CENTURY 21, Author at CENTURY 21 MarketLink Realty - SMARTER. BOLDER. FASTER.

8 Things You May Have Thought When Your In-Laws Stayed Over

August 23, 2014 By CENTURY 21

You love your in-laws. They are your family. Still, when they come over on short notice you always feel unprepared.

We’re not pointing any fingers but you may have thought one of the following things while you were smiling, listening to the story they tell every year, or cooking a meal you know they’ll hardly touch.

1. How long are they staying?: He said they were just staying the weekend but that never happens. It’s always so much longer… At least it feels that way. Maybe I’ll fake sick Sunday afternoon to make sure they leave on time. Yes, that’s it! I’ll watch that Ferris movie to plan my strategy.

2. Anything that can go wrong, will: That is just my luck, isn’t it? Either the kids will get sick, someone will have to work later than usual, the house will flood, or the world will end. Nothing can go right if the in-laws are here, that is just not how life works. They call that Murphy’s Law; I call it Murphy’s In-Laws.

3. Cooking Criticism: Last time I slaved in the kitchen, “the chicken was overcooked and the pasta was undercooked.” I’m sure someone will have something to say this time, too. I think the cooking powers-that-be curse me when my in-laws are here.

4. Clean, Clean, Clean: I wonder, if I had hired a cleaning service to come in and take over the house, would it have been noticeable? The house would be cleaner than usual so they might suspect something. That might open a whole other can of worms, so maybe I’ll just clean myself. If only I had a bunch of birds following me along cleaning, like a certain princess who lost her shoe. I wonder what the prince’s in-laws were like. They probably loved the good lady’s chicken.

5. Wine, Wine, and More Wine: I should probably run to the liquor store and pick something up… for them, not for me. I swear, these six bottles of wine are for my in-laws, not for me. I swear, I’m opening the first of them right now even though they don’t arrive until this weekend FOR THEM, NOT FOR ME.

6. Where are those gifts?: I know I put that ceramic elephant they got us for Christmas three years ago in the attic, but which box is it in? I thought I wrote it down the last time they visited so this wouldn’t happen again. Ok, now let me practice my “I love it and look at it every day” face.

7. Please don’t bring that up: I know that his/her ex still lives down the block from you. No, I do not want to hear about their new job and how they look better than ever. Please just don’t bring it up, please.

8. Good attitude: Lots of smiles and a clear head. If I remember to be nice, all will go well — hopefully. After all, in-laws can smell fear.

You finally understand the line, “to have and to hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times, and in the bad, and to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life (Traditional Wedding Vows).” Even this weekend.

Recommended Reading:

-5 Stages of Having Your Kids Home from College

-Moving Advice You Should NOT Take from People in Stock Photos

-7 Reasons You’re Secretly Jealous of Your Dollhouse Family

-5 Zombie-Proof Houses Your Family Won’t be Caught Dead In

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Instagram Tips for Real Estate Agents

August 22, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Instagram is a social media platform that allows people to share and edit photos. More than 100 million people use Instagram every month, making it a valuable space to engage with potential, current, and past clients. Use Instagram to showcase listings, promote your personal brand, and generate leads.

Here are a few best practices for Instagram.

1. Optimize Images: Instagram is a visual platform so the most important best practice is that the images are visually appealing. Whenever possible, take photos when there is natural light and take photos that are clear and focused. One of the unique features of Instagram is the ability to edit photos. Users can apply filters and make advanced edits to components like brightness, saturation, contrast, and warmth. There is also wide variety of third party editing tools such as Snapseed and Afterlight. These apps provide even more editing tools and features.

2. Utilize Hashtags: If you caption your photo with a hashtag such as #RealEstate #Listing or #HouseForSale, your followers will able to click it and track all photos captioned with that hashtag. Using hashtags is an essential and necessary part of boosting engagement and creating a following on Instagram. It allows people to find and follow you in a simpler way. People can also search for hashtags and photos will come up in search. This is a great way to get noticed as a user!

3. Engage with Followers: Follow and engage with other users. You can find people to follow by searching hashtags that interest you. Once you’ve followed people engage with them by liking posts and leaving meaningful comments.

4. Analyze Timing: Timing matters on Instagram. There are times of the day when your community is more active. It is important to know when your followers are online so you can interact with them and, hopefully, get more engagement on your photos. Most communities are more engaged at night so consider posting pictures in the evening. You can track your most engaged time of the day by using Iconosquare, a website that analyzes your Instagram statistics.

5. Create Videos: Videos are a newer feature to come to Instagram. You can take a short video tour of your listing to give buyers a look before even entering the home. If they like what they see, they can contact you immediately to set up a time to meet. Potential clients may also be so impressed with your innovative new media skills that they will call you when they are ready to buy or sell a home.

6. Promote Posts: Share your photos on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and your blog to create maximum engagement and exposure.

7. Use Instagram Photo Maps: When posting a photo to Instagram, you have the option to add location, essentially adding it to your photo maps. The photo will show up on an actual map, allowing your followers to see where you have taken the most photos. This will allow you to show your knowledge of certain areas and neighborhoods and the exact location of any listings.

Now that you know these best practices you can apply them and grow your Instagram following. Interested in learning more about how social media can help your career? Read our best practices for Twitter, Pinterest, and SEO.

Recommended Reading:

-Home Office Essentials

-Productivity Tips for Working from Home

-Picture Perfect: How to Take Great Photos of Your Home

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Ask Our Expert: Christopher Lowell’s Advice for DIY Curtains

August 20, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Custom curtains are so costly. Got any good tips for do-it-yourselfers?

—Sara Boling CENTURY 21 Boling & Associates, Inc. Myrtle Beach, SC

New window treatments can offer a whole new look that will re-theme any space with a brand new attitude. And yes, you can do it yourself! My top three rules for success:

• When choosing drapery fabrics, keep them solid or texture-driven but pattern-free. Pattern is the first thing to date a room and can easily overwhelm or compete with the rest of the room’s decor.

• When in doubt, keep it simple. Straight, well-constructed panels are often enough.

• Mount your rods as high to the ceiling as possible. Then extend them at least a foot past the casings on both sides. This will prevent the curtains from shrouding the window and make the room seem bigger.

The layered look can save money by helping reduce heating and cooling bills. Here’s how to do it:

• Use great fabric panels for the look only—meaning they remain stationary.

• Inside the window casings, add coordinating woven, cellular shades or blinds to handle light and privacy issues. This way you protect your fragile fabrics from repeated open-and-close usage, letting the inside shades do all the heavy lifting.

• Don’t worry about lining the curtains (which is good for the budget-minded), but be sure to weight them so they hang properly.

CHRISTOPHER LOWELL, an Emmy Award-winning interior designer and TV host, is known for doable design advice that nets stunning results.

Recommended Reading:

-How to Style a Gallery Wall

-How to Style Your Home on a Budget

-A Day in the Garden: Paint Palette

-How to Style a Bookshelf

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Tech Talk: 5 Apps for Real Estate Agents

August 19, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Real estate agents are often on the go visiting listings, showings, and clients. Luckily, technology makes it easier to get work done from anywhere and maximize productivity while doing so.

There are hundreds of apps on the market that could be helpful for agents but here are five currently on our radar.

Evernote: Evernote is a high tech note taking app. Take notes by hand, type them on your mobile device or tablet, or take photos of business cards and loose papers. This technology allows you to use search to quickly and easily find specific notes or concepts – even if you wrote a handwritten note! Sign up for Evernote Business to collaborate with colleagues in real time.

Sitegeist: Sitegeist quickly provides data about a location. Learn demographics, nearby restaurants and entertainment, public transportation, the average rent price and more. Share these insights with clients as they choose and explore different neighborhoods.

Google Maps: Use Google Maps for transportation directions to and from listings. The app can also help you find restaurants and shops in the neighborhood.

Dropbox: Have access to important documents and files at the touch of a button. Wish you had brought a contract or lease with you? If you saved it to Dropbox, you can pull it up on your device no matter where you are. Quickly share individual files with colleagues and clients. Sign up for Dropbox for Business to share access to presentations and files.

CENTURY21®: Use the Century21® app to view nearby homes for sale or rent, nearby open houses, search for homes, save properties, and find price reductions. Show the app to your clients and use it to find new properties that might interest them. If you are in a neighborhood for a showing, go and visit more homes in the area!

We hope that these apps will help you stay organized in and out of the office. We care about helping you advance in your career. You can find more resources at Century21 SM University.

Recommended Reading:

-Tech Talk: Home Office Essentials

-Productivity Tips for Working from Home

-Let’s Get App-y: 3 Apps for Interior Design

*Some of these apps may require payment for certain features.

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Dorm Room 101: How to Decorate a Dorm Room

August 18, 2014 By CENTURY 21

A dorm room is a student’s home away from home. It is possible to make it feel more home-y (while still ensuring that they come back home for breaks).

Use these tips to help them show off their style and personality!

Decorative Bedding: The beds are the focal points of a dorm room. Bedding is a great way to showcase your child’s style. Have fun choosing the perfect extra long twin sheets, comforter, decorative pillows, and other bedding necessities. If they know their roommates in advance, you can coordinate a color scheme with them!

Clutter Concealers: Dorm rooms are notoriously small and students generally share the space with at least one roommate. Conceal clutter by using storage pieces such as under the bed boxes, a storage ottoman, slim hangers, and closet storage accessories.

Cover the Walls: Most schools won’t allow students to paint the walls of your dorm room, but there are other ways to enhance a bland white wall. Frame posters, art, and personal photos. You can also put up a wall decals or removable wallpaper, just make sure to take it down at the end of the year.

Extra Lighting: Dorm rooms often have fluorescent lighting. To create a home-like feel, use floor lamps, desk lamps, or table lamps instead of the main lights for a room.

Curtains: Curtains make any room feel more like home and they block out light better than blinds. If you are allowed to install a curtain rod, purchase curtains for the space.

Extras: Extra items could include a small couch, a behind the door mirror, desk organizers, a small trashcan, a lap desk, and a small floor rug.

Follow these suggestions to style your child’s dorm room. They’ll enjoy having a cozy and comfortable space that they can call their own (for at least a year).

Recommended Reading:

-How to Make a Rental Feel Like Home

-Sweet Dreams are Made of These: How to Style a Bed

-How to Style a Bookshelf

-Home Office Essentials

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Done in One Hour: How to Install a Faucet

August 16, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Replacing an old, inefficient faucet with one that’s equipped to save water can reduce your consumption by up to 80 percent. When you shop, look for logos such as Eco-Friendly, Energy Star, and Water Sense; these logos designate environmentally conscious features, including low-flow aerators and touchless controls. Donate your old fixture to a good cause (try Habitat for Humanity) or take it to a local recycling center (look in the Yellow Pages). Learn more about water saving products and techniques.

Here is how to install your eco-friendly faucet.

Supplies and Tools:

-Crescent or basin wrench
-Water pump pliers
-Bucket
-Towel

Step-By-Step Instructions:

1) Shut off the water supply. The copper lines that supply hot and cold water to the sink often have shutoff valves under the sink. Turn them off. In some homes, you may need to turn off water elsewhere, such as the lines in the basement that lead to the sink. Once the water supply is off, turn the faucet on to let water and pressure drain from the lines.

2) Disconnect the existing faucet from the plumbing. Use a crescent wrench (or a basin wrench if the nuts are difficult to reach) to disconnect the faucet from the supply lines. Then disconnect the sink from the drainpipes using water pump pliers. Keep a bucket and towel handy to clean up the water that will, inevitably, spill from pipes.

3) Install the faucet on the sink. Follow the installation instructions for your specific faucet. The process typically involves laying a gasket on the sink, then setting the faucet on top of the gasket with its tailpieces extending through the sink’s holes. Tightening a nut on the underside of the sink secures the faucet to the sink.

Complete these steps, then stand back and enjoy your brand new faucet!

5 Ways to Take Your Living Room from Good to Great

August 15, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Take your living room from good to great! A few small steps will make your living room a space that is great for entertaining, making family memories, or curling up with tea and a good book.

Try these five ways to take your living room from good to great:

1. Add Extra Seating: In order for people to spend time in the living room, there has to be somewhere for them to sit. Add extra seating so that your guests and family members can congregate. Buy an extra couch, love seat, chair, or build a window seat. Adding comfort to the living room will help create an environment where memories can be made.

2. Natural Lighting: Increase your living room’s natural lighting. BrightNest recommends maximizing natural light by strategically placing mirrors across from windows to reflect light from the windows. They also recommend hanging translucent curtains instead of opaque ones. Paint your furniture, walls, and ceiling a light color to increase the illusion of natural light. Learn more of BrightNest’s tips here.

3. Clear the Clutter: You probably have several coffee table books that haven’t been opened since 1994 (we all do). Instead of letting them sit in your living room collecting dust, put them away (or get rid of them), along with all other non-daily items. Clear off surfaces and floors to create as much open space as possible. It’s both practical and aesthetically pleasant.

4. Add Art: Fill your living room with beautiful art that you love. You’ll love admiring it every day. Art is also a great conversation starter. Tell your guests why each piece is special to you and your family.

5. Add Personal Photographs and Family Heirlooms: Your family will love spending time in a room that is filled with family memories. Hang photos on the walls, keep photo albums in a bookshelf, and display family heirlooms around your living room.

Follow these suggestions to make your living room a room where everyone will want to spend time. Get ready for cocktail parties, family game nights, roasting s’mores in the fireplace, and spending lots of time in your new room.

Recommended Reading:
-5 Ways to Take Your Bedroom from Good to Great

-Take Your Kitchen from Good to Great

-Serene Spaces: 5 Tips for Creating a Calm Space

-10 Secrets for Making Your Bedroom Feel Larger

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Worldwide Wanderlust: Portland

August 8, 2014 By CENTURY 21

If you are looking for an up and coming city with a lot of food, culture, and outdoor activities, Portland, Oregon is the place for you.

Here are five things to do and see in Portland:

1. Food Carts: CNN dubbed Portland the city with the best street food in America. Over 600 food carts are spread across the metro, so how could you go wrong? We recommend signing up for the food cart tour that will bring you directly to the best eats.

2. Forest Park: This is the largest wooded area in the United States with over 70 miles of walking and hiking trails. It overlooks the Willamette River and is the perfect answer to every tree huggers dream.

3. Beer Festivals: Something unique to Portland is their influx of beer festivals. There are more than enough to quench your thirst – everything from the International Beer Festival to Oktoberfest. In the meantime, you can also visit one of the 53 breweries located in Portland.

4. Powell’s City of Books: The flagship store of the largest independent chain of bookstores is located right in the heart of Portland. It contains over 1.5 million different books and has 3,500 different sections. It is so large, you’ll need a map provided by Powell’s to find your way around.

5. International Rose Test Garden: Located right in Washington Park, this is the oldest continuously operated public rose garden. It contains over 8,000 roses with 650 different varieties. This is one rose garden you do not want to miss.

There are tons of different events, activities and sights to see when visiting Portland, Oregon. Better start planning!

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5 Simple Ways to Increase Your Property Value

August 6, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Selling your home? Make improvements to your home to increase the likelihood that you will get a higher offer. Even small and inexpensive updates can make a difference. Do these projects before you put up your listing and schedule a staging.

Here are five simple ways to increase your property value when it’s time to sell:

1. Rethink your home’s layout: If you have three bedrooms and a home office, take out the office to make your house a four bedroom home. Removing bedrooms may decrease the value of your home. Turn it into an office, gym, or craft room then turn it back to a bedroom when you’re ready to sell. (Forbes)

2. Remove clutter: Making rooms look neat and clean is always a necessity, but take it one step further and remove the clutter and personal items from your rooms. Taking out photos, magazines, and little decorations will make the room look bigger and taking away personal items will help your buyers envision their lives there. (Forbes)

3. Front yard makeovers: The saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” but when it comes to real estate, that is hard to live by. The first impression of your home is the front yard so make sure it is neat and tidy. Plant some new flowers, mow the lawn, and touch up any exterior paint that might need some attention. (DIY Network)

4. Maintenance work: The last thing buyers want to see when they walk into your kitchen or bathroom is rusty, leaking pipes, or a faucet that looks like it has seen better days. Take a weekend and give attention to any little repairs around the house. It could be as easy as replacing old door knobs and faucets. Paint your home neutral colors to minimize the chance that your design aesthetic will clash with the aesthetic of your potential buyers. (This Old House)

5. Update appliances: The kitchen is a huge selling point for potential buyers. If your kitchen appliances are old and outdated buy newer versions. While you’re at it, take your kitchen from good to great without breaking the bank.

Complete these simple tasks before selling your home to increase the likelihood that you’ll get a higher offer.

Buying a Home: 5 Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent

August 5, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Buying a home is an incredibly important decision. We recommend working with a CENTURY 21^® real estate professional who can provide insights and advice throughout your home buying process.

There are lots of questions you can ask your real estate agent but here are five starters.

1. Should I even buy at all?

Perhaps you’re not ready to buy yet, and renting is a smart plan at the moment. Discuss the varying costs, how long you plan to stay in the area, and whether a rent-to-own plan (where you begin a lease with the option to buy down the road) is a better fit. Our Renting vs. Buying Calculator can also help you make your decision.

We hope that these questions help you find your dream home. Use the resources found on century21.com to help you throughout the process of finding a home.

2. May I see a Comparative Market Analysis for this area?

A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), is a comparison of one home to other similar homes that have recently been on the market. Use it to understand if the price of the homes you’re looking at is on par with the price of other homes in the neighborhood or similarly sized homes. You can find more details about how to use a CMA in our glossary.

3. What is the neighborhood like?

You are not just moving into a home, you are moving into a neighborhood. Your neighborhood determines your school district, your commute, your neighbors, your taxes, and more. Ask questions that indicate whether the neighborhood is right for you and your family. We recommend driving to work at rush hour times to measure the commute, visiting the school your kids would attend, visiting the home during different times of day, and learning about local hospitals and doctor’s offices. Find out more here!

4. How flexible is this home’s asking price?

Ask your REALTOR^® to help you hone in on a good but fair initial offer. Too low, and it could seem insulting; too high, and you’re at a disadvantage. Find out more about how your CENTURY 21^® real estate professional can help you determine the right price.

5. Will they accept a lease option?

A lease option is an arrangement whereby a buyer and seller agree to rent a home until the buyer is able to make a purchase. Your CENTURY 21 real estate professional can ask if the seller would be willing to go through with a lease option. If you and the buyer decide that this option works well for you learn more about the process.

Recommended Reading:

-Buying a Home: Tips for LGBT Couples

-Myth vs. Fact: Homebuying

-5 Tips for First Time Homebuyers

-We Asked, You Answered: Tips for First Time Homebuyers

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