Decorating Your Outdoor Living Space

Now that the weather is a bit cooler it is just delightful to be relaxing outside. I like to think of my backyard and patio as extended living space. Here a few ideas on how to decorate that extra room for relaxing and entertaining.

From Savannah’s Interior Design store 24e

24e Cypress Swing Bed 24 East Broughton Street

A step outside is how far away your new favorite destination could be. With a 24e Signature Line Cypress Swing Bed just outside your back door…

http://www.24estyle.com/products/24e-cyprus-swing-bed

Refined Rustic Back Porch Southern Living

Decorator Cindy Smith of Circa Interiors, Charlotte, NC, used purple accents in addition to wood, metal, and stone to create a refined, rustic back porch design. http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/front-back-screen-porch-patio-00417000071944/page67.html 

Bungalow Porch
Southern Living

An extra-long porch swing anchors this porch space and, at 7 feet long, invites stretching out for long afternoon naps. The swing is hung the swing by ropes to give it a more natural look. A brightly patterned outdoor rug pops against neutral tones. http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/front-back-screen-porch-patio-00417000071944/page3.html

Add Appeal To Your Home With Shutters

What people remember about homes are the charming details that give it away as a house that was built 50, 60, 70 years ago. Shutters are one of these often overlooked details that help make up that first impression of a home. Well done shutters will add interest and texture to a house.  Cheap shutters, which are so common that many people don’t even question the look, can give a flat, pasted-on appearance; authentic ones can make all the difference.

Shutter Basics

So if you are looking to add some extra curb appeal to your home and you want to add or change shutters to your home what should you look for? Well there are some basics on shutters that you should know when shopping around. For starters the size of the shutter in relation to your window is important. Every shutter on the home doesn't have to be the same size as the others; all that matters is that each shutter properly fits its adjacent window. Each shutter should be exactly one-half the width of the window; this is the first cardinal rule to follow, regardless of how wide the window is. The whole idea is that you must give the believable appearance that they could actually be closed over to protect against sun, storms, or cold; therefore they should always be mounted on the side window trim rather than against the outside edges of it. The length of the shutter needs to be exactly that of its particular window, this is the second cardinal rule. So when shopping for your shutters make sure you know the size of the windows they will be placed adjacent to.

Shutter Styles

So now that you know the size, style is the next decision to be made. There are as many styles as one can imagine, however there are some more popular, main stream styles that may match the style of your home. Here are a few of the more popular styles.

1. The most commonly used shutter style is the Louvered.  Louvered window shutters offer a tasteful signature styling and a timeless accent to homes. Look for well-made versions of wood or a high-quality synthetic material. Not the cheapest on sale at the mega-hardware store. It will cheapen the look of your home. 
2. Raised Panel shutters add that traditional colonial look. With a traditional 2 panel to custom 3 panel shutters, imagine the graceful yet enduring beauty that these exterior shutters can bring to your home. 
3. The Combination shutter which originated in the New Orleans area has a unique combination of both louver and raised panel. It offers the beauty of both styles, and provides a second glance appeal to traditional styles. You can mix and match your styles with a variety of louver and raised panel combinations to make your own unique look.
4. In its simplest form the Board-n-Batten shutters has been rumored to be the first style of shutter invented. The vertical members are referred to as the boards and the horizontal members are referred to as the battens. This classic style is perfect for ranch style homes or homes that want to reflect historical significance and simplicity.
5. Flat Panel shutters are inspired after the Shaker design where clean lines and simplicity define style. These shutters are perfect for Arts & Crafts or Craftsman style homes. 
6. The combination of both Board-n-Batten and Flat Panel shutters, the Framed Board-n-Batten shutters add a unique look. Commonly used on traditional style homes, the Framed Board-n-Batten shutter has been growing in popularity against the traditional louver, raised panel, and board-n-batten shutter style.
7. Rustic, Rough Sawn window shutters can be seen throughout times past. Rough sawn lumber is lumber that is left in a rough, non-finished state. These shutters have a rich, rustic look to them, complete with the gouges and scrapes associated with traditional rough sawn lumber. The grain of the rough sawn shutters is also exaggerated to intensify the traditional rough sawn look. 

Material & Color

To make the best of your curb appeal using shutters make sure to choose a quality material the shutters are made from. There are several different long lasting materials on the market these days.

• Vinyl
• Wood
• Composite Wood
• Premium PVC & aluminum 
• Fiberglass Premium Composite

Color is also an important choice for shutters. Will you want to paint or stain your new shutters? Which one will best represent the look you want to create with your home? Although most people choose a color the beauty of stained-wood shutters is hard to beat.  Choose neutral colors if you want your home to blend in with the surroundings. For a house that stands out, opt for a bold color palette. When making this choice you might want to take into consideration the color of your landscape. Once they are up stand back and take a good look, you've just increased the appeal of your home!

Demand is finally starting to catch up with supply and significantly fewer distressed properties weighing down the system. If your selling your home and want to be in the competition as the supply narrows, than you should know that a property’s curb appeal naturally makes a critical first impression. While most real estate professionals advise their clients to tend to the yard work, trim the trees, and put out a new welcome mat, there are some other opportunities to help sellers improve a home’s curb appeal. Real estate professionals call it ‘Staging’ and can offer some compelling ideas for sprucing up exteriors, here are a few extra ideas.

Front Door

A front door can be a home’s focal point. You want to repaint or even replace your door. Replacing a front door with a new steel door (which costs about $1,200) actually offers the biggest bang for the buck at resale. (An average of 73 percent of the cost may be recouped, according to Remodeling magazine). Here in Savannah there are many homes with wooden front doors, yours home may have one of them. If so, perhaps you may want to consider refinishing it. This would give your entryway a warm and inviting look. 

Windows

Wash them inside and out make sure all of the windows have screens. Try dressing up the windows with flower boxes. Check your shutters, do they need some repair, or repainting? If you are painting the shutters the trend is away from high contrast green, red, or black. More monochromatic palettes that blend with the rest of the house is what most buyers are looking for today. This goes for your front door as well.

Front Porch

Here in Savannah this is a critical first impression, and can be a key selling point, so don’t overlook this part of your home. Consider this additional square footage of living space, so stage it with as much care as you would the rest of your home. Add some rocking or Adirondack chairs or even a porch swing, with a side table for coffee and for writing up contracts. Add some potted flowering plants as well. You can get some great ideas for porches by driving through Ardsley Park, or Baldwin Park, or try the Victorian district where many homes have front porches that are often used by their residents.

After Dark

You can bet that home buyers will drive by your house in the evening to survey the neighborhood. Add some portable outdoor lamps along your walkway. Home centers sell solar lights for a very affordable price these days. Make sure your porch light is working and perhaps add a lamp on the porch if it is large enough to do so, and make sure to leave them on. The goal is to create a warm glow from the curb, making your home look cozy and inviting.

Sure To Sell

With these extra tips your home is sure to sell. If you are looking for some additional information on the process of selling your home try The Sellers Roadmap on our website.

Home Spring Cleaning

Home Spring Cleaning is a tradition that lets out the stale winter air and brings in the fresh spring

smell. Cleaning and organizing our home lifts our spirits, and opens us up for fresh new ideas and activities. However the thought of such a task can feel overwhelming. There are some things you can do to get the job done, and help it take place smoothly and quickly.

Action Plan

The first thing you need to do is create an action plan. Set aside a full day for this, get others involved, assign tasks to specific family members. To help make the day more palatable to resistant family members, break the chores down into 15 minute cleanups. About.com has a list of 15 minute cleanups on their site to print out and delegate to family. Play some upbeat music to get everyone going, and create a celebration reward when the job is done. Maybe taking the family out for a treat, or to dinner.

Tip: Get everyone to agree to turn their phones off until their chores are completed. Also you can take turns playing family members favorite music

 

Make a List

Ok so you have a day picked out, and family members has agreed to participate, what exactly should you include in your cleaning? Normal spring cleaning includes tasks such as storing winter clothing, washing windows, vacuuming; outdoor chores include things like cleaning grills, and patios. If you are unsure of what all to include on your cleanup day you can download some checklists a the ScJohnson consumer website.

However it’s important to remember items such as:

·         Clean dryer vents

·         Change return air vent filters

·         Schedule inspection of cooling systems

·         Drain sediment from hot water heaters

·         Refrigerator: Check the Drip Pan and Vacuum the Refrigerator Coils

Tip: As always, read the labels of any product you use so you fully understand all directions and precautions. Consider, too, whether you’ll need special equipment, like safety goggles or rubber gloves, to protect your eyes and skin.

Garage Cleanup

Garages can really collect an array of stuff, so it’s best to separate the garage cleaning from the

family spring cleanup day. Again get family members to pitch and create rewards for the completing of this task. Start by creating a plan of attack, otherwise it can easily feel overwhelming. To help make the day a bit easier have a cooler with favorite drinks available and remember to have on hand those popular snacks.  Purchase some containers ahead of time for sorting purposes. As you asses your task, you may want to think about having a garage sale or simply create a giveaway pile for your local charity.

It’s good to do some reminiscing and joking so that the day goes by more quickly and becomes filled with welcome memories. However try not to get too distracted while sorting through the pile of items you may not have seen for a long time.

Maintaining a home is a big job, keeping the clutter down and belongings organized can really help.

Tip: Setup and organize the supplies before you get started. Trying to run around and find the sharpie for marking containers will cut into your time.

The Don Callahan Real Estate Group

Keller Williams Realty

o: 912-232-8580 | f: 866-832-5321

www.DonCallahan.com

 

Healthy Soil; Healthy Lawn

With winter ending we open our windows, bringing in the welcome smell of fresh flowers and freshly cut grass. The wonderful aroma of spring also reminds us it’s time to turn our attention to some outside home maintenance. While walking my dog enjoying this beautiful weather I have seen people raking their leaves in preparation to mow their lawns. What are the best lawn maintenance practices I wondered?

So here is what my research turned up; land area collectively occupied by U.S. lawns equals a land mass greater than that of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island combined. Wow that is a lot of lawn to mow and rake! What about all those leaves and grass clippings, do we really need to rake them and have them hauled away and place into landfills? Actually studies show that mulching fallen tree leaves into your lawn is good for the grass and good for the environment. Some homeowners and municipalities compost leaves and yard waste which can later be used as an amendment to flower beds or spread out over lawns.  Composting is a great use for this organic matter. Mulching the leaves into the lawn also helps with those pesky weeds.

The best method for weed control is mowing the leaves with a mulching mower and letting them fall to the soil, right where they are. The repeated mowing needed to mulch the leaves actually thickens the grass by encouraging it to grow laterally. Healthy grass will push weeds out of the lawn. Grass clippings are also good to mulch into the lawn. Grass clippings contain an estimated 4% nitrogen that can be returned to the grass plant if they are allowed to remain on the lawn.

The health of a lawn is very dependent on the health of the soil. The best defense against weeds is a healthy lawn, and a health lawn needs healthy soil. A soil lacking in specific nutrients can promote weed growth, and death of the grass. A soil test provides information on the soil’s actual nutrient status. How does one know what the nature of your soil is? Contact your local County Cooperative Extension office. They will tell you how to take a soil sample, and they will examine the soil and let you know what is needed to promote the growth of healthy grass, or shrubs, or flowers. In our Savannah area you can contact the Chatham County Cooperative Extension office (http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/chatham/)

at 124 Bull Street or the Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens located in Southwest Chatham County on Highway 17. There is an $8.00 fee for each routine sample, but the cost is well worth it.

Make Your Home Appealing to Buyers

As you start to gather up your belongings and pack them away for your move, many sellers question which items they should leave out for buyer appeal. Often the wrong items are left on display; things like family photos, personal keepsakes, and treasured belongings. All of these items should be safely packed away which very often creates open space (a plus for buyers) on shelves, refrigerator doors, and desktops.

Buyers often make a decision within just seconds of seeing your home about whether or not they want to buy it. So picture your home through the eyes of your potential buyers. What do you see in about 10 seconds? When you walk up do you see children’s toys scattered across the front lawn. Do you see overgrown shrubs and weeds? Do you see chipped paint on the front door, a screen that’s torn? Do you spot oil spills on the driveway?

Even answering yes to just one or two of those questions can be damaging and that’s before your potential buyer has entered your home. Sometimes, those seconds are all the buyers need to decide to simply do a "drive by" and not even stop to go inside.

Of course, the goal is to get the buyers inside. To get them to spend time, feel like your home could be their home. But even though that goal is so widespread and common among sellers, somehow the decisions some sellers make are almost completely polar to the goals.

Let’s look at five tips that can make your home appealing to buyers.

1. Something simple like fixing a screen is often overlooked by a seller because it is so simple, yet, just seconds of seeing the ripped screen can cause a negative impact for buyers.
2. Adjust the artwork in your house to be non-personal. No family pictures! Buyers get distracted.
3. Make the kitchen a focal point. Winning over buyers with an appealing kitchen can often convince them that they must have the home.
4. Put the "ah" in the bedroom. The bedroom needs to look like a bedroom. Sounds funny, but many people use their bedroom for other things such as an office or storage.
5. If there isn’t much space, clear the clutter out. Remove excess furniture. It doesn’t matter if you use it. You can walk to another room to get what you need if it means you sell the home faster because it now looks more inviting and spacious.

Making your home more appealing is about seeing your home through the eyes of your potential buyers. When it comes time to go over the offers, you’ll be glad you did.

Home Staging Tips

Let's change the sign in your yard from For Sale to Sold!

Show Your House in the Best Light
When a buyer walks into a nice bright room, they feel happy. And you know what happy buyers do? They make offers! Turn on all lamps and lights to the brightest setting. If you have a 3-way light bulb turn it to the highest watt. All lamps should have at least 100 watt bulbs in them. Remove heavy curtains to let the natural light in.

Create Space in Your Home
Get your furniture off the floor by removing all skirts. Showing the legs of furniture will visually make the room appear larger. Using neutral colors in paint and décor will make rooms seem larger. Add crown molding. It will make the rooms flow and expand the space. Ceiling fans should be the same color as the ceiling as it will make the ceilings seem higher. A darker fan will make the ceiling appear lower. Area rugs need to be proportional to the room size. A large room needs a large rug because a small rug will make the room seem smaller.

Make Your House a Home
Adding plants is a great way to add life to a room, but only if the plants are lush and full. Any old and dreary plants need to be replaced with new ones.

De-Clutter
Removing clutter doesn’t just apply to things on the floor. If you have a lot of pictures, decorative plates, etc. group them on one wall as a focal point and free up wall space. Pots hanging in the kitchen area are a bad idea as it makes the room/ceiling seem smaller and cluttered. Remove items from your kitchen counters like cutting boards, fruit baskets, etc. Also get rid of things in the sink area. No potential buyer wants to see your dirty dish sponge! Buyers will open your drawers and cabinets; clean them out so they can see the space instead of your junk. Buyers associate messy drawers and closets with a poorly maintained home.

Showcase Your Home’s Exterior in its Prime
If selling your home in the winter, make a photo album with photos of the exterior in the springtime

Upgrade the Kitchen
Buyers don’t give you the courtesy of saying they want a new appliance, they simply don’t make an offer on your house. The smartest thing you can do is make your kitchen look fresh and bright. Refrigerator is the least expensive appliance to upgrade and it will make the most impact.

Staging your home is necessary in this competitive market. You want your home to stand out in potential buyers minds as a place they could see themselves living in, not a house that needs work. The effort you put in to making your home look as perfect as possible will be worth the effort.

Attention Sellers: Why Staging Matters

We highly recommend a professional staging consultation for each of our listings. Watch this video to learn why this small investment in your home yields big results.

Do you really want to sell your house?

For those who believe everything they hear in the media and think that the housing market is at a complete stand still, I have some news. There are many homes that are selling, and selling quickly. They simply fit into one of two categories.

They are:

Well-presented, or Very well-priced.

Or, preferably - both.

Some of my buyer clients have recently run into extremely competitive sit­uations resulting in multiple offer scenarios. I have found myself resorting back to techniques that were used during the boom periods to have their offers brought to the top of the pile. These include writing letters defining their current and past employment situations, and descriptions of exactly - what nice families they are.

What is causing this type of competition in a down market?

These are basically sellers who have smart Realtors® and they are taking their advice. Before the home is put in the market, the agent goes through the property and points out areas that need improvement. As a result:

-- Interiors are getting a fresh coat of paint. -- The home is immaculately cleaned. -- Any deferred maintenance is immediately taken care of. -- Repairs are being made. -- Out-of-date décor such as flowered wall paper is being removed. -- New kitchen counters are being installed. -- The exterior is repainted, in necessary. -- But most importantly, the home is priced correctly.

Perfect homes, of course are not the only houses that are selling. Foreclosures, estate sales and properties that need freshening but do not have the resources to do so are also sometimes generating multiple offers. The key is - they must be priced to sell.

The message here is that, even in this difficult market, there are houses that are coming on and selling on the first day they are listed. The secret - and this should not be much of a secret - is: Listen to your Realtor®!

Copyright 2011 "What Types of Homes are Selling Right Now? Perfect Ones!" Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, The Buyers' Counsel - (508) 881-6230

Top 10 Home Selling Mistakes That Can Cost You

Avoid these common slipups to sell your home fast and for top dollar
By Shannon Petrie, FrontDoor.com Published: 8/20/2009

Mistake #10: Waiting until spring to sell
Sure, spring is traditionally the busiest time for real estate sales, but people buy homes 365 days a year. Plus, off-peak season buyers tend to be more serious, and fewer homes on the market means less competition for sellers.

Don't be daunted by the thought of selling during the summer, winter or fall. Instead, draw in buyers by playing up your home's seasonal amenities.

Mistake #9: Not understanding the terms of your real estate contract
Real estate contracts can be complex and confusing, but don't let the fine print scare you. Before accepting a buyer's offer and entering into a formal agreement, review the contract carefully with your real estate agent or attorney.

Understand the buyer's requests and know what your responsibilities are as a seller. Can the home be sold as-is, or do you have to make repairs? What's included in the sale (i.e., appliances, furniture, fixtures)? What contingencies are included?

Mistake #8: Going it alone without researching first
Faced with the prospect of forking over a hefty sales commission, you may find the FSBO route pretty tempting. But remember, selling a home sans real estate agent means dealing with mounds of paperwork, marketing and showings.

Before you sell your home by yourself, do your research to make sure you're up for the task. At the very least, you may want to hire a real estate attorney to look over the details of the deal.

Mistake #7: Ignoring lowball offers
Many home sellers in today's market need a reality check. Just because your neighbor sold for X amount five years ago, things have changed, and you can't expect to get the same amount for your home today.

If you receive an offer you think is too low, repress the impulse to feel insulted and reject the offer completely. Instead, make a counteroffer and see if the buyer is willing to negotiate. You may be able to settle on a price -- and terms -- that you're both satisfied with.

Mistake #6: Wasting time on an unqualified buyer
Today's mortgage borrowers face stricter lending standards, so it's crucial you check out the potential buyer's qualifications. The last thing you want is a buyer whose financing falls through mere days before closing.

Before accepting an offer, make sure the buyer has been pre-approved for a loan, not just pre-qualified. Also, don't compare offers based solely on price: A buyer who is putting 20 percent down is more likely to close than someone scraping in at the 3.5 percent minimum.

TIP: Protect yourself by having a backup offer or two in place. That way, you won't have to put your house back on the market if the first buyer fails to close.

Mistake #5: Skimping on marketing
In the past, an ad in the paper and a sign in the front yard might have led to a successful home sale. But today, you'll need a broader marketing strategy if you want buyers to notice your home.

Ninety percent of today's buyers start their home searches on the Web, so it's important to have an impressive online listing with plenty of high-quality photos and video. The more exposure your home gets, the better, so don't limit yourself when it comes to marketing. Pairing traditional advertising techniques with innovative methods is the most effective strategy.

Mistake #4: Sabotaging the showing
When touring a house for sale, buyers need to be able to focus, evaluate and determine if the home is right for them. The last thing they need is an overeager seller following them around and pointing out new kitchen appliances and recently renovated bathrooms. So give buyers some space!

During an open house or home tour, take a drive or a walk around the neighborhood, or confine yourself to one room if you absolutely have to stay home.

Also, give buyers enough access to see your home. An hour during the week and a Sunday Open House may not accommodate many buyers' schedules. Consider extending your showing hours or using a lockbox so agents can access the house when you're not available.

Mistake #3: Not prepping your home for sale
With the huge inventory of homes on the market, today's homebuyer can afford to be choosy. That means you've got a lot of competition and limited attention, so a clean, uncluttered and updated home is a must.

Depending on your budget and time frame, you'll either want to make simple fixes (repairing things that are broken or giving your walls a fresh coat of paint) or invest in large upgrades (new kitchen counters or new windows).

Once you've made fixes and upgrades, you must clean, clean, clean. Dirty homes get lowball offers or none at all. Staging, the process of de-cluttering and dressing up your home to make it appealing to buyers, is also key.

Before you begin your pre-sale preparation, visit open houses in your neighborhood to get a feel for your competition. This will give you an idea of what improvements will be necessary to put your home in the same league as others in the area.

Mistake #2: Over-improving
It's easy to get caught up in a home improvement project, especially if you think it'll add value to your home. But be careful that you don't over-improve for your house and neighborhood, especially if you expect to recoup your investment.

For instance, if you live in a neighborhood where all the houses have modest kitchens, you won't get your money back at resale if you put in granite countertops and Viking appliances.

In other words, keep up with the Joneses -- not outdo them. Don't try to make your home the most expensive house on the block with major upgrades -- you'll never recoup those expenses. Instead, stick to improvements that put your home on par with other homes in the neighborhood. That way, you bring out the best in your home, without going overboard.

Mistake #1: Overpricing
You obviously want to get the highest possible price for your home, but you won't be doing yourself any favors if you price your home higher than the comps, i.e. the comparable homes in your area with similar square footage, construction, age and condition that sold recently or are currently on the market.

Serious buyers are well-informed and will instantly dismiss your property if they believe it's overpriced. (Hence, all the price reductions in today's market.)

On the other hand, pricing competitively (read: lower than similar homes in your area) will spark lots of interest in your home and could lead to multiple offers -- and, ultimately, a higher sales price.

From FrontDoor.com. View original article: http://www.frontdoor.com/Sell/Top-10-Home-Selling-Mistakes-That-Can-Cost-You/55225/p1

Frugal Tips to Make a Home More Appealing

Homeowners who want to sell but don’t have a lot of cash to spruce up their properties might consider these tips from Bankrate.com for upgrading a property without spending a fortune.

Polish up the kitchen. Add new cabinet door handles, replace lighting and update the faucet set. Unless the cabinets are mica, give them a fresh coat of paint. Order new doors for kitchen appliances.

Tidy up the bath. Replace the toilet seat. Clean up the floor with vinyl tiles or sheet vinyl applied over the old floor. Re-grout the tub and, if the tub is dingy, add a new prefabricated tub and shower surround.

Paint the walls.

Add closet systems to all the bedrooms, pantry, and entry closets.

Hire a plumber and an electrician to fix anything that is loose or that leaks.

Clean the carpets or, if they are worn, cover them with area rugs.

Replace ceiling lights with inexpensive but attractive fixtures.

Refinish or repaint the front door and replace the hardware.

Mow the lawn, edge the sidewalks, mulch all the beds and put two big planters at either side of the front door.

Source: Bankrate.com (07/14/2010)

View article on Realtor.org.

6 Staging Tips for Spring

Whip your yard into shape.
When you're selling in the spring, you need to get your yard in shape as quickly as possible. Clear winter yard debris, and get frost-resistant plants that won't be affected if a late cold spell hits. Or, invest in silk flowers for a touch of color that you don't have to worry about watering.

Do some spring cleaning.
It's natural to want to spruce up your space in the spring, so scrub away! A sparkling home will impress buyers and make your home seem even more appealing.

Box up your winter wardrobe.
Bulky winter clothes take up lots of space, so move them out as you de-clutter your closets. You'll impress buyers with all that space.

Spruce up the entryway.
If your welcome mat is covered with winter dirt, pick up a new one. A clean, pretty doorway will help set the tone for the entire showing.

Bring spring aromas indoors.
Spring is not only a colorful season, but a fragrant one, too. Bring the aroma indoors. Scents have a profound effect on mood, so infusing scent into your decor with diffusers, candles, fresh cut plants/flowers, or incense can change the overall feeling of a space.

Bring out the bright colors.
Tuck away the heavy, winter flannel comforter and pull out crisp linens with coverlets for color. Bring in the spring with floral-designed spreads or colorful solids. Don't forget accent pillows for added style and comfort.

(from frontdoor.com)