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5 Creative DIY Projects You Can Do with Wallpaper

October 17, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Don’t throw out your extra wallpaper. Use it for creative DIY projects around your home. If you’ve never applied wallpaper before, it can be a daunting task but won’t be an issue if you follow these directions.

Here are five easy DIY wallpaper projects that will transform your home.

1. Colored closet: Wallpapering the inside of a closet will make it appear bigger and brighter, adding color to an otherwise ordinary space. The best wallpaper for closets and small spaces is foiled wallpaper to give off extra reflection and bring light to small, dark corners.

2. Dress up your drawers: Your drawers can be drab and boring. Give your dresser and cabinet drawers a little polish. Wallpaper the inside and outside of your drawers but you don’t need to stop there. Take the wallpaper outside the bedroom drawers and DIY your kitchen and bathroom drawers as well.

3. Wallpapered ceiling: Give any room a dramatic upgrade when you paste a patterned or colored wallpaper on the ceiling. If you have a low ceiling, this is a great time to try out dip-dyed wallpaper that fades from intense color to white or neutrals. This type of wallpaper gives the illusion of taller walls. Attention will immediately be drawn upward and can change the look and feel of the room.

4. Sized up staircases: Glue decorative wallpaper to each stair for a delightful new design. If you’re using patterned wallpaper, keep the placement consistent so there is a more symmetrical, even look.

5. Wallpaper Photos: Turn your leftover wallpaper into art!

What are you waiting for? Start decorating!

Recommended Reading:

-3 Things to Do With an Abundance of Autumn Leaves

-Just DIY It: 5 Natural Cleaning Products

-How to Style a Coffee Table

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5 Essential Networking Tips for Real Estate Agents

October 15, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Networking is important for any career, but it’s especially important for people in the real estate industry. A crucial component of a successful real estate career is the ability to make connections and form strong, authentic relationships. People are trusting you to help them with one of the biggest decisions they’ll make. You need to be able to make connections (and keep them).

1. Attend networking events: Going to a networking event is an easy way to meet potential clients and professionals in your industry. Bring your business cards and don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to as many people as possible.

2. Engage in meaningful conversations: When it comes to networking events, quality is better than quantity. You may feel compelled to talk to as many people as possible, but it is actually more beneficial to talk to fewer people but have meaningful conversations with them. It’s much easier to follow up and create relationships when you can reference the conversations you’ve had.

3. Prepare in advance: Prepare your elevator pitch in advance. Know how to describe where you work, what you do, and any hobbies or interests that make you unique. Think about a few questions to ask if you run out of things to talk about. People love talking about themselves and it will show that you are interested in getting to know them.

4. Follow up: After meeting someone, immediately follow up by email to keep the conversation going. If you stay in touch, it’s more likely that you’ll be the first person they think of when they’re in need of buying or selling a home.

5. Participate in your community: Whether it’s joining your REALTORS^® association or going to a town meeting, it is good to be active and engaged in your community. Getting out there and making face to face connections will be beneficial your career. This will also allow you to become more familiar with your community, giving you an advantage when it comes to buying and selling in the area.

There is always room to improve how you network. Practice makes perfect. The more your network and make actual, in person connections, the better real estate agent you will be.

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Open House Oops: Don’t Make These Mistakes

October 8, 2014 By CENTURY 21

An open house is a crucial component of the home selling process. In fact, 45% of buyers have said that they purchased a home after going to the open house. When hosting an open house, it’s important to avoid errors that can make the presentation of the home less effective. Don’t make these common mistakes.

1. Don’t stay: According to Bankrate.com , it’s important, as the home seller, that you don’t hang around the open house. This includes children and pets as well, which can cause a disruption. Buyers are less likely to say how they feel if the seller is present, and it may make them uncomfortable. Let your licensed real estate agent handle the open house, they know best.

2. Remove all personal items: Fox News suggests before the open house begins, remove pictures and other personal items so that potential buyers can envision themselves living in your home.

3. Cleanliness: Make sure your home is at its cleanest and neatest during your open house, says Fox Business. Buyers are likely to want to see areas that you may forget to make presentable like cabinets, your “junk drawer” and the closet where you stashed, well, everything.

4. Don’t play music: Some home sellers choose to play music in the background to make buyers more comfortable and create a livelier atmosphere, but this can actually work against you, according to USA Today. Music is very subjective and people may not like the music you play. Music could also be distracting.

5. Manage temperature and smells: Take the Goldilocks approach, and try to find a temperature that is just right. Your home should not be too cold or too warm – you want your guests to be comfortable. Parade.com advises to not overpower your home with air fresheners or cleaning products. It makes sense to stick to smells that are simple and clean.

Open houses are an essential part of the home selling process. Make your potential buyers feel right at home.

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Ask Our Expert: First Things First

September 27, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Michael Beal of CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc., College Station, Texas, asks:

Many customers feel overwhelmed when they move into a new house. Is there an easy way to tackle it— and make a house feel like home?

So you’ve just moved into your new home. It’s a clean slate full of exciting possibilities. But for many people this euphoria can often dissolve into emotional overwhelm. Knowing where to start can help you move forward with more confidence.

Here’s what I advise my clients:

Start with the kitchen: Most of us have to eat at least three times a day. But really think about how your food prep might change from one house to the next. How much do you REALLY entertain? Did you buy the fish poacher or the meal sealer 10 years ago and only use it once? If so, don’t let it take up valuable space. Rule of thumb? You should work the hardest to reach things you only use once in a while, reserving closed storage areas at arms’ length for things you use every day.

Color your world: Before you go any further, think about paint color. It’s the cheapest and easiest way to completely customize your home to your new style. While things are still in boxes, and before you buy new furniture, let paint do all the heavy-decor-lifting first. It will also help crystallize your new design theme before you go shopping for your new pieces.

Next tackle your bedrooms: Because these are the vital spaces to our well-being and where we begin and end every day, don’t save them for last. Often simply out of ego we tend to get the entertaining spaces done first. They then sit there hardly used while the bedrooms remain in an upheaval.

Consider the closets: If you were fortunate enough to have a walk-in closet in your last house, but were still challenged with it filling up too fast, think about getting an armoire for the bedroom. It’s a great place for men to put their suits and business attire, leaving more space for “her” in the walk-in closet. No sense in you bumping into each other every morning, fighting to get dressed.

CHRISTOP HER LOWELL, an Emmy Award winning interior designer and TV host, is known for doable design advice and simple ideas that net stunning results. Log on to Christopherlowell.com to learn more.

Recommended Reading:

-Dressed for Success: Outdoor Improvements

-Ask Our Expert: Budget Friendly Bathroom Update

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

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Summer Transitions to Fall: Home Decor

September 26, 2014 By CENTURY 21

As F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote in The Great Gatsby, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” The fall season starts in just a few days and excitement is in the air. The beginning of a new season is the time for a fresh start. Welcome it with a new look for your home. If you prepare your wardrobe for fall, shouldn’t you change your home decor as well?

Here are a few ways to transition your home decor from summer to fall.

1. Neutral Tones: Swap out your bright colored decor for more neutral tones. Take a cue from nature and add brown, orange, red, green, and yellow elements.

2. Slipcovers: Add a slipcover to your couch or chairs. They’re available in a variety of colors and patterns, making it easy to change the look of your home without purchasing new furniture.

3. Bed linens: Change your bed linens from bright hues to darker colors and thicker material. Add a throw blanket or quilt for extra comfort and warmth. Add a few red, orange, or green throw pillows to complete the look.

4. Details: Bring the nature indoors. Add a pumpkin, a bowl of apples, or pine cones in various areas of the house. Add some fall scented candles and flowers such as orange roses, sunflowers, dogwood, aubergine dahlias, bright yellow marigolds, and deep burgundy ranunculus.

5. First Impressions: Make a great first impression by making a fall wreath and putting orange or red potted plants and pumpkins on your front steps.

These tips will give your home a new look for the new season. We predict that you’ll fall in love with your fall-inspired home!

Recommended Reading:

-How to Style a Coffee Table

-Serene Spaces: 5 Tips for Creating a Calm Bedroom

-10 Incredible Home Organization Tips

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

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Dressed for Success: Outdoor Improvements

September 13, 2014 By CENTURY 21

It’s the season for outdoor improvements. Where to invest? Here’s how to decide.

Making a great impression starts with your home’s exterior. In fact, a recent survey by the National Association of REALTORS^® indicated curb appeal was a “major factor” in 49 percent of all home sales. And in a survey by Real Estate Agent Community Trends, 82 percent of agents said they’d had buyers decline to look at homes based on exterior appearance.

Here’s how to weigh your outdoor project options:

Pricey Replacements: New vinyl siding appeals to many buyers, but it can be expensive. Often a new paint job can freshen and protect the exterior. “Choose a neutral color that blends,” says CENTURY 21^® Sales Professional Suzy Stone of CENTURY 21 AdVenture in Fredericksburg, Virginia. If the siding and paint are sound, give your house a power-washing. “It’s inexpensive and effective,” Stone advises.

You’ll increase your comfort and lower monthly utility bills by adding new energy-efficient windows, and they’ll appeal to future buyers. But the upgrade may make sense only if you plan to stay in your home a long time. If window replacement isn’t feasible in your timeline and budget, make sure existing units and window trim are in good repair and freshly painted. These simple, budget-friendly steps can go a long way in making a good first impression. Thorough caulking can help on the energy front too.

Low-Cost Necessities: Some of the most important exterior improvements you can make are the least expensive, says Stone. They also can provide quick and substantial payback.

Repaint or restain the front door, replace exterior light fixtures and add new welcome mats, inside and out. “People want to wipe their feet when they enter a stranger’s house,” Stone says.

While you’re at it, replace any rotted trim around the front door and garage doors.

And don’t forget your landscape. Trim bushes, remove leaves, edge the driveway and sidewalks and add fresh mulch around trees and shrubbery.

Acceptable Indulgences: If you’ve always wanted a swimming pool and plan to stay in your home for a while, go for it. “Enjoy the pool, but don’t assume that it will add value to your house,” Stone cautions. “Many people don’t want pools or hot tubs.”

Decks and porches, on the other hand, have broader appeal. Especially if they’re the norm in your neighborhood, they can increase your enjoyment of the house and add value when you sell.

Suzy Stone CENTURY 21 AdVenture, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Professional involvement: Suzy was president of her local REALTORS association in 2007, and she now serves as the part-time government affairs director.

Giving back: As president of her local no-kill Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter, Suzy spends a lot of time fund-raising.

In the “people business”: “I like to see my clients often,” Suzy says. That’s why she keeps her business limited to the Fredericksburg area.

Recommended Reading:

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

-How to Style a Patio

-How to Decorate Your Home on a Budget

-10 Secrets for Making Your Bedroom Feel Larger

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Facebook Tips for Real Estate Agents

September 12, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Facebook has become a worldwide social media phenomenon. As of June 2014, the network has 1.28 billion monthly active users. Use these tips to build your following and, ultimately, help generate new business.

1. Post helpful content: Some may think that a professional Facebook page would be used simply to promote yourself and your work, but similar to our Twitter tips, that’s not the case. Offer your followers something that they won’t get from another real estate agent. You are an expert in your field so show it; post helpful tips about buying and selling homes and other resources. This will show that you care about your followers and are a thought leader.

2. Complete your profile: Before a Facebook user clicks “Like” they will check your profile to make sure the page is qualified and worthy of appearing on their news feed. Don’t skimp on any section of your profile, from website and contact links to locations – it’s important not to leave anything out.

3. Use pictures and videos: Users respond better to photo posts; 93% of the most engaged posts on Facebook are ones that contain photos. Posting photos of a listing or posting infographics can boost your engagement and keep followers coming back to your profile.

4. Join real estate groups: Connecting with others in your field is always a good idea. Take advantage of the wide range of users and do some online networking. Join real estate agent groups to network and learn something new. The only way to grow and exceed your own expectations is to learn from others who may be more experienced. Networking through Facebook can lead to new clients, agencies or even a mentor.

5. Schedule your posts: You’re not always going to have time to be on your Facebook page constantly updating your status. Use the Facebook scheduler tool to schedule posts in advance. It’s reported that the highest engagement time is between 1pm and 3pm and that engagement is 18% higher on Thursdays and Fridays. Consider scheduling your posts for these times until your page has been up long enough to determine the days and times for the highest engagement.

Use these best practices to promote your business on the most popular social media network. If you want to learn even more about growing your social media following, read our best practices for Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

Recommended Reading:

-Tech Talk: 5 Apps for Real Estate Agents

-6 Simple SEO Tips for Real Estate Agents

-Home Office Essentials

-Productivity Tips for Working From Home

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What’s the Difference?

September 8, 2014 By CENTURY 21

There are so many items in your household that are similar to one another. Whether pillows, doors, windows, or blankets, they are all used the same way, yet they are different.

Here are the differences between a few common household items. Go ahead, impress your friends by knowing the differences.

Bay Window vs. Bow Window: At first glance, a bay and bow window look very similar. They’re both large windows that allow for a lot of light to be let into a room. They even have similar shapes, but there is a difference hidden between them. Bay windows have only three openings while bow windows can have up to five. Bay windows extend further out from the wall, giving more floor space inside.

Comforter vs. Duvet: The primary difference between a comforter and a duvet is that a comforter is used alone and a duvet requires a duvet cover. A common analogy is that a duvet is like a pillow and a duvet cover is the pillow case. Comforters and duvets can both be filled with down, down alternatives, synthetic materials, silk, or wool. If you like to change the style of your room often a duvet and duvet cover may be a better choice because you can switch it as easily as switching your sheets. Comforters often don’t fit in normal washing machines so people usually wash them less often and use a top sheet. (Crane & Canopy)

Sham vs. Pillowcases: A pillowcase goes on top of the pillows you sleep on; it has only one opening on the end and isn’t necessarily supposed to be decorative. A sham is a decorative pillow case that is generally propped up against the headboard. It is closed on all four sides and comes in a variety of colors, materials, and sizes.

Gliding vs. French Doors: At first glance, these doors look very much alike because of their large glass panels that bring natural light into the room. A gliding door is exactly what it sounds like: a sliding door that runs along a track. These are a less expensive choice and are usually seen in modern homes with a contemporary touch. A French door is a normal style door that opens on hinges, but has large window-like panels from the floor to the ceiling.

These are just a few household items that hold similarities to each other but now it may be easier to tell the difference.

Recommended Reading:

-5 Ways to Take Your Living Room from Good to Great

-Serene Space: 5 Tips for Creating a Calm Bedroom

-How to Decorate Your Home on a Budget

-Be My Guest: How to Style a Guest Room

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

September 3, 2014 By CENTURY 21

There are a lot of advantages to home improvement changes. They can make your space feel more modern, larger, and increase its value. And the good news is you don’t have to be an expert handyman (or handywoman) to make easy and simple alterations. Here’s how to better the look and feel of your home.

1. Install new handles and door knobs: Buy new handles for your cabinets and drawers when you’re changing the style of a room. Get a modern feel by adding steel handles, or achieve shabby-chic comfort with bright colors that contrast classic wood doors and cabinets. Though old-fashioned, using a faux-crystal option will create a delicate look in a room.

2. Replace old light bulbs or add light fixtures: If the light in a room is looking dim, try stronger wattage bulbs (within the safety limitations listed on your lamp or light fixture). Floor lamps will also help achieve a brighter effect. Don’t rely on decorative desk lamps to drastically improve the brightness of a room, though they can enhance the mood and decor.

3. Paint the front door: It’s recommended that you repaint your front door every 4-6 years. (Williams Professional Painting.) Whether it’s a neutral or bold color, if you give a door a new look, it can change the outlook you have on the rest of the house.

4. Polish floors: A weekly sweeping of your hardwood floors isn’t enough. Polish your floors every three months with a urethane-based polish, which creates a protective layer against small scratches.

5. Paint an accent walls: This design technique draws the eye to one wall instead of the others. Choose a bold color or wallpaper on the wall that features the focus of your room (e.g. a fireplace, a large painting). One accent wall technique is to keep with the tone of other walls. For instance, if your room is beige, paint the accent wall a deep, chocolate brown to keep with the neutral tone.

Make these small yet significant changes to your home, and you could be on your way to have your very own redesign at a fraction of the cost.

Recommended Reading:

-How to Style a Patio

-Dorm Room 101: How to Decorate a Dorm Room

-How to Style a Gallery Wall

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

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Benefits of Working With a Real Estate Agent

August 30, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Choosing a house to call a home is one of the most important decisions people make. Working with a real estate agent can make the home buying or selling process easier and more efficient. We spoke with agents affiliated with the CENTURY 21^® brand to find out why you should work with an agent.

What is one reason why a buyer should work with a CENTURY 21 Agent?

-Helen Hunt, CENTURY 21 Homes and Investments: “I can have your home marketed internationally. We are the best real estate brand in the country.”

-Sarah Gravelle, CENTURY 21 Real Estate Center broker in Puget Sound: “Access to resources at our ready – CENTURY 21 Real Estate can assist a client locally or around the world. Free phone apps allows the client to see what is on the market as it changes, drive neighborhoods, search and share listings and questions with their broker.”

-Jerry Tuscano, CENTURY 21 Elite, New Jersey: “Forbuyers we have an easy to use, full featured mobile app that we can share with a buyer in less than a minute and can start being used right away! Complete with a mortgage calculator and area stats and pictures of area where house is located.”

What is one reason why a seller should work with a CENTURY 21 Agent?

-Helen Hunt, CENTURY 21 Homes and Investments: “Professional, trained, serious about your future.”

-Sarah Gravelle, CENTURY 21 Real Estate Center broker in Puget Sound: “All the unmatched tools and forms of communication to expose the seller’s property to the largest market provide great value.”

-Jerry Tuscano: CENTURY 21 Elite, New Jersey “For sellers we have the best Marketing platform at our fingertips that can be also be used on a mobile device. Marketing their property in an instant.”

Make informed decisions faster so that you can start enjoying your new home sooner. CENTURY 21 Agents have the marketing expertise, tools, resources, and research to help you make a house a home.

Recommended Reading:

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

-Myth vs. Fact: Home Buying

-5 Tips for First Time Homebuyers

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