Blog - CENTURY 21 MarketLink Realty - SMARTER. BOLDER. FASTER.

7 Reasons You’re Secretly Jealous of your Dollhouse Family

April 19, 2014 CENTURY 21

Did you play with a dollhouse growing up? Were you just a tiny bit jealous of the tiny inhabitants of the teeny tiny houses? It’s okay if you were – no judgment.

Here are a 7 reasons to be jealous of your dollhouse family:

1. Someone bought their home for them and they didn’t pay a cent!

2. They don’t pay mortgages, rent, or bills.

3. Your dollhouse family can move easily without the stress of relocating and hefty moving bills.

4. Their clothes, furniture, and food are free. They don’t even have to use the Sims’ Rosebud !;!;!; cheat for more money.

5. They live forever and never look a day older. It’s like Benjamin Button, but better.

6. They have an interior designer, a maid, a chef, full-time security, and more! Daddy Warbucks would be impressed.

7. They don’t have to make difficult decisions or any decisions at all!

We hope you enjoyed this little walk down nostalgia lane!

For entertainment purposes only.

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We Asked, You Answered: Tips for First Time Homebuyers

April 17, 2014 CENTURY 21

Buying a home for the first time can be difficult and overwhelming! You have to find a home you can afford and a home that you and your family love. There are so many factors like the price of property taxes, the school district, the crime rate, mortgages, and whether or not the home is a “fixer upper.” We posted a question on our Facebook page asking for your best tips for first-time homeowners. Read advice from CENTURY 21^® Agents and clients.

Here are five tips for buying a home for the first-time:

1. “Be realistic about what you can afford and what the home will look like within your budget. Don’t expect a $150,000.00 home to have all the bells and whistles a $300,000.00 home does.” – Susie F.

2. “Ask your C21^® agent for a reliable & trustworthy lender to get pre-qualified before starting your house hunt.” -Bill C.

3. “Get prequalified. Work with a REALTOR^® to find a great home. Once you find a home you like, visit the neighborhood in the evenings and weekends to see what it is like when more people are around. Check with local police department to find out about crime rates in area. After you have been prequalified, do not do anything that will adversely affect your credit score. Then be prepared to sign and initial a lot of paperwork.” - Audrey M.

4. “Find a GREAT CENTURY 21 Agent, get pre-qualified. Know what you’re looking for, but be ready to give a little if need be on your home expectations list.” -Lisa C.

5. “DON’T buy anything on credit until after you move into your new home.” -Eric G.

For more great tips, check out our Facebook post and buying advice on our site. Buying a home is an exciting milestone in your life. We hope that these tips will help you find your perfect home!

Everything’s Coming Up Roses: 10 Popular Spring Flowers

April 15, 2014 CENTURY 21

Spring has sprung! We can’t wait for picnics, baseball games, dining al fresco, and gardening! You know what they say, April showers bring May flowers. We’ve rounded up 10 popular spring flowers that are perfect for your garden, centerpieces, or bouquets.

1. Daffodils: Plant daffodil bulbs in the fall and they will bloom in the spring and summer. Daffodils are bright and cheery flowers! Learn more about caring for daffodils here. William Wordsworth was fond of daffodils. Read his beautiful poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.

2. Roses: Roses come in a wide variety of colors and forms. They look beautiful planted or climbing a wall or fence. Stop and smell the roses! Learn more about roses, and how to plant them from Lowes.

3. Lilacs: Lilacs come in red, pink, yellow, blue, purple, and white. Plant multiple colors to add a pop of color to your garden. Learn more from Almanac - then start planting!

4. Tulips: Tulips come in a wide variety of colors including beautiful multicolor flowers! Tulips are perennials so they will grow back year after year, saving you time and money. Marianne Williamson once wrote, “A tulip doesn’t strive to impress anyone. It doesn’t struggle to be different than a rose. It doesn’t have to. It is different. And there’s room in the garden for every flower.” Learn how to plant tulips here.

5. Hydrangeas: Hydrangeas come in red, pink, blue, purple, and white. Sometimes the different colors show up in one plant! Hydrangeas are a classic, preppy, flowers that are commonly seen in beach towns like The Hamptons and Nantucket. Learn how to plant and care for them here.

6. Camellias: Camellias are beautiful! It has been said that there are 3,000 different types ranging in size, color, and form. Camellias are the official flower for Alabama. They are beautiful in gardens and bouquets. Camellias were frequently mentioned in the classic book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Learn how to garden Camellias here.

7. Peonies: Peonies come in red, pink, yellow, and white. They are perennials and some have been known to live for 100 years! The famous writer, Henry Mitchell once wrote, “The fattest and most scrumptious of all flowers, a rare fusion of fluff and majesty, the peony is now coming into bloom.” The Almanac has great tips for planting these beautiful blooms.

8. Dahlias: Dahlias come in all different colors and varieties. The poet, Lord Holland once wrote, “The Dahlia you brought to our isle your praises forever shall speak ‘mid gardens as sweet as your smile and colour as bright as your cheek.” Learn how to plant them here!

9. Irises: In Greek mythology Iris is the personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. Irises are perennials. They attract butterflies and hummingbirds and look beautiful in flower arrangements. Learn how to plant them here!

10. Azaleas: Did you know that Azaleas are called, “the royalty of the garden?” There are white, purple, red, orange, pink, and yellow azaleas. Bicolor azaleas have different patterns on the same plant! The Azalea Society of America has interesting facts and tips about azaleas.

Fill your home and your garden with fresh flowers this spring. Read our Recommended Reading to learn more ways to style your home with your favorite blooms!

How to Style a Bookshelf

April 13, 2014 CENTURY 21

Marcus Tullius Cicero once said, “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” We agree! A bookshelf is a great place to store your books and, when styled correctly, it can be a great tool for decorating your space!

Here are four simple tips for styling your bookshelf:

1. Shh…don’t tell any librarians but we recommend skipping The Dewey Decimal System in favor of organizing books by color, height, category (i.e. fiction or non-fiction), or alphabetically by author or title. Extra Credit: Do all of the above!

2. Don’t limit your shelves to just books. Add other items like your favorite pictures, small framed art, topiaries, small statues, vases of fresh flowers, or jars of candy! No one likes it when books fall subject to the domino effect, incorporate bookends that are quirky and fun or sleek and sophisticated.

3. Use your favorite paint color or wallpaper to decorate the inside of your bookshelf and create an unexpected pop of color or pattern!

4. Now that you’ve styled your bookshelf beautifully shine a spotlight on your work by invest in bookshelf lighting.

We hope you enjoy our tips!

For More How-To’s:

Centerpiece

Coffee Table

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Color Palette: Ginger Jars

April 12, 2014 CENTURY 21

Use this color palette to create the spa-inspired look you’ve always wanted!

What: This palette was inspired by cookies and ginger jars!

Where: This color palette would be delightful in a bathroom. Light colors make a room feel larger, so paint your walls horizon. Create the perfect base of neutral color for a relaxing suite Paint the tiles shades of moonshine. Buy a burgundy vanity to create a balance with the neutral shades you’ve incorporated in the room. Add an azure patterned rug and oxford hand towels to tie the look together seamlessly!

Why: This color combination creates a sophisticated, tranquil room that you’ll enjoy for years to come. Ginger jars are Chinese jars that were historically used to hold ginger and other spices. Ginger jars are thought to have been from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) (Chapin House). They are commonly used for home decor because of their ability to be used as vases, storage vessels, and purely decorative pieces around the home. They are steeped in history and add a decorative element to the modern home!

For more inspiration, visit A Day in the Garden: Color Palette!

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CENTURY 21 Triangle Group To Open Downtown Office In Raleigh, NC

April 11, 2014 Molly

The CENTURY 21 Triangle Group is expanding, now offering clients the opportunity to work with the team in an office in the heart of downtown Raleigh, NC. We chatted with Tim Steele Lehan to get the details on the team’s new location and what this second office will provide for current and new clients.

C21: Exciting news about the new office. Where exactly is it located?

TSL: It is right in downtown Raleigh, in the Bank of America building, on the main drag.

C21: How will this office differ from the first location in North Hills?

TSL: The properties vary so much from North Hills to downtown. Downtown is a specific type of real estate – condos, town homes and historic properties. You need a certain quality of urban lender, local HOAs and top inspectors to handle those historic homes.

C21: Will you hire new agents to service this new clientele?

TSL: Yes, we’ll be hiring new agents for this office with downtown-specific knowledge. There are a lot of small brokerages locally, but now that we’re downtown, and we have the CENTURY 21 brand name behind us, we have more resources available to us than ever before – the strength of the website, the brand marketing tools – it gives us even more awareness.

C21: How will this new team make itself known?

TSL: The priority is to build a team of agents who can be active in the community, volunteer, serve. We want people involved in city planning, city development and city council meetings.

C21: What are the characteristics of a stellar agent?

TSL: With our office, it’s going to be a baseline knowledge of downtown. We want personality and passion. We want someone who loves where they are. Someone we don’t have to push because they are already excited. We want people who want to make this community a better place. The number one thing is someone who is hard working and has an ethical approach to everything that happens in real estate.

C21: Anything else you’d like our readers to know?

TSL: What’s fun about the CENTURY 21 brand is the teamwork. We all push each other to be better as a group. That’s empowering.

C21: Thank you, Tim. Congratulations on the new space.

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CENTURY 21 Affiliated’s Kel Svoboda Named To REALTOR Magazine’s “30 Under 30”

April 9, 2014 Molly

This year, Kel Svoboda of CENTURY 21 Affiliated has been named to REALTOR Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list. Kel is one of two CENTURY 21 Agents who made the roster.

We sat down with Kel to congratulate him on this honor and learn the secrets to his success at such a young age.

C21: When did you join the CENTURY 21 System?

KS: I joined last year. Dan Kruse brought me on to takeover as regional manager. Dan was so impressive to me. He comes from a real estate family and he just has strong values. He’s a great person. He and I share a lot of goals as far as growth – the sky is the limit!

C21: How is the “30 Under 30” list determined?

KS: There is an application process. Usually the local Associations send out a call for applicants. Mine did and I filled it out. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Realtor.com then screen the applicants and choose a top 50. After that, they open it to online voting and then finally, the list is announced.

C21: Do you know any of the other honorees?

KS: Actually, there is another CENTURY 21 Agent on the list, Krista Clark from Iowa. We met through this, we’re Facebook friends now and I am actually going to see her in Chicago next week.

C21: To win this type of recognition, you have to differentiate yourself. How do you do that?

KS: My real estate story is different from most people. I started at 18 years old as a loan officer. I got my real estate license at 19 years old. I have built a very well rounded understanding of mortgage, tile and real estate.

When the market crashed, I didn’t walk away. I stayed committed and focused. In fact, I started the statewide Young Professionals Network in Wisconsin. I spent a year working on that.

But the biggest thing is, for me, it’s not about the paycheck in this business, it’s about the value you bring to your clients.

C21: Who has mentored you?

KS: I really didn’t have one specific person. There are so many areas of business that intrigue me. I am the type of person who sees someone successful and I reach out to him or her to introduce myself and learn how he or she is doing it. I also try to do the same and pay that forward to the younger generation.

C21: How do you hope to transform the industry?

KS: I really hate that car salesmen reputation that can come with real estate. We have to build up the professionalism and the ethical standards. It’s all in how you handle yourself.

For example, I have two children and I want to conduct myself in a way that will have people telling my kids I handle myself with honesty and integrity.

C21: If you could tell an 18 year old thinking about joining this business one thing, what would it be?

KS: I wish I would have learned the value proposition earlier in my career. I wish I had understood the actual value of what you are doing for your client. You’re not chasing the commission when you understand the value of the services you provide.

C21: Kel, congratulations again on this distinguished honor.

To connect with Kel, please follow his Facebook page.

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Game of Thrones Great Houses: CENTURY 21® Edition

April 6, 2014 CENTURY 21

Game of Thrones is back! We couldn’t wait one more second so we found the CENTURY 21® homes that fit the mottos of The Houses of Westeros.

House Stark – Winter is Coming

Here

Protect your family by stocking your pantry with non-perishable food and buying salt and snow removal tools.

House Lannister - A Lannister Always Pays His Debts

Here

Use our Mortgage Calculator so that you can also pay off your loans.

House Tyrell – Growing Strong

Here

If you are lucky enough to have a yard full of old trees, don’t cut them down. They may be a source of protection.

House Greyjoy - We Do Not Sow

Here

Don’t sow. Build an outdoor porch.

House Tully - Family, Duty, Honor

Here

Spend time decorating a comfortable and classic family room that the entire family will enjoy from game nights to movie nights and everything in between!

Tune in tonight to watch the debauchery and deception continue.

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Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bedroom

April 4, 2014 CENTURY 21

Your bedroom is one of the most important rooms in your home. There is something so wonderful about coming home to a clean and comfortable bedroom and our newest spring cleaning checklist will help you get there!

Stay tuned for the next checklist!

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How to Style a Coffee Table

April 3, 2014 CENTURY 21

A coffee table is a focal point of any den or living room. Style your coffee table to show your personality and create an area that your family and guests will love!

Here is our list of essential items for your coffee table:

1. Box: Conceal clutter by storing remotes in a covered box.

2. Fresh Flowers: Fresh flowers make a big difference in a room. If you are hosting company, put a vase of fresh flowers on the coffee table. A succulent or cactus is a great year round alternative to flowers.

3. Coffee Table Books: You can find coffee table books in almost any bookstore. They are books that are intended to be a distraction or conversation starter for guests. They are usually large hardcover books. We recommend having a stack of three books on your table.

4. Candle and Matches: Burn your favorite candle and keep a beautiful matchbook nearby.

5. Photo Album: Place a small photo album on you coffee table so that your guests can look through your pictures and reminisce.

6. Paperweight or Figurine: Place a paperweight or figurine on top of the stack of books. Choose a conversation starter or something quirky that shows your personality.

What essential items would you add?

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