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Secrets to Successful Home Staging
Home ? Consumer Resources ? Secrets to Successful Home Staging
One of the first and most important steps when listing your home for sale is to make it appealing to all potential buyers. Staging will help to downplay the house?s weaknesses, highlight its strengths, and catch the eye (and memory) of house hunters. Are you ready to list? Let?s set the stage for a successful sale!

Rid the Home of Clutter
Clutter is that dirty little secret that everyone has but wants to get rid of. When staging your home, let the buyers know that this will be the house they could potentially live in clutter-free! One main source of a cluttered visual that we may overlook is our furnishings. As a matter of fact, a professional home stager may even remove half of the home?s furnishings to help the space feel larger. Remove whatever you can live without, while still maintaining functionality.

Prune the Yard and Outside Spaces

The curbside view is the first impression that your home gives to homebuyers. Make sure the yard is mowed, shrubs are trimmed, the mailbox and driveway are in good repair, and the home is not needing a paint job. If you have a porch, set it up just like you would an indoor room, adding seating and splashes of color to give off the ?relax here? vibe.

Light Up The Space
You want to make your home warm and welcoming from the moment that someone steps inside. A great way to do that is through proper lighting. HGTV suggests increasing the wattage of all of your lamps and fixtures to about 100 watts per 50 square feet. Also, have three types of lighting per room: Ambient, task oriented (such as for reading), and accent lighting.

Furniture Rearranged

Often we push furniture as far to the wall as possible in order to maximize living space in the center of the room, but for staging purposes, the opposite is true. Create cozy, intentionally purposed spaces by grouping furniture together. Traffic flow of a room can be controlled by furniture placement too, which will help potential buyers flow through the home in a way navigated by you.

Pretty But Not Too Pretty
Yes, it?s often nice to have a home deemed worthy of a spot in any ?perfect living? magazine, but not necessarily realistic. Staging involves having the home more minimalist than your conventional state of things, but the normal splashes of life will make the house feel like a home, instead of an untouchable picturesque piece.

Bigger is Always Better
It?s possible for nice things to come in small packages, but not when it comes to houses. Buyers are looking for a space that is usable and affordable. Use paint colors to achieve the larger look. Brighter and lighter rooms seem bigger. Connect the flow of two small rooms by painting them the same color. Achieve a seamless look by making the drapery and the wall match.

Repurpose and Redefine
When staging, we are making suggestions to potential buyers about what a room could be used for. If there is a free-for-all room in the home, now is the time to redefine it carefully. Some ideas include a workout space, craft area, reading nooks, play spaces, music room, or entertainment area. Any of the spaces are subliminally suggested by decor and items in the room, but keep it simple enough for a person to project their own ideas too.
It may feel odd to come home to such a redefined place, but keep it mind it?s all for a good cause. Good staging could be the make or break to a quick sale.

source: HGTV.com

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RIS Media’s housecall

By Mikkie Mills

When you first moved into your home, the walls may have been white with beige carpeting. Although this decor choice is classic for nearly every rental and brand-new home, you don’t have to live with the neutral colors. In fact, there are simple ways to improve your home’s ambiance with just a few creative changes. Take a look at these exciting ways to transform your home and customize your space with flair.

Try Vintage Furniture

Your home’s ambiance isn’t just dependent on paint color and flooring choices. In fact, it also depends on your decor selections. The furniture is a focal point of any living room. Purchasing brand new furniture limits your budget because of high costs, so you might be inclined to buy a basic beige couch. Think outside of the box, and shop around some vintage stores in your area. You can find upholstered chairs, love seats and other items for incredibly low prices. The fabrics that you’ll encounter will be distinct too. Older items tend to have decades-old patterns that can improve a home’s ambiance with one quick glance. As you narrow down your furniture selections, however, be sure to have the item cleaned before you take it home. Vintage furniture can have a lot of dust because of its age.

Decorate Your Glass

Your glass can also take on a decorative look when you try stained glass film. This cover for your windows should be used in strategic ways. Ideally, it should be used as an accent instead of a full-coverage decor option on every window. Select a window that has a high-traffic volume around it. Choose a stained glass film that has complementary colors to your interior. Clean the window and apply the film with strict attention to bubbles forming along the way. In many cases, the stained glass film comes with a tool that helps you smooth out these bubbles. When you carefully apply it, the film should last for many years. The sun shines through the colors and creates a dramatic effect across any room in the home.

Go Green with Indoor Plants

Although you could try artificial plants indoors, they still won’t have the same effect as real plants. Add real plants to your home in nearly every room. There are so many varieties that work well in any shaded area that the choices are endless. Along with adding a distinct look, you also benefit from better air quality. Your home has certain pollutants that leech off of paints, woods and other materials. Plants are constantly absorbing carbon dioxide and expelling oxygen. During this process, the plants also absorb toxins that you’re otherwise breathing in. Choose plants designed as shade-loving or indoor species, and give them a home that they’ll love. Water them regularly and they should flourish.

Lighting Your Rooms with Flair

It’s possible to make any room look fresh and inviting with the right lighting concept. Improve your home’s ambiance with wall sconces along a hallway. You’ll free up valuable floor space with lights hanging off of the walls. You may even use sconces along a living room wall as accent points. Many families are also starting to use glass doors inside their home because of the wonders they do for in-house lightning.

When you want to add a distinct decor point to your kitchen, look for drop-down lamps. These lamps hang from your ceiling and culminate with a subtle lampshade and bulb a few feet above your working surface. Add two or three of these lamps just above your kitchen island, for example. You’ll always have enough light to cook by while adding a creative look to your home. In fact, you might want to connect the kitchen and dining room on a decorative scale with matching hanging lamps. All of these fixtures will draw attention and spark conversations among friends.

Shelve It

Improve your home’s ambiance by increasing your storage space and making a decorative statement too. Add floating shelves under staircases or along living room walls. Use them to store books, but also add in quirky collectibles too. The shelves should appear functional and interesting simultaneously. If you keep a lot of collectibles in boxes within the garage, free up that space by placing them on display. You may have forgotten what’s hidden out there.

When you add shelves to any wall, be careful about the chosen location. Each shelf should be carefully attached to the wood studs or beams inside the walls. Use a stud finder or hire a handyperson to install the shelves. You want them to be as sturdy as possible for all of the weight that they’ll carry.

To realize your dream home, create a budget first. Look at the maximum cost that you can afford for your purchases, and try to stick with that amount. When you go shopping for materials, you can be more selective about your choices. With smart material purchases, you can buy more for your home’s enhanced ambiance.

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RIS Media’s Housecall

Caring for aging parents is a growing concern for many Americans. For those among the Sandwich Generation, homeowners typically in their forties who are responsible for their own families and their aging parents, what to do with grandma or grandpa is always a trying, stressful question to answer. While nursing homes may feel wrong or unnecessary, and having the elderly family member move into your family’s home may have its own inherent difficulties, the Granny Pod is here to finally provide a nice middle ground option for families in need.

Granny Pods, aka MedCottages, are 12 x 24-foot pre-fabricated pods that sit conveniently in one’s backyard. The structures hook up to existing plumbing and electrical systems and allow both the caregiver and senior citizen to have their own space while still being available and connected. The pods are quickly growing in popularity and are a win-win for both parties: the aging family member has his or her own space, while the caregiver doesn’t have far to travel to assist family members in case of an emergency.

The mobile homes are built with safety in mind and include many of the basic amenities any adult would need. They include a small kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom all designed in a small scale space with easy access in mind. The bathrooms are handicap accessible with railings and safety features, while the floors are padded to help lighten the load on joints.

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The Real Estate Book

Most homeowners don?t think about their roofs until leaky ceilings and puddles form inside their home. In which case, you end up spending way more than you planned. Why think about your roof if there isn?t a problem?

According to Metal Roofing Alliance Executive Director Bill Hippard, ?Roofers are most in demand following severe weather such as heavy rain or high winds. If you put off doing repairs or replacing your roof until you have a problem, you may find that the contractor has a waiting list, and your problem will get worse before it can be addressed.?
To avoid costly delays and repairs, we have put together a list of signs that you should look for throughout your home. So let?s get to it!

1. Your roof has missing shingles.
High winds can remove shingles from your roof, creating an invitation for leaks. You can use binoculars to inspect your roof without a ladder.
2. Shingles are cracked or peeling.
Even if the shingles aren?t missing, there can be damage. If they?re curling or torn, they?re on their way to failing.
3. There are stains or water marks on your ceiling.
You may have a leaking roof even if you don?t see a puddle. It?s important to find the source of the leak and make repairs before the problem grows.
4. Shingles are discolored.
This can be a sign of mold or algae growth on your roof, particularly in warm, wet climates. The elements are hard on a roof, causing it to deteriorate and fail.
5. Your roof is old.
If you have a typical asphalt shingle roof, and it?s more than 10-15 years-old, chances are, you?re going to need to replace it in the near future.

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A Time for Everything
Winter Can Be Hard On Your Home

The fall Equinox is the time when temperatures begin dropping, sliding into winter. So it?s a good time of year to begin preparing your home for winter and doing the maintenance necessary to keep it in tip-top shape through the winter.

1. Clean out the gutters. SAFETY FIRST – I don?t recommend climbing ladders unless you are very comfortable in doing so. In the fall, leaves can be wet and slippery. So if you do climb a ladder, be sure to restrain it from movement. At the base of the ladder I will drive two 18? pieces of metal rebar into the ground at the base of the ladder, then use some webbing or other bungee cords to keep the ladder from kicking out at the base. If you?ve seen my inspections, I use a bungee cord at the top to fasten the ladder to the gutter in case I slip, the ladder will not move and hopefully stop my fall. I would prefer to hire someone experienced and insured to clean my gutters but not everyone wants to hire someone, especially when it often has to be done several times before the snow falls. There are dozens of gutter covers; some good, some not so good. Do your homework before you invest. Regardless of whether or not you hire someone or you do it yourself, clean gutters are important to help minimize the risk of Ice Dams and subsequent leaks into your home. If your gutters are clogged with leaves, the debris can freeze into a big, icy mass, that could get under shingles and damage your roof. If you decide to clean your own gutters, you’ll need to put on some work gloves. Then you?re ready to scoop out the leaves & miscellaneous debris. which will allow water to drain. Some people like using a leaf blower and this will speed things up. But you will probably still need to use your hands to remove the sludge & grime that builds up over the spring and summer.

2. Have the HVAC system serviced. Winter can be hard on heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. According to EnergyStar standards, HVAC systems perform much more efficiently when properly maintained. If it?s been a year or more since your HVAC system was serviced, call a licensed professional to perform yearly maintenance checks.

For about $80 to $100, a HVAC contractor will inspect your heating system to be sure it is clean and in good repair, and that it can achieve its manufacturer-rated efficiency. The inspection also measures carbon-monoxide leakage.

Check your furnace filter monthly. Change it if the filter is clogged with dust or dander, or if it?s damaged in any way. If you use the wider 4-5″ filters that are often changed every 6-12 months, you should still check them every few months, especially if you have pets that shed.

If you act soon, you’ll minimize the chance of being put at the end of a long line for repairs on the coldest day of the year. Look for a HVAC contractor that belongs to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and employs technicians certified by the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) program.

3. Protect exposed pipes. Do you have any pipes exposed to the outside or are in an unheated area of the basement or crawl space? If so, these are potential problems. Water inside the pipes can freeze and cause the pipe to burst when temperatures drop below freezing. Get pipe insulation from the local hardware store; cut it to fit the length of the pipe, wrap it around the pipe and secure it with duct tape, if needed. I installed frost free hose bibbs on my home, but it?s still a good idea to turn off the isolation valves typically found in the basement within a few feet of the outside hose bibb. Don?t forget to add the hose bibb vacuum breakers (about $5.00 and up).

4. Prevent door locks from freezing. If the doors to your home are directly exposed to the elements or if your car is left outside (not in a heated garage), consider picking up some powdered-graphite lubricant from the hardware store. Spray the lubricant into the door lock (where the key goes in), then turn the key in the lock. Doing this every season lubricates the pins inside the locks and helps keep your door locks from freezing up.

5. Mulch your flower beds. Sometime before the new year and definitely before the coldest winter temps hit, add a layer of hardwood mulch to all of the flower beds. The mulch acts as insulation and helps regulate changes in soil temperatures, protecting the roots from significant damage.

6. Check for and seal air drafts. It?s important to find and seal the air leaks and drafts you find in your home because if you don’t, it can cost you big money. Air leaks make your heating and cooling system use more energy and work harder to do the job you want it to do. The Candle Test is one way to determine if you have drafty windows, doors and baseboards. On a windy day, light a candle and run it along the sides of the exterior windows, door and baseboards. If the candle flame wavers, you have an air leak. To seal the leaks, pick up white or clear paintable caulking and weather stripping or window-film kits from your local hardware store. For baseboards, clean and dry the area with a paper towel. Then, using the caulking, fill in gaps between the trim and the floor with an even bead. Smooth with a caulking tool or a plastic spoon, then remove the excess with a mildly soapy damp cloth. To seal drafty windows and doors, use weather stripping (around the frame) or window-film kits (over the glass).

7. Reverse the Airflow on Ceiling Fan. Use ceiling fans to reverse the airflow. In summer, you want air blowing downward for a cooling effect. Reverse the fan in winter so that it circulates the hot air around the room. This works especially well in rooms with high ceilings. Hot air rises and collects near the ceiling, so bring it down where people gather. I personally keep the fans blowing upward all year round as it still circulates the air just fine for my preference.

I hope you?ve found this helpful. If so, feel free to share it with friends and family.

Do it once, do it right.

Donn Anderson
Certified Master Inspector?

OCTOBER
74 Look for creosote buildup in fireplace flues
75 Get Winter supply of firewood
76 Check water heater and furnace to be sure they are working properly
77 Lubricate and check electric garage door openers
78 Cover outside air-conditioning units
79 Rake leaves off lawn and away from house until trees are bare
80 Store garden hoses
81 Shut off outside water faucets and drain water from pipes
82 Add insulating plastic to the inside of your windows
83 Set mower low and cut grass to rid your lawn of leafy materials
84 Plant tulip or other Spring flowering bulbs before ground freezes
85 Dig up tender bulbs such as canna lily and dahlias to store over Winter
86 Take cuttings from plants you want to save over Winter
87 Apply Winter fertilizer and weed control
88 Clean gutters
89 Make sure drain spouts are secure and clear

#homemaintenance

RISMEDIA.com by Housecall

For a home to remain in good shape throughout the winter it needs regular care and attention. When a home is occupied, many of the things that are necessary to keep it in good working order happen by default. But when the home is vacant, it is up to the owner or the property manager to prepare it for freezing temperatures and other winter risks.

The worst risk comes from bursting pipes, which can lead to water damage that can significantly impact the value of the home. Left alone, water can ruin everything it touches ? walls, floors, electrical systems, etc. It can even damage the foundation. Other risks exist as well, such as pest infiltration, that can leave nasty surprises for the homeowner.

Taken together, the dangers of failing to winterize a home are too severe to ignore. Any real estate agent who has been involved with selling bank owned properties or vacant short sales can certainly tell you the necessity of knowing how to winterize a vacant home! In order to get an informed opinion on the subject we reached out to a well known real estate agent in Westborough, Mass., Bill Gassett, who has been selling homes for nearly 30 years. Gassett runs a popular real estate blog known as Maximum Real Estate Exposure that offers numerous tips to buyers and sellers. Below he shares all of his tips for getting your place winterized.

Bring in a plumber.

Hiring a professional plumber to winterize the pipes and water system in the home is extremely important if you want to avoid the incredibly expensive water damage that can occur from freezing pipes. The plumber can examine the entire system, inside and out, and then prepare it for freezing temperatures. The plumber will drain all areas where water is stored, like water heaters and hot tubs, and will use an air compressor to expel water from the pipes throughout the house. With the water removed, you do not have to keep the house heated to prevent freezing. The pipes are protected and you save money in utility costs.

Drain outdoor garden hoses.

Water hoses must be disconnected from the home and drained of water to prevent damage to both the hoses and the spigots where they attach to the house. Left undrained, the water inside will freeze and burst not only the hose, but often the spigot as well. If winter watering must be done to keep landscape plants alive, make sure the person who does the watering drains the hoses and disconnects them from the house after each use.

Close up all openings to the house.

To prevent animals and insects from entering the home for shelter, you will need to close up all openings throughout the house. These include dryer vents and the chimney.

Have the gutters cleaned and repaired if necessary.

Gutters must be free of debris and attached properly to the house to funnel water away from the roof, siding and foundation. When debris accumulates, the gutter may stop working properly. If enough water collects and a freeze hits, the weight of the ice can pull the gutter away from the home, damaging the siding and leading to potential ice hazards where water collects at the base of the house. If you live in a cold weather climate then you understand just how bad ice damning was last year. Knowing how to prevent ice dams is something every homeowner should have a grasp of. Ice dams can cause serious damage to a home including mold behind ceilings and walls that you may not be able to detect! Have the gutters cleaned periodically until all leaves have dropped from the trees, and make sure they are in good repair.

Remove anything touching the side of the house, such as leaves and firewood.

Water and insects can accumulate in firewood and debris, causing damage to the siding and leading to potential infestations. Keeping everything away from the house creates a safe barrier and prevents water damage. This includes shrubbery and other landscaping. Keep a minimum of a couple of feet to allow the home to breath.

Have trees trimmed over the home.

Remove any tree branches that may touch the house or hang too closely. Tree branches increase the leaves that accumulate in the gutter and can also break and fall on the house in a snow or ice storm. If you are negligent about keeping branches over your home it could lead to insurance denying your claim.

Use moth balls to keep insects out of the house.

Moth balls may smell unpleasant, but they are effective at keeping insects away. Use them anywhere you think insects may be a problem.

Talk to the gas company about disconnecting the gas supply.

A gas explosion can cause even more damage than frozen pipes. Let the gas company know the home is vacant and ask them to disconnect the gas supply to the home. Obviously if you are not living in the home this becomes important because if a gas leak were to form it would be too late for you to do anything about it. This is one of the major reasons why nearly all bank owned properties get winterized.

Make the home appear occupied at a glance.

It is better for potential buyers and discouraging to unwanted visitors if the home appears occupied. You can setup lights on timers and have the landscaping tended to periodically to keep things looking nice. If snow is an issue you can also have the driveway cleared. We provide a list of many tips on how to sell a home in the winter. This advice applies to both occupied and non-occupied homes. Keep in mind that if your home is on the market you are going to need to get it un-winterized with fairly short notice when the buyer schedules a home inspection. Buyers will want to be able to check the heating and plumbing systems and will not be able to do so if the home is winterized.

Hire a landscaper to perform a fall cleanup.

As the weather gets colder, plants will die and you will be left with a disheveled looking yard and landscape. It is beneficial for the sales process if you have someone come in and cleanup around the home after the first freeze or two, when most of the vegetation has died off. The landscaper can cut back any dead growth, rake up leaves and prepare plants for the winter.

Check on the home periodically.

An unoccupied home, even when the lights come on and the driveway is plowed, can be appealing to burglars and to squatters. It can also be a destination for kids in the neighborhood to come hang out for fun. The only people you want visiting are potential buyers, so you should maintain a schedule of visiting the home periodically to make sure it is being left alone and to discourage unwanted visitors.

Use of all these tips and your experience with winterizing a home should be a breeze!

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