerbread house masterpiece to display, brew up some flavored coffee or provide a bowl of marshmallows to accommodate the never-ending mugs of hot cocoa!

• Add little knickknack décor to end tables, coffee tables and windowsills all around your house! In many minds, it’s nearly impossible to overdue it with holiday decorations (unless, of course, you’re in the process of selling your home). Examples could include nativity scenes, sleighs, Santa, reindeer, holiday containers full of candy or mints, scented candles, bowls of pine cones, leaves sprayed in silver or gold, etc. Pretty much, anything goes.

• Use a staircase or balcony railing to your advantage. Wrap it with garland and lights, attach bows, hang holiday stockings from it or hang ornaments in each opening. This is a great space for adding eye-catching vibrancy!

• Don’t celebrate these popular holidays? Still enjoy your cozy, warm interior during the upcoming cold months ahead! Keep a fire in the fireplace, with marshmallows nearby to roast. Bake sugar cookies. Decorate with pine cones, pine needles, etc. Light scented candles. Lots of these holiday decorating ideas can be used by anyone, anytime!

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , ,

10 Winter Decorating Tips: Exterior

Dec04
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

christmaslights

As always, if you’re in the process of selling your home, your winter holiday decorations should be kept to a minimum. You don’t want a potential home buyer to concentrate on your decorations rather than your home’s permanent features. If you’re just looking for decorating tips for an upcoming holiday gathering, you can decorate as much as you wish! With that said, here are 10 tips for sprucing up your exterior for the upcoming winter holidays.

Though the interior can be decorated with more of a personal ambiance, which we will discuss in an upcoming blog, the exterior can be seen from any passerby! Whether it’s one of your party guests, a potential home buyer or someone who’s lost and turning around in your driveway, your exterior can spark a wow factor for just about anyone! According to homeimprovementweb.com, Americans spent $7.6 billion on holiday decorations last year! Here are some affordable tips for lighting up your exterior with a holiday glow:

• Steer away from the current fad for holiday lights. Though it’s tempting to choose the latest fad or newest type of decorations on the market, it’s better to stick with what will attract the greatest number of buyers. Also, when you steer away from the fad, the lights will cost less!

• To noticeably become the brightest house on the block, decorate with pure, bright white lights. Line your roof with large bulbs of white lights, and fill your bushes and front porch posts with smaller white lights. No one will ignore the sight, and you’ll have a classic elegance sure to appeal to everyone.

• Don’t forget about your backyard! If the backyard is visible from the street, or if party guests will be hanging around outside, hang lights around your patio or deck. If you have an exterior speaker system, softly play your favorite holiday tunes.

• Though the daylight hours are shorter this time of year, don’t forget to decorate for daylight, too. Surround posts with simple strands of green or silver garland, and then attach red bows to the garland. Hang a holiday wreath on the front door, filled with pine cones, red berries or silvery leaves.

• Plant a classic winter plant in your garden or in a pot on the front porch. Choose a plant that is native to your locality. So, depending on where you live, choose from poinsettias, white hydrangeas, Christmas cacti, mini pines or any other favorite!

• Make the walkway to your front door stand out by surrounding the sides with outdoor candles. Or, flank the walkway with red and green lights or multi-colored lights. You could also line the sides of your driveway, which is especially helpful when guests are trying to locate your house.

• Use the space that your front lawn supplies. Fill it with numerous small figurines, or decorate with one major scene. Ideas include decorating one giant tree that grows in your yard, setting up a North Pole scene of elves and toys, setting up a nativity scene or plugging in a blowup Santa Claus or snowman. Just remember to choose carefully and to not overdo things.

• Instead of lining your rooftop with lights, opt for a more convenient option of lining everything but your roof! This could include surrounding your front yard with lights, lining a fence with lights, filling all of your landscaping with lights or lining just the windows with lights.

• If it’s too cold for you to be rummaging through your attic or prancing around your yard in the snow, outdoor decorations are not required! Decorate from the inside out. Place your Christmas tree or Hanukkah candles directly in front of your main front window, hang light-up fixtures in your upstairs windows or place a lit candle (you can even get electric ones that don’t require flame) in each window.

• Your front door is what separates your exterior’s décor from your interior’s. Make this an eye-catching masterpiece for your guests to admire while they wait in the bitter cold for you to answer the door. Cover the door in wrapping paper, and then decorate the paper with ribbon and bows to make it look like a giant present! Create a holiday scene with stickies on the glass door, hang a memorable holiday wreath or create a greeting with painted twigs or pine cones.

Now that the exterior is taken care of, stay tuned for a blog with interior holiday decorating tips, coming soon!

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged ,

Entertaining after the Holidays

Jan16
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Becky

party

So it’s that time of the year again: the end of the holiday season and the beginning of yet another new year. You’ve taken down the mistletoe, put away the tinsel and packed up the artificial tree, probably not to see it again until next winter rolls around. There are no more Christmas parties to attend, no Hanukkah shindigs, no big New Year’s Eve bashes. But just because the holidays are over, it doesn’t mean you’re done entertaining.

Here are a few tips for entertaining after the holidays:

Use what you’ve got
If you’re like most people, chances are you spent more than you meant to during the holiday season. It’s normal to splurge a little come Christmastime, but that just means you shouldn’t go crazy with the spending after the holidays. Stick to a budget, and use what you’ve got. From paper plates to festive decorations, chances are you can find most of what you need around the house.

Play up your home’s best features
Things like wet bars and media rooms were made for entertaining. If you have special features like these in your home, use them! And if you’re lucky enough to live in an area without freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall, why wait until summer to entertain outdoors? Bust out the patio furniture and throw a backyard barbecue now to beat the winter blues!

Go with a theme
Whether it’s a potluck or a Super Bowl party, theme parties are a great way to get everyone involved. The possibilities are endless when it comes to theme parties, so be creative! If you can’t go outdoors, a beach or indoor Hawaiian theme might be a good way to counter the winter weather, while a wine-tasting party or a movie night is sure to keep things festive.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , , ,

Winter: Internet Marketing Essential

Dec29
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

As we get deeper into this winter season, now is the perfect time to point out the value of Internet marketing. In many parts of the country, winter brings colder weather, if not blizzards of snow and ice. And one thing you can be sure of is that many house-hunting buyers will want to stay indoors.

Enter the Internet. In winter more than ever, the Internet is an all-important tool in maximizing your home’s marketing. Through strategically chosen descriptions and images, you can allow interested buyers to tour your property without leaving their living rooms. That’s a benefit everyone can appreciate.

Buy Owner® stands out as the leader in “For Sale by Owner” real estate marketing, both because of its highly trafficked Web site and because of its exceptional advertising plans.

To schedule an appointment with a skilled marketing consultant, call 1-800-771-7777. The following are some of the options that may be available, and your Buy Owner consultant can help you decide which are best for you.

1. National advertising on the Buy Owner website: Consistently drawing high numbers of visitors through creative marketing campaigns, BuyOwner.com is the premier site to advertise your home.
2. Appearance in Buy Owner’s e-Magazines: The e-Magazines are regionally based online publications of interactive web pages that allow you to flip and zoom into pages.
3. Talking yard sign: Buy Owner yard signs feature an 800 number with a code that will play the audio description of your home’s amenities
4. Participation in the computer matchmaking system
5. Toll-free number : 800-771-7777
6. Stunning photographs of the exterior, interior and community
7. Descriptive text that highlights your home’s features: In some regional markets, Buy Owner’s in-house staff of professional writers will create advertising copy for your property, based on details you select.
8. Professional, 360-degree virtual tours: With holidays, vacations and harsh weather, winter keeps a lot of house hunters from driving through neighborhoods or touring multiple properties. However, searching online can be done from any computer, on the timetable of the buyers. That’s why a virtual tour is all-important.
9. Online statistics: Buy Owner seller tools allow you to track how many times your property has been viewed and how often it’s shown up in searches
10. Your choice of placement: You’ll have options to put your property’s listing at the front of search results, and you can even make it a featured listing if desired

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , , ,

Why to Buy & Sell in Winter

Dec17
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

The housing market tends to slow way down during the winter months, for numerous reasons. The holidays add multiple activities to our schedules. The weather is unbearable at times. Children are in school and don’t want to be taken out midway through the year. Overall, the winter is a hassle. But some homeowners don’t have the choice to wait. Sellers will always be selling for one reason or another.

As a buyer, take this as an opportunity! Multiple reasons exist for buyers to purchase a home now rather than later:

  • If a homeowner is choosing to sell during the winter, chances are the seller needs to move soon. He or she may be more willing to negotiate in many different areas, including price!
  • There is a massive decrease of competition in the winter. You can take your time choosing a home and negotiating with the owner.
  • Because the market is slow, you may have an opportunity to settle on a closing date that works best for you.
  • Lenders usually have more free time during the winter. This may help the process run faster and smoother than usual.
  • Viewing a home during the winter will lend you a true knowledge of this home’s build, roofing and insulation. You don’t want a new home with a soaring electric bill.
  • With bare branches, you can really notice the surroundings of the home.

As a seller, you can also take advantage of selling now! Chances are you will only receive potential buyers that are truly interested. The process will seem less hectic with fewer showings. Buyers and sellers may enjoy tax benefits. Here are some ways to make sure you are showing your home in its best light:

 Open drapes, turn on lights and make the home as bright as possible. If needed, add lights to make sure the potential buyer receives a true vision of the interior.

 If you own a fireplace, make sure a fire is brewing. Light candles, bake cookies or turn on holiday music. Add any aspect that will make the home homier.

 Decorate for the holidays, but don’t go overboard. You want your buyers to concentrate on the home itself and not on your décor.

 Set up photos of your home during other seasons so your buyers can visualize living there year-round.

 Make sure your driveway and walkways are shoveled and salted so that there are no injuries!

Posted in Market News, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , ,

Prepare Your Home for Winter

Nov28
2008 1 Comment Written by Alicia

If you live in a location that experiences all four seasons, you should know that preparing for the winter months now will save you energy and irritation later! There are numerous methods to save energy during the winter. These tips will help you save energy and live comfortably without throwing your budget out of whack.

Windows are a major source of unwanted air filtering in from the outdoors. Fortunately, there are multiple options for keeping the cold air outside and the warm air inside!

Make sure to insulate any cracks in or around windows. Use spray foam to insulate around windows or use weather stripping on the inner frame of windows.

Placing plastic film over windows will stop the cool air from creeping inside. Purchase shrink film for windows, measure the right amount that will cover the window and apply adhesive to hold it in place. Simple!

For a more stylish approach, add insulated blinds or curtains that contain padding. The padding will hold the cold air back from the interior. During daylight hours, be sure to allow the sun to shine through the windows and naturally warm the interior!

Place draft dodgers by your doors to keep cool air from coming in from underneath the door. Every little crack counts! Draft dodgers act like rolled up blankets. When you need to open the door, just push it out of the way.

A storm window or door adds another layer between the outdoors and indoors. Two glass panes are better than one, so layer up!

Unless you keep your fireplace closed tightly, it’s like having a window open. When not in use, attach glass doors to keep your heat from escaping into the fireplace. Also, keep the damper closed when not in use. This keeps the cold air from sneaking in.

Even electric outlets that reside on exterior walls allow cool air into the home. Sealers are available for nearly no cost and will cover the unlikeliest source of cold air.

During the winter, the days become shorter. Since lights are left on longer, replace your bulbs with fluorescent bulbs that use less energy and last longer.

When you aren’t in a room, turn the lights off. To help you remember, purchase timers or censors so that lights are only in use when you need them to be.

Insulation is key in keeping your winter energy costs down. Make sure to efficiently insulate your attic, pipes and hot water heater.

A humidifier will add moisture to the air and can cause it to feel more comfortable and warmer.

Electric thermostats allow you to set a timer to the temperature. When you leave for work, the temperature can be lowered. While you sleep, the temperature can be lowered. Anytime that you aren’t in the house, turn down the heat!

Even when you are home, you could probably afford to lower the temperature. The average temperature for a thermostat is 65. If you’re cold in your house, add blankets, slippers and sweaters to your body before turning up the heat. That should be the last resort!

Check the flexible duct area that surrounds your furnace for holes or tears. Cover these holes with something as simple as duct tape to stop heat from escaping. Also, change the filters in your furnace regularly so it works to the best of its ability.

Turning on ceiling fans during the winter can direct warm air downward, especially in homes with high ceilings.

Even the outside of your home can help! By planting trees near your windows, you are adding energy efficiency to your home year-round. Trees shade your home in the summer and then lose their leaves in the winter. This allows the sun to shine through your windows and warm up your interior. If wind is an issue, plant evergreens near your windows for year-round protection.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , ,
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