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Archive for the ‘Getting Ready to Sell’ Category

Painting on a Foundation for Seasonal Home Décor Change

From the same people who bought you a pallet of mood-altering hues to help adjust your attitude at home, comes a slathering-for-all-seasons-based system designed to accommodate the decor changes you face when decking the halls every holiday.

If you followed the Paint Quality Institute’s approach to latex that puts you in the right frame of mind, room-by-room, you likely won’t paint yourself into a coronary.

However that passion play you tried to make with blood red paint on the staircase wall to the bedroom will probably clash with Easter.

When you paint most common or shared areas of your home, it has to be a good fit for the inevitable decorations you drag out of the attic with every new season’s greeting.

And it has to be a good fit for the adjustments you make from one holiday or season to the next.

Here’s how to earn your Martha Stewart Holiday Decor Foundation badge.

“To help guide your color selection, think of your wall color as a blank canvas, against which to feature your seasonal items,” says Debbie Zimmer the color cop at the Paint Quality Institute.

Zimmer says if you plan ahead, modifying your surroundings to be both seasonally- and holiday-appropriate is a cinch.

First, give your walls a light neutral coat, something in an off-white, pale taupe, or a subtle grey.

Once the acrylic base is in place, then it’s time to focus on elements you can rotate in or out with the seasonal cycles.

Inexpensive area rugs work wonders placed on top of wall-to-wall carpeting. Ditto when it comes to window treatments that can casually thrown over decorative curtain rods.

A small area rug with red or gold in the pattern will warm up a room in the dead of winter. Come spring brighten things up by swapping in a light green rug. Oh, what a difference it will make.

“When it comes to interior decor, it’s always best to repeat key colors to create a cohesive color scheme,” says Zimmer.

Take that throw rug to the fabric store to find a bolt of material that matches.

It’s not just about color. Fabric weight is key too. Heavier fabrics work well in fall and winter. Go with more sheer materials in the spring and summer.

Slipcovers are another accessory to put in your spring-summer-fall winter bag of tricks. Warm (deep red, orange, or gold) colors melt the frost cool (light blue or green) numbers put a chill on the heat. Create the same effect by rotating warm and cool pillows or cushions on neutral colored sofas, chaises or chairs.

Another easy way to render a room seasonally correct is with accent pieces on the mantel, shelving, and other furnishings. Accomplish the technique with accent pieces in colors appropriate for the season or with real visual triggers — seashells in the summer, pine cones in the winter. Use seasonal flowers to accomplish the same effect.

Don’t forget wall art, not for art’s sake, but to imitate life. Hang representational paintings or illustrations to frame your seasonal décor.

And there’s always more paint.

“If you’re especially ambitious, you might even dare to do more with your paint color,” says Zimmer.

“Not that you’d want to repaint an entire room with each new season, but you actually might be willing to repaint a small accent wall once or twice a year. Assuming that the wall is easy to access, you could complete the job in just a few hours – a small price to pay if you’re really seasonally-driven,” Zimmer said.

If you would like to contact a Prudential Real Estate agent today, please call 573.449.6200 or email Info@PrudentialVision.com.  Prudential Vision Properties is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

September 22, 2011 — Realty Times Feature Article by Broderick Perkins

Have you ever thought, “Gee what can I do with these pizza boxes instead of throwing them away” following eating more than your fair share of pizza?  No?  Well someone else did, and this is what they came up with.  Wall Art!  This is a great way to take your home from boring to BANG when selling your home.

You will need:

Pizza boxes – small, medium or large
Wallpaper, wrapping paper or fabric
Bostik spray adhesive
Ruler
Craft or utility knife
Scissors
Double-sided tape to mount onto wall

Here’s how:

1. For my project I used some left over Fired Earth wallpaper that I had. It’s vinyl wallpaper – nice and thick – and perfect for this type of project. But you could also use wrapping paper or fabric.

2. Cut a sheet of paper so that it is bigger than the box and will fold nicely over the sides.

3. Spray the back of the paper and the front and sides of the box with Bostik spray adhesive and leave for five minutes.

4. Place the front of the box on the paper, making sure to position in the center, and press down.

5. Use scissors to cut all four corners diagonally.

6. Fold over two opposite side. Don’t fold all the sides over just yet as you need to create nice, neat corners.

7. Fold the edges/corners of the sides that you have just folded over onto the other sides – as shown left.

8. On the other two corners, trim the edges straight and then spray adhesive onto the corners that you have just folded over. Wait for five minutes.

9. Now fold the other sides onto the edges.

10. Use a craft knife to cut away any excess at the back.

And…….. The Finished Products

If you would like to contact a Prudential Real Estate agent today, please call 573.449.6200 or email Info@PrudentialVision.com.  Prudential Vision Properties is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

By: Dave McConnell

Today’s prospective homebuyers are increasingly interested in a property’s outdoor living space as they are its interior. Savvy agents understand this powerful trend and are staging homes on two fronts – the terrific indoors and the great outdoors.

The following tips will help ensure that your backyard is as distinctive at your home itself.

• Make your Backyard Homey: Create a conversation area with some furniture. The area needn’t be elaborate; just two chairs pulled close together with a table between can make even the most basic concrete patio special. Just the idea that an outdoor eating option is possible makes a property more inviting. Adding accessories like a small table, an inexpensive outdoor rug or a few pots filled with flowers will make the area even more attractive.
• Remember the Kids: If you have an old tree house, fix it up and paint it bright colors or add sporty designs that will make other kids fall in love with it. Just make sure the tree house is safe. Add a tire swing to a tree and keep an orderly basket of balls, flying disks and a jump rope so kids dragged along on the showing can play in the yard. Swing sets that are old and unsightly should be removed or refurbished to look new.
• Fire is Hot: There’s nothing like sitting around a fire and enjoying the company of friends and loved ones, which explains the growing popularity of fire pits and outdoor hearths. Few home improvements create the “wow” factor that a backyard fireplace will, and many homeowners are adding a fireplace to their outdoor landscape to recreate all the appeal of their home’s interior outside in the backyard.
• Simple Fixes: You needn’t go overboard with the changes in your yard. Sometimes, the easiest fixes will create a look that people will remember. Do a thorough inspection and replace any damaged boards on your deck or fence, and apply a fresh coat of paint, stain and sealant if the finish requires it. You should also weed and groom your garden and add some perennials for color.

Creating a backyard sanctuary is one of the smartest things you can do to make your home stand out, so make your outdoor space a destination to remember.

Dave McConnell can be reached at 573.449.6200. Prudential Vision Properties is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Psychology of Color on your Home

Agents frequently suggest that homeowners paint before placing their homes on the market. Don’t be offended!

Agents understand “color psychology,” which focuses on color’s effect on human behavior and emotion. Since people’s reaction to color is immediate, color has a tremendous influence on the choices they make every day.

“Color choices are very personal and when selling your home, it’s critical to appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers,” said Allegra Dioguardi, president of Styled and Sold Home Staging in New York. “With so many people beginning their search for a home on the Internet today, your home and listing photos must stand out from your competition. Color is one very simple way to do this.”

Added Eric Brown, one of the authors of House Selling for Dummies: “Painting your house’s exterior before you put it on the market will give the biggest bang for your fix-up buck, as long as you are using colors that conform to the neighborhood’s decorating norm.”

Colors affect human beings in many ways, and by using the principles of color psychology, you can make your home stand out from the competition, sell more quickly, and at a higher price. In short, the stimulus and effect of colors normally cross cultures. Blues will feel cool, reds and oranges feel warm. Deeper shades of color imply intimacy and serenity.

Your home’s exterior color is the first thing most potential homebuyers see when they drive up or inspect the property on the Web. The correct color may be the most powerful and cost effective design tool at your disposal.

What is “correct” these days? Brown’s research shows that homes painted in pale yellows with cream or beige accents have sold fastest during the past few years.

In general, lighter colors are favored for exterior as they make the property seem larger. Conversely, painting your sideboards with a darker color will make the house seem smaller, though dark colors can draw more attention to home’s details.

For those painting an older home, you may want to consider historical accuracy, as this could be a big selling point as well.

When choosing interior colors for the home, consider the purpose of each room. Kitchen and dining areas painted in “food colors” such as coffee browns, celery greens and scrambled-egg yellows will make the rooms feel more natural.

Hallways are a great place to bring in the exterior colors for overall harmony.

According to Jeanette Fisher’s book Joy to the Home: Secrets of Interior Design Psychology, since, deeper shades of color imply intimacy and serenity, she recommends painting master bedrooms a medium shade of green or blue for warm selling seasons, and rouge red for cooler weather. Other bedrooms can be painted in creamy tones of green, blue, or a pale shell pink.

For your bedroom and bathroom, cool colors can form a relaxing atmosphere with paint. Consider shades of blue, green or even lavender.

Of course, common sense should help you with any color choices. You need to match other things in your home and keep a comfortable environment as well.

Amanda Johnson can be reached at 573.449.6200. Prudential Vision Properties is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Home buying can be a long and tiring process.

It can be stressful physically, mentally and emotionally.  But once you step into a house that is ALL yours, you realize that it was definitely WORTH the strain.  Here are 10 things that you can keep in mind to help make sure you have all your hair by the end of the process.

1. Get your finances in order
“The seller wants to know that if they do accept the offer, that barring catastrophic title issues or inspection issues, the deal is going to go through,” said Gary Dwyer, broker-owner of Buyer Agents of Boston. Another expert recommends having a full pre-approval within the past 30 days: “Six months is no good anymore, because the rules keep changing.”

2. Know your timeframe
“As a shorter-term buyer, you might consider whether the place is a good investment, and if it’s the kind of property that’s going to be attractive for the next buyer…A house near train tracks, for instance, is probably not what most people are looking for. But for someone who’s planning to stay longer, a good school system or larger lot size might make up for the trains thundering past.”

3. Investigate market conditions
One of the benefits of working with a REALTOR® is that they will have an idea of this, and if not they have the tools to do the research.  Your REALTOR® will investigate what comparable properties have sold for over the past three to six months.

4. Search and buy within your means
“If the housing crisis has taught us anything, it’s that buying with the expectation that prices will continuously go up — and that if you can eke out the payments each month, you’ll be in a good spot in the long run — isn’t such a good idea.”

5. If you’re waiting for prices to go lower, think again
Real estate is continually changing.  There are many people waiting for prices to continue to drop, but they may be missing out on their dream home.

6. Don’t get too sucked in by appearances
Buyers should keep in mind that many sellers will try to present their homes in the best possible light. Don’t count on items that are in the house when shown to be there after you have purchased the home.  Many times a REALTOR® will have the home staged.  In that case, the “stuff” will be taken out when the sellers leave.

7. Have questions prepared
Be ready to answer questions regarding age of the roof, heating system, hot water heater, windows, etc.  Also be prepared to answer, if the basement has taken water in the time the seller has been there, if there’s a sump pump; and what utilities and homeowner insurance generally cost. If there’s been recent renovation work, buyers should find out if all building permits have been signed off, and if all of the contractors and sub-contractors have been paid in full. If there’s a pool, buyers should ask when the last inspection was done to check the back flow preventer.

8. If you’re thinking of buying a brand new house…
If buying a new house, take into consideration that no one has lived in the home to “test it out”.  If someone has lived in the house, they have been there to know if there is water that comes in the basement when it rains or if there are drafts in the house.

9. If you’re buying a condo, know the rules
Lenders have become more strict in this market.  Some would-be buyers have been turned away from getting financing.  Many lenders want buildings to be at least 50% owner-occupied.

10. Think about a home’s intrinsic value
Is this is an investment decision, consumption decision or both?  Think to yourself “Is this a house where I can see myself raising a family” or “Is this location good for me and my interests”.

To talk with a Prudential Vision Properties agent today, call 573.449.6200 or email info@PrudentialVision.com.