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5 DIY Projects to Tackle this Year

January 6, 2015 By

With the New Year in full swing, take this fresh start as a time to complete some fun DIY projects. You’ll save money and get the satisfaction of having made something yourself. Take out your paint brush and your tool kit and get started.

Tackle one project at a time and you can have an improved home in no time.

1. Install a new backsplash: You can instantly alter the aesthetic of your kitchen by sprucing up your backsplash. There are lots of creative ways to DIY a backsplash. Tile, stainless steel, glass, chalkboard, or mosaics are all lovely options. Regardless of what you choose, you can pay a fraction of the price by doing it yourself instead of hiring a professional.

2. Change your architecture: Change your architecture – without hiring an architect or needing a wrecking ball. Add a chair rail and/or crown molding to give your room texture and depth. Take the proper measurements, then head down to your hardware store to get the materials you need.

3. Paint cabinets: Whether it’s your bathroom or your kitchen cabinets, adding a fresh coat of paint can make the room feel brand new while also adding value to your home. This DIY project doesn’t take much time or money.

4. Curb Appeal: Make a good first impression. Paint your front door, change the address numbers, add a unique knocker, and repair or paint the exterior trim. This is another quick and easy DIY that project that can make your home feel new again.

5. Paint: Paint your interior for an instant upgrade and shift to your decor. Change a light colored wall to a dark one for a completely different look, or simply repaint with the same color to make the room look fresh again. You can also put up wallpaper to add a more detailed design.

DIY projects don’t have to take a lot of time or money. Projects like these can be done in a few days and you could end up with an improved home at a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional.

Recommended Reading:

-Creative DIY Projects You Can Do with Wallpaper

-Just DIY It: 5 Natural Cleaning Products

-How to Style a Gallery Wall

 

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7 Ways to Combat Clutter in the New Year

January 6, 2015 By

The New Year is the time for a fresh start.It brings a feeling of starting over, and an opportunity to improve all areas of your life. In the New Year, take some time to complete projects you’ve been putting off for months. You can create an even better home for you and your family by decluttering and organizing your home.

Follow these tips for easy and quick ways to de-clutter your home.

1. Keep things at arms reach: Keep items you use daily somewhere where they can be easily reached, whether that’s in a basket, on a shelf, or in a cabinet. Store everything that is used sparingly on a higher shelf or in the garage or attic. It will be easier to find what you need when you need it.

2.  Add shelves: If your home is cluttered adding more furniture won’t help. Instead of adding a bookshelf or desk, add wall shelving.  You’ll have room for books, picture frames, paperwork, and even a television without cluttering your home with more furniture.

3. 12-12-12 Challenge: This challenge comes from BecomingMinimalist.com, and is a simple project to add to your routine. Clean and organize by choosing 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 to return to a proper place in your home.  This helps you organize, declutter, and give to a good cause all at the same time!

4. Garage storage: Make your garage your main storage area. Use old dressers and other furniture to store seasonal items and items you don’t use daily. Paint the furniture the same color to create a unified look.

5. Get rid of broken items: There’s no point in keeping items that are broken or unused, they’re just taking up precious space in your home. If you haven’t used it or gotten it fixed in the past six months, you probably never will. Throw it out or donate it to make room for something new.

6. Use things up: It’s a habit to save special items for special occasions, whether it’s fancy bath soap or an expensive spice. Stop saving these things for the right time, use them and enjoy them now. Use what you have before you buy something new to help keep clutter at bay.

7. Deal with one room at a time: Take it step by step. Organize and declutter one room at a time, makes it easier to focus on the task at hand. If you try to juggle too many rooms at once, it may never get done.

Go through these tasks every few months to help maintain an organized home. A decluttered home can give you and your family peace of mind – and room for something new.

Recommended Reading:

-Old to New: Tips for Rearranging Your Furniture

-Small Changes, Big Difference: 5 Low Cost Ways to Make Your Home Appear Larger

-How to Make a House a Home: Creating Memories

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7 Ways to Combat Clutter in the New Year

January 5, 2015 By

The New Year is the time for a fresh start. It brings a feeling of starting over, and an opportunity to improve all areas of your life. In the New Year, take some time to complete projects you’ve been putting off for months. You can create an even better home for you and your family by decluttering and organizing your home.

Follow these tips for easy and quick ways to declutter your home.

1. Keep things at arms reach: Keep items you use daily somewhere where they can be easily reached, whether that’s in a basket, on a shelf, or in a cabinet. Store everything that is used sparingly on a higher shelf or in the garage or attic. It will be easier to find what you need when you need it.

2.  Add shelves: If your home is cluttered adding more furniture won’t help. Instead of adding a bookshelf or desk, add wall shelving.  You’ll have room for books, picture frames, paperwork, and even a television without cluttering your home with more furniture.

3. 12-12-12 Challenge: This challenge comes from BecomingMinimalist.com, and is a simple project to add to your routine. Clean and organize by choosing 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 to return to a proper place in your home.  This helps you organize, declutter, and give to a good cause all at the same time!

4. Garage storage: Make your garage your main storage area. Use old dressers and other furniture to store seasonal items and items you don’t use daily. Paint the furniture the same color to create a unified look.

5. Get rid of broken items: There’s no point in keeping items that are broken or unused, they’re just taking up precious space in your home. If you haven’t used it or gotten it fixed in the past six months, you probably never will. Throw it out or donate it to make room for something new.

6. Use things up: It’s a habit to save special items for special occasions, whether it’s fancy bath soap or an expensive spice. Stop saving these things for the right time, use them and enjoy them now. Use what you have before you buy something new to help keep clutter at bay.

7. Deal with one room at a time: Take it step by step. Organize and declutter one room at a time, makes it easier to focus on the task at hand. If you try to juggle too many rooms at once, it may never get done.

Go through these tasks every few months to help maintain an organized home. A decluttered home can give you and your family peace of mind – and room for something new.

Recommended Reading:

-Old to New: Tips for Rearranging Your Furniture

-Small Changes, Big Difference: 5 Low Cost Ways to Make Your Home Appear Larger

-How to Make a House a Home: Creating Memories

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5 News Year’s Resolutions for Real Estate Agents

January 2, 2015 By

Happy New Year! You make New Year’s resolutions for your personal life, so why not make them for your professional life as well. If you’ve been meaning to improve on a certain area, or want to excel in a certain niche, the New Year is the perfect time to start. Focus on these five goals and, if you’re feeling extra ambitious, add more.

1. Tackle social media: If you aren’t very tech savvy, now is the time to develop your skills. Social media will help boost business. In fact, 91% of REALTORS® currently use at least one form of social media. Our best practices for Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest can give you the information you need to promote generating leads from social media.

2. Develop goals and action items: Write out a list of goals and tangible action items for 2015. For example, your overarching goal may be to generate a certain number of leads a month, or grow your social media following by 100 followers month over month. Your action items may be to go to at least three networking events a month or start implementing social media advertising on your various social media channels. Regardless of your specific goals, this exercise will help you identify and keep track of your accomplishments throughout the year.

3. Localize business: Inman.com reported that the key to standing out from your competition is to become an “expert” in one particular location. This tactic can help improve business both online and offline; targeting a specific geographic area can push you to the top of Google searches, instantly increasing business. Focus on your area of expertise this year and you may see results.

4. Become a thought leader: People want to work with you because they trust your expertise and values. One way to generate trust is to show that you are a thought leader in your field. Write guest posts on blogs, get featured in media publications, and even start your own blog.

5. Network: Real estate is a business where referrals and testimonials matter. You are helping people with an important milestone – and they want to work with someone they can confide in. Attend networking events and keep in touch with friends, family, and acquaintances because you never know who will help you generate your next lead.

Use these goals to help improve your business in 2015. Good luck!

Recommended Reading:

-5 Ways to Reconnect this Holiday Season

-Email Etiquette for Real Estate Agents

-5 Essential Networking Tips for Real Estate Agents

 

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How to Help Baby Boomers Find a Home

December 24, 2014 By

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 76.4 million baby boomers. This statistic has an interesting implication for the real estate market. Many baby boomers will be in the market to downsize from the home where they raised their family to a smaller house or apartment. Here are a few tips for helping baby boomers find the right home for the next chapter of their lives.

1. Friends and Family: Living in a close proximity to friends and family will increase the likelihood that baby boomers will have companionship and someone to care for them should the need arise. Plus, who wants to watch their grandchild’s first steps over video chat.

2. Accessibility: As people age, walking up stairs may become burdensome or impossible. Look for houses or apartments with ramps, stair lifts, or elevators. Similarly, make sure that all the housing you look at is wheelchair accessible.

3. Storage: Downsizing is an emotional process for many reasons — including the fear of losing the memories attached to the home and the belongings it contains. Almost every parent has a box of notes, art, cards, macaroni necklaces, and other memorabilia from their kids and grandkids. Recommend that they open a storage unit so that they can keep things with sentimental value even after they move.

4. Neighborhood: Ideally the neighborhood will have classes and activities for baby boomers. It will also be good to look for neighborhoods with good hospitals and doctor’s nearby. Bonus points if there is a golf course close!

Whether you are an agent or a friend or family member, these tips will help you make a baby boomer’s transition easier.

Recommended Reading:

-Snow Safety for the Home
-Home Safety Tips for the Elderly
-On the Road Again: The Ultimate Moving Checklist

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Home for the Holidays: Your Favorite Holiday Movie Homes Come to Life

December 22, 2014 By

Christmas movies are one of the best things about the holiday season. No matter who you are, you have a favorite holiday movie. There’s a movie for every child, every adult, every mood, and every personality. Holiday movies have a way of getting you in the Christmas spirit faster than you can say, “Santa, I know him!”

Whether you’re Home Alone or surrounded by family for The Holiday, these homes will surely make you nostalgic for your favorite movie.

1. This home is reminiscent of the McCallister residence; it’s even located in the same town! We’re sure it comes with its own blueprint plan to ward off intruders, but hopefully you won’t need it. Make sure you have all your belongings (and children) before leaving on any holiday vacations.

2. The Griswolds could live here. With a light show this hefty, make sure you don’t pull a Clark and have the lights fail on you. If you love these over-the-top decorations, then you may need a “Jelly of the Month” club membership to get you through the holidays.

3. It may not be as drafty or as old as the Bailey residence, but this home will surely leave you thinking that It’s a Wonderful Life. There is space to host the best Christmas dinner ever and there’s even a guest room for Clarence. It may be difficult to lasso the moon, but the backyard has enough space to practice.

4. Similar to little Susan’s dream home, this precious house is bound to bring miracles (even if it’s not located on 34th Street). Santa will have no problem finding this home on Christmas night. He made it all possible, after all!

5. Is that a leg lamp we see in the window? No, probably not, but this home looks like it could tell A Christmas Story. It’s not a good idea to stick your tongue to any light posts outside, but throw on your bunny pajamas and try not to shoot your eye out on Christmas morning.

Watching your favorite Christmas movies can get you and your family into the holiday spirit! These homes are a perfect reminder of why you adore curling up by a fire and tuning on these timeless films.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Let the Games Begin: Which District Should You Live In

-Carrie, Seinfeld, and Friends: NYC Apartments Straight From the Screen

-What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie? 10 Real Houses Where Your Favorite Scary Movie May Have Occurred

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5 Ways to Reconnect this Holiday Season

December 8, 2014 By

As a real estate agent, staying in touch with past clients is an essential part of building your business. The holidays are a great time to send your greetings and subtly remind clients that you’re there for their real estate needs.

Here are some unique ways to reconnect this holiday season:

1. Send an email: This is the easiest way to get a past client’s attention. Sending a thoughtful message or an e-card is a good way to let someone know that you’re thinking of them. Personalize it by asking questions such as them how they’re enjoying their home and neighborhood. Although it’s better to write individual emails, it is possible to send a message to multiple clients at once (just remember to BCC.)

2. Greeting cards: If you have a client’s address, take the more traditional route and send them a holiday card. They will appreciate the personal approach and they’ll be more likely to remember you when they see your card displayed in their home.

3. Small, thoughtful gifts: Whether it’s a tin of cookies, a flower arrangement, or a homemade gift, something small goes a long way. You can send these small gifts in the mail, or even give them to current clients at an open house. Clients will always remember the real estate agent who came to their showing with a holiday gift.

4. Set up coffee dates: If you had a really great client experience with someone in the past, call them to arrange to catch up over coffee or lunch. Face-to-face contact is great way to stay in touch and show that you truly care about the relationship.

5. Host a holiday party: To go above and beyond during the holiday season, host a small get together at your office or home. Invite past, present, and future clients, giving you the chance to work the room. This will help you reconnect with people you’ve once worked with, while also giving you the opportunity to promote yourself to future clients.

As a professional, you should be following up and connecting with clients 365 days a year, but the holidays are a great way to get unique with your networking.

Recommended Reading:

-5 Essential Networking Tips for Real Estate Agents

-Tech Talk: 5 Apps for Real Estate Agents

-6 Simple SEO Tips for Real Estate Agents

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Off-Season Home Maintenance Tips to Save Money

December 6, 2014 By

Contribution by HomeAdvisor

While some home maintenance projects — those such as tuning up your furnace in the fall and cleaning up your lawn in the spring — are directed by the seasons, other home maintenance projects are better completed off season. Performing select maintenance projects off season can save money — whether it’s a few hundred bucks on replacement parts or thousands of dollars in disaster prevention.

(Image: M. Besse Architect, PLLC)

Here are some off-season home maintenance projects to consider looking at now:

Perform sink disposal maintenance: Your garbage disposal gathers gunk and food buildup over time. You should clean it regularly to prevent problems. According to a recent HuffPost article, one of the quickest ways to clean your disposal is to drop lemon or orange peels down your drain, run the disposal, add some ice cubes and run it again. Next, fill the sink with water and drain it through the disposal. It should be good to go — and fresh smelling, too!

Clean out the range hood filter: Over time, your range hood filter collects debris from everything you’ve cooked on the stovetop. It will look pretty nasty if you’ve never cleaned it. Mix a degreaser intended for cleaning auto parts with hot water and let the filter soak for a few minutes. If you don’t have degreaser available, you can scrub the filter with a non-abrasive brush, dish soap and a lot of elbow grease. The debris will lessen with regular maintenance and your filter and fan will work more effectively.

Check carbon monoxide and smoke detectors: You should test your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms on a regular basis. Press the test button. If you get a long, loud beep in response, you’re good to go; if you don’t, you probably need to replace the batteries. If your alarms begin to chirp at any time on their own, they are notifying you that your batteries are low. It’s not advisable to wait for the chirping to replace your batteries. They should be swapped for new ones every six months.

Test the garage door’s auto-reverse: An automatic garage door stops closing and goes back up if something’s in its way. If the auto-reverse feature fails, the garage door may injure you or your car. Test this feature once a month by putting a 2 x 4 plank on the ground where the door sensors will detect it. If the door doesn’t go back up during one of these tests, you’ll need to have a garage door repair pro come fix it.

Suck up dust around fridge coils:  Your refrigerator uses almost 10 to 15 percent of your electricity, and the coils behind it are a major source of its power. Because it’s these coils are not generally included in weekly or monthly cleanings, they build up dust and debris — making it harder for electricity to run through to the refrigerator. You can use a vacuum hose to clear the coils once every other month or so. You’ll increase your refrigerator’s efficiency as a result.

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Suite Luxury Tips For Your Bedroom

November 25, 2014 By

Question: Could you share a few budget-friendly ideas my clients can use to add value and comfort to their master bedrooms? John Spadaro, CENTURY 21 Universal Real Estate, Chicago, Illinois

One of the biggest influences on today’s master bedroom is the boutique hotel suite. I’ve designed many and can tell you that turning your bedroom into a five-star experience is easier than you might think. Here are a few of my favorite tips:

• Unburden walk-in closets with an armoire for “him.” He can place his suits there and keep the two of you from fighting to get dressed every morning.

• Lean a great mirror with a thick frame up against a wall. It can function as a full-length dressing mirror while adding architectural interest to your room. And of course, it visually expands the space as it bounces light from wall to wall.

• Add a beverage station and mini fridge. For a little money, you can get a coffeepot, bottled waters, and even a mini bar. Have that first cup of coffee or last glass of wine in private, away from household commotion.

• Consider replacing worn wall-to-wall carpet with hardwood flooring. It wears better and adds value to your home. Add area rugs for comfort—they’re investments you can take with you, should you sell your home. Remember how wonderful a fuzzy sheepskin or all-natural-fiber shag rug feels on bare toes?

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

 

Recommended Reading:

-Ask Our Expert: Budget Friendly Bathroom Updates

-Small Changes, Big Differences: 5 Low-Cost Ways to Give Your Home a New Look

-5 Ways to Take Your Bedroom from Good to Great

 

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Inspection Protection

November 23, 2014 By

You’ve found the ideal house in a great location. Before you start packing your moving boxes, make sure it’s a sound investment too. Most of us wouldn’t dream of buying a used car without a mechanical checkup. Yet with only a couple of 20-minute walk-throughs, we consider buying a home that’s much more expensive. That makes little sense to Joseph Zagone with CENTURY 21 Aspen Real Estate in Ruidoso, New Mexico. “An inspection is one of the best investments a buyer can make,” he says.

Here’s what you should know—and what not to ask.

What to Expect: The inspector will check all components in your house, leaving termite, septic system, and well inspections to specialists. (Here is a list of checkpoints.) A typical inspection costs $300–$400 and takes about three hours. Even if you’re an out of state buyer, arrange to tag along, Zagone says. You can see problems firsthand and you may learn valuable things such as where to find the water shutoffs.

Why it Pays: Experienced do-it-yourselfer Rebecca Anderson didn’t think an inspection would find anything she hadn’t noticed—until the inspector opened up the furnace and discovered a cracked heat exchanger. The upshot? The sellers threw in half the cost of a new furnace.

The Forbidden Question: Only one question I off-limits: “Should I buy this house or not?” That decision is yours alone. “I tell them to read the report completely and call me with questions,” says Gary Havens, owner of Good Havens Home Inspections in greater Minneapolis/St. Paul. “If I feel real comfortable about it, I’ll say I’d feel good about my kids buying it.”

The Seller’s Role: There is nothing to keep a seller from being present for the inspection too, though Zagone doesn’t encourage it. He prefers to help his potential seller line up a handyman beforehand to repair any existing problems. It’s also wise to initiate a separate inspection of your own. Learn more on Ccentury21.com under the “Selling Advice” tab.

Joe Zagone CENTURY 21 Aspen Real Estate, Ruidoso, New Mexico; www.joezagonerealestate.com

HIS CODE: “I want to know about any problems and have them remedied before I place a house on the market. My goal is win-win negotiating, to sell a sound house with no surprises at the correct price.”

OFF-HOURS: In the winter Joe serves as a certified ski instructor on nearby slopes. In warmer weather—even in winter—he makes good use of the seven golf courses in his area.

WHAT GOT HIM INTO REAL ESTATE: “My dad wasan engineer and later a real estate agent in this area. I took economics and marketing in college and worked as a carpenter’s helper in the summers. It all added up to a great background for becoming an agent. I love it.” He’s been in real estate 30 years and has been the top-producing CENTURY 21® Professional Champion in New Mexico for seven of the last eight years. He and his wife, Joan—also a Sales Professional—have five children.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Bring on the Patterns: How to Combine Designs with Confidence

-Ask Our Expert: First Things First

-We Asked, You Answered: Advice for First Time Homeowners

 

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