How Built In's Help!

These days we move into a new home with more than ever before. Moving trucks are getting larger and our things are piling up! Storage is one of the most must haves in homes these days and a built in can do that for you.

I need to save this one for sure! I am always overwhelmed when decorating a bookcase. Great Decorating Ideas for Styling a Bookcase @Laura Jayson Putnam - Finding Home

Built in's are an amazing way to store all those necessities and keep the room looking fresh and clean. They also give the room some character which is another must have these days.

wood shelving. Reminds me of a spa. Would be great in a bathroom

Taking unused space and making it functional gives the home more value. It may not seem like it in square footage but it can be a deciding factor in a buyer.

Start at Home: Built In Shelf {the easy way} & tutorial Perfect for the NW corner of dining room to put nic nacs on

It can be as easy as taking a corner that seems unusable and reinventing it's purpose.

Search for "French inspired" - 14/47 - Home Bunch - An Interior Design & Luxury Homes Blog

Or providing storage space where you'd want it but most homes don't have!

Home in Tennessee by Austin Bryant Moore

There are so many great spaces to have a functional built in.

Home Staging Changes for 2016

Staging a home from selling has gone from feeling like a home, to feeling so stark and empty that it's hard to see yourself living there! I'm not sure when the home stagers decided that empty was wonderful but I predict a change.

Seaside Stripes

Home staging is going to find a unique balance between clean, styled, and still feels like home.

+

The reasoning behind going to stark and empty is so that the buyer can imagine their things in the home, but that's hard for people who aren't visual. They just see an empty room!

love this bedroom  -  A Plant Designer and DJ’s Easy-Going Brownstone | Design*Sponge

A happy balance applies to all buyers. One's who can dream up what the home would look like, and one's that done and want to see how someone else made it home.

Popular kitchen cabinet colors

It's going to be interesting to see the change in home staging for 2016. I hope they realize what they are missing out on going so empty and cold.

gallery wall design

What are your predictions for home staging in 2016?

Are You Negotiating?

When most people sign lease agreements they may not realize that some things are actually negotiable! Most assume that everything is set in stone and they just have to take what they are offered. Here are a few things you might want to consider talking about during your next lease agreement:

Apartment Building CASP 74 / Bach Arquitectes

Rent!

Your rent price is set by your landlord on what they think it is worth. That doesn't always mean that it is what it is actually worth! Take a look at other options and come ready to let them know what the true value of their space is and what you are willing to pay.

Classic and Elegant Townhouse

Amenities!

Most amenities come with additional fees. Gyms, pools, parking and add more than you were hoping for in your monthly bills. You can negotiate these to be put into your monthly rent or ask for one time only payments! Don't want all these amenities? Ask to only pay for what you'll use.

Primrose Hill - dream place to live really

Pets!

Some places have a strict no pet policy and most of them choose this option because they have been burned before by previous tenants. If you have a certain size, species, or just a really well behaved quite pet - you might be able to swing getting them in with you! This might include an additional fee, but it may be well worth it in the end.

Pet Friendly Home Tour: Jess Lively & Franklin | Pretty Fluffy

Deposits!

Didn't know deposits could be negotiated? Have you been renting for a while and have a great record and some contacts to prove so? Do you have renters insurance to cover any damages? If you are able to prove those things you might be able to lower the deposit cost or have it taken away altogether.

What are you thinking about negotiating?

Traditional Wood Floors Are Gone

Traditional wood floors are now off the demand list!

Lauren Shadid Architecture - House of Turquoise

With so many options available what should you choose?

Robson Rak + Made by Cohen collaboration - Elwood House — The Little Design Corner (www.thelittledesigncorner.com)

Current trends are saying blonde, gray, and white washed are in.

Bespoke Natural Grey Engineered Oak from Reclaimed Flooring Co http://www.periodideas.com/bespoke-natural-grey-engineered-oak-reclaimed-flooring-co

Wide planks seem to be the  most desired but even herringbone is coming back in!

Large bank of floor to ceiling cabinets, beautiful windows & doors with oversized transom (so much natural light!), herringbone wood floors.

Let's just say you'll be safe to stay away from the traditional skinny wood floors for now!

Why Rental Costs Are Rising!

Rental costs are skyrocketing and you might not know why, but we do.

Family-sized: Chelsea and Marc splashed out on a $10.5million, four-bedroom apartment last... http://dailym.ai/1r39CEL#i-aa570e76

A majority of the economy is renting instead of purchasing! Why?

Have a studio, no problem. Build a stage four your bed- and build a room divider- or install a curtain around your bed, in a sense creating a room divider.

With the economy down we are learning to live with less square footage and necessities.

Streets of Monaco at Night. I want to take you there forever.  That place has something very special and with you would be magical.

We find ourselves traveling more which means we aren't willing to be tied down.

8 Sneaky Small Space Solutions | Apartment Therapy

But because of these things, more renters equal higher rent. It's the average concept of supply and demand.

old apartment building

But with higher rent it is less affordable, so you end up in a less desirable area.

Go Whimsical in Your Color Approach. Teal front door and gray grey exterior on house home. (IDEA for front porch)

And you'll soon find out that the single family home you were looking at before, is not only more affordable. But you get a return investment from it!

Which is better? Neither. It depends on your living situation. But if you are looking for something more affordable, you might just want to look at your rent cost vs a monthly mortgage!

Goodbye Granite, Hello Change!

Is granite going out of style? You  might not think so, but the new wave of home buyers say otherwise! There are so many different counter top options to choose from and with granite it almost every home, where's the personality? What makes your home stand out from the rest?

concrete countertop! beautiful clean kitchen. Like it as a backsplash as well.....do not like the wall of tile above it though.

It used to be that granite was unique, a luxury, and a must have! Lately other's have been seeing the benefits of other options. Granite can be hard to choose. With it's mix of colors and patterns it creates less options for tile and other decor.

Cambria Quartz

With cheaper options that are just as pretty, easier to clean, and not as busy there's no wonder people are preferring them.

Repaint the cabinets below and above the sink this gray color. Also replace the counter top with this

Today's kitchen's seem to be heading towards the brighter side of life. Neutral's are in and dark is heading out. Bright and airy seems to be the future.

Lake House with Transitional Interiors - Home Bunch - An Interior Design & Luxury Homes Blog

Have you considered different counter tops?

Choosing a color palette!

Finding a color palette that will be loved by many is not an easy task!

Great color palettes

While many buyers are drawn towards a natural hue, adding a touch of color can really set you apart from the rest.

Ceiling details and colors.

A colorful door can make a simple statement without requiring much of a paint job!

Spring Decoration for your Luxury Home | colorful decor | decorating ideas | interior design | home decor ideas | bedroom design | bedroom decor. For more inspirations go to www.homedecorideas.eu.

Using colorful accessories in your staging is a great way to catch someone's eye.

How To Decorate Your House Like A Pro

Or picking a color that pairs well with neutral tones can give it a more homey feel.

What kind of color palette are you drawn towards?

Paisley Punch List

Recently we went through Paisley and made a punch list to finish before the final reveal!

Exterior
  • There are various areas the paint is bubbling around the fascia & some around the front window frame. We need to correct this.

  • There are shingles to the right when facing the home that are sagging, like someone placed a latter over them. We need these straightened out so they don't look like old shingles.

  • The front porch area & front posts need some touch up paint
  • Need to caulk around the front fascia and around the windows so there are no gaps

  • Need to add a little more mulch to the front where dirt is showing.

  • There is a pile of wood on the side yard of the home if we can get hauled away

  • Secure the TWC box to the home

  • There are a few boards that are soft & need to be secured. There are also various areas of the deck that will need to be repainted. This includes around the bottom of the posts on the ground and board under bottom step.

  • The lattice under the left side of the deck needs to be flush with the bottom of the deck. There are a few lattices missing under the step area.

  • Remove shrubbery at the back of the home. There are various areas where vines are beginning to grow. If we could remove those vines.

Interior
  • Need to finish the kitchen floor and add trim/threshold. Including both doorways, between the kitchen/dining room & kitchen/great room.

  • The side door entrance that is being used needs to have the seal repaired or replaced and some touch up paint. There are cracks showing in the door frame.

  • Replace small window in door.

  • The bottom of the Refrigerator needs to be secured.

  • Gloss spray paint the side top portion of the stove
  • Need all the corners of the hardwood floors in the dining room, bedrooms and hallways sanded.

  • Add light in the living room to the fan. We are aware this may be an additional cost.
  • Remove all stickers from all windows or on any items.
  • Need touch up paint throughout. Also need touch up paint on base boards.

  • Need to fix the floor in the great room where the one piece is popping up.
  • Spot on wall by air return in hall needs repaired then painted.
  • Adjust hinges on hall bath vanity door. Not closing properly.
  • Add the trim/threshold in master bath door

  • The left side of the master bath vanity need touch up paint.
  • Replace lights in master bath for updated lights

  • Clean out air vent in master bath floor where debris has fallen down.
  • Need to caulk master bath tile floor where it's dirty

  • Touch up paint under the master bath window.
  • Small spot in ceiling of the back bedroom needs touch up paint.
  • Fill gap around the windows in back bedroom.

Getting close to finishing this one!

Great Descriptions equal great sales!

Selling a home isn't as easy as one would think. There are a lot of factors that are involved and then there's that terrifying word: marketing. Everyone knows enough to dabble in marketing but are you doing it well enough to grab the right people? Are you choosing your words carefully? What is the secret to selling a home fast?

There isn't one specific thing that sells a home fast. It's personal. When someone walks through the door, they either feel connected to the home or they don't. Sure there are pluses and minuses like does it have an office, is the backyard big enough, and is there enough space or storage. But what really pulls someone in, is the "Can I see myself living here?"

What I want to know, is can you get that question answered by someone who isn't even in the home? I bet you can. Words have transferred us to new places, given us a visual of what life could be like for decades in books, newspapers, and even blogs. Can words and pictures walk you through a home you've never been in and make you want to be there? I think so, and so does CEO Spencer Rascoff and Chief Economist Stan Humphries in their book, "Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate".

Real estate language and buyer language are quite different and very important in wording your descriptions of a home. Some are magical and some are very detrimental. Calling a home modern might seem like it's saying it's up to date, sleek, shiny, and new to a buyer, but calling a home modern in real estate means it was built in the mid-to-late 1980's.

Another example might be using words that say cozy, charming,  or quaint might seem like something that would bring a buyer who is looking for a cottage style home in, but to real estate agents you are saying it is less than 1,500 square feet. Small might not be the word you were looking for, but that's what it's saying.

So who are you writing these descriptions for? Buyers or Real Estate Agents or Both? If this were a few years ago I'd say you were writing descriptions for Real Estate Agents. These days, I say it's the buyers! With homes in books, magazines, blogs, and most importantly home websites like Zillow, it's the buyers searching through these listings and sending them to their Real Estate Agents for showings. It might be safe to cater towards both, but think with the buyer in mind and as long as you have great pictures to go with it, you are sure to win the hearts of many.

Reclaiming Your Castle | …loving the place you come home to.

Are there other ways you can go wrong in your description? Yes there is! Not using the allotted words in the description section are a waste of a great opportunity. If you have 250 words available to you, use every last one of them. People want to know everything there is to know about the home and they are willing to research and read all about it. Give them what they want, and who knows maybe those last three words are what grabs them the most!

ipincomplish: Welcome Post and Sign! So adorable!

Lastly, if there's something original, amazing, breathtaking about the home you are selling. Don't sell it short. This is competition!  Like Rascoff and Humphries advise, "If you've got it, flaunt it." and I think you should do just that.

Quick Tips on TIPA-RESPA by C.L.A Title

There are changes in the air! Starting this August you will be seeing new Disclosures and regulations on Loans. Don't worry though, we have all the facts thanks to clatitle.com!

"On August 1, 2015 the HUD 1 will be replaced by the new Closing Disclose and the new Loan Estimate will be replacing the Good Faith Estimate and the Trust in Lending Disclosure." - C.L.A Title

Closing Disclosures forms are going to be 5 pages long instead of 3 pages and must be given to the borrower 3 business days before closing! This is much earlier than the original 24 hours prior to closing. The Closing disclosures has much of the same info as the Trust Lending form and the HUD 1 explanation of fee's and closing costs is closely resembled in page 2 and 3.  There is more explanation on cash to close, which is wonderful, and page 4 has an easy to read section explaining escrow. The last page is a quick summary of loan calculations, contact information, and other disclosures.

Lenders are now going to be required to provide the borrower the Loan Estimate 3 business days after the application has been submitted by the consumer. The first page contains information on the breakdown of loan terms, projected payments, and closing cost. The second includes the break down information of the closing cost. The third page explains additional information about the loan along with the APR.

About C.L.A Title: 

C.L.A. Title is a nationwide title company providing title services for lenders nationwide. For more information please visit our website http://www.clatitle.com/

Market Price vs. Market Value

Do you know what the difference is between Market Price and Market Value?If old houses make your heart skip a beat, you're not going to be able resist these real estate gems.

Inmann.com just recently posted a great article explaining this and I thought I'd take the time to briefly explain it to all of you!  Market prices is the number attached to the home that the owner has decided is worth the sale of their home. Now many things will come to play in this number like; a realtors suggestion, how much it's worth it for the seller to move, and a market value.

Richmond, VA   You can have the American dream of a white picket fence and a tiny house too with this small home, located in Virginia. There's a lot of room for personality in the recently remodeled interior, so get moving—we'd snap this one up in a heartbeat.  Location: Richmond, VA Square Feet: 740 Price: $80,000

A market value is researched information and numbers that calculate what the worth of the home might be. For example an appraiser, competing homes, seller and buyer demand really play a role in coming up with this "number".

How to Get a Home Appraised for Its Maximum Value

Do you know what your homes market value is, and if so, what would be your market price?

Finnegan Progress Preview!

Finnegan is starting to look brand new!

Fireplace is getting an udpate!

We are picking out all the finishing touches!

Old flooring is being replaces by new!

The bathroom is getting a complete overhaul.

The kitchen cabinets are in and are gorgeous!

Tiling is looking great.

And the outside is getting a little TLC!

Stay tuned next week for the video tour and more details!

Get Your Home Ready for Spring

Spring is here and it's time to get back to bringing the outdoors in and spending more time outside than inside!Big old plantation house with wild flowers in the yard. beautiful carefree lifestyle. (no mowing).

Here are some simple ways you can get ready for spring this year:

Timeless design, moments of whimsy, and classic New England coziness—with a tiny bit of fabulous mixed in for good measure | domino.com

Declutter! If it's not useful, get rid of it! You'd be surprised how little daily cleaning and picking up you can get rid of when there isn't things to clean up and get rid of!

greige: interior design ideas and inspiration for the transitional home by christina fluegge

Bring the outdoors in! Keep something fresh and alive in your home at all times. It's a great pick me up and fills the room with a beautiful scent.

Spring Wreaths, Hydrangea Wreath, Spring Decorations, Online Wreath, Etsy Wreaths, Spring Hydrangeas, Spring Home Decor. $85.00, via Etsy.

Decorate your door! Give it a more welcoming feel.

white farmhouse sink with white custom cabinets and black granite countertops (Cultivate.com)

Keep surfaces and windows clean. Let the warm sunlight in and let it shine on all the reflective surfaces!

20 Easy and Cheap DIY Ways to Enhance The Curb Appeal. Not just gardening ideas, but other easy home improvement projects.

Get your hands dirty! Adding simple touches outside can really change the look of your home!

I love everything about this pin…the wicker furniture, lantern lighting, spring colors, and beautiful rug!

Step up your outdoor space! Make it a place where you actually want to spend time.