What Can You Do With Fabric Remnants?

If your like me you love to search through remnants at your local fabric/craft store.  But, what do you do with all those beautiful pieces you just couldn’t do without?  Here are a few of my favorites:

~Cover a footstool  

~Use as an accent to window treatments, either on top, or as a tieback

~Drape over a nightstand or table, add flowers too for a quick new look

~Tie around a pillow form, wrap with ribbon for a decorative new look   

~Cut into large squares, hem and use as napkins

Cover a cardboard box, using adhesive spray,  for a colorful storage container

Stretch it over a canvas frame for easy wall art. 

The possibilities are endless.  What do you do with your remnants?

Lake Arthur Regatta

I have attended the Pittsburgh Regatta many times, mostly  because we know a race boat driver and had a personal connection to it. I must confess that, for whatever reason, I have never been to the Regatta at Lake Arthur.  I have always loved Moraine State Park and boating, learning to sail is even on my bucket list, but I really never had the desire to attend.  This year I just might have to go to see what it’s all about.  If you are interested here is the link to the website:  http://www.lakearthurregatta.org  Maybe I’ll see you there!

Top Ten Home Improvements That Could Devalue Your Home

While making changes to your home when preparing to sell is essential some improvements may not be welcomed by buyer’s.  This article by Donna Dazzo, Designed to Appeal, sums up some of the improvements to shy away from.  Thanks Donna!

 

Here are the top 10 home improvements that can make your home harder to sell:

1. Kitchen Renovation. Any renovation of a kitchen that is too taste-specific or extreme in design. For example, a kitchen equipped with a restaurant-level stove or multiple refrigerators may not appeal to the buyer who is a simple cook. You want to appeal to the broadest range of buyers when selling a home, and if a buyer thinks they need to spend money re-doing what you’ve done, they will offer less.

2. Bathroom Renovations. The same can be said for bathroom renovations. Any design that is over the top could detract from the value of the home. It’s best to avoid garish sinks, faucets, and tiles.  And skip the heart-shaped bathtub!

3. Painting. Painting the walls is a great way to freshen up a space prior to putting your home on the market, but painting with bold colors such as red, orange, purple or even black (I’ve seen this) is a sure way to turn off a potential buyer. Buyers want to feel like they can move right in and not have to re-paint the walls to match their own tastes and their existing furniture.  The same goes for painting the exterior of the home – no bright blues, yellows or greens please!

4. Water Features. Having an in-ground pool, hot tub, waterfall or pond can also devalue a home, as buyers may perceive these as extra maintenance expenses they don’t want to incur. Also, buyers with small children may be fearful of these as well. The only exception of an in-ground pool definitely adding value is if the home is an investment property in a resort area where renters find homes with a pool to be more desirable.

5. “Wasted” Square Footage. Taking valuable square footage in a house and using it for a specific, personalized purpose can make the house harder to sell and/or detract from its value, for example, turning a garage into a gym. Also, on the Bravo TV show, Nine By Design, the hosts of the show were trying to sell their NYC townhouse. The ground floor was taken up by a basketball/squash court because the owners liked to play these games. However, most buyers would see this as wasted space and an expensive project ahead to change.

6. Redecorating. Redecorating in a highly taste-specific style, such as Asian, country clutter or extreme modern can turn-off potential buyers. When selling your home, you want to appeal to who the typical buyer might be, so it’s important that the furniture and décor is targeted to that group.

7. Illegal home improvements.  Decks, driveways, expansions, etc.  not approved by the local town authorities  can devalue the home as you will probably be forced to correct the situation prior to selling which could result in something as extreme as actually removing it.

8. Laminated Wood Flooring.  Installing laminated wood flooring instead of solid wood in an upscale home can also cause a buyer to think “I’ve got to rip this out”!  Better to refinish existing hardwood floors, if any, or cover floors with new but inexpensive wall-to-wall carpeting.

9. DIY Home Repairs. While needed repairs and maintenance should be done to a home before putting it on the market, doing these yourself could end up costing you money in the end as buyers perceive your shoddy workmanship as something they have to spend money correcting, and therefore offering you a lower price.

10. Gardens and Landscaping. A high-maintenance garden and landscaping could also lower the value of a home. If buyers are not avid gardeners or don’t want to spend money watering or on hiring someone to constantly weed, trim and rotate your plantings, this could be a real turn-off.

So, before you decide to make that improvement to your home, stop and ask yourself: “Will most buyers find this desirable so that they would be willing to pay for it, or is it just to satisfy my own needs and tastes?”.

Do you know of any home improvements that could devalue a home?

© Copyright 2010 – 2011 Designed to Appeal, LLC.  All Rights Reserved.

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What? Call a Stager Now?

Who wouldn’t love to have a professional with a TV crew come in and prepare their home for sale in a very short amount of time?  I am secretly hoping that I will be so lucky when I put my house on the market.  Maybe HGTV can do a show called Staging the Stager’s House. The truth is some home sellers do not know and understand the value of home staging, nor do they realize how long the process takes.

As is everything on TV viewers only see the edited version and reality is only similar in concept to what is seen through the camera.  Most television staging jobs start with a walk through and consultation, as it should. Each home, homeowner and situation is different.  Following the consultation is the reality stretch.  Don’t get me wrong I have no problem with home staging shows offering advice and examples to potential clients. I have been known to leave my own television on HGTV (just for noise) for hours at a time.  But, there usually is not an entire crew and the progress may be much slower than expected.

That is why I suggest to anyone planning on selling his or her home in the next few years to talk with a real estate stager to schedule a consultation NOW.  More often than not it takes longer than anticipated to make the necessary changes to prepare a home for the market. Also, the process will be much less stressful than it would be if trying to get the home ready in a few weeks.  Homeowner’s can paint, sort, and pack at their leisure rather than scramble to plan a sale 1-2 weeks away.

All of this will also avoid the panicked phone call for a staging consultation ‘after’ the house has been on the market and not sold.  This does not look good folks!  There are many red flags when this happens and buyers will pick up on them offering a lower price.  Why not present your home at its best when it first goes on the market?

I understand that not everyone has this luxury but for those who do it would be a smart move to call for a consultation sooner rather than later.

What’s in a Home Staging Consultation?

Fantasy:  A real estate stager from HGTV, or other network, shows up at your house with an entire crew; in 3 days the home is looking beautiful and market ready. All for free.

Reality:  The homeowner, under a strict budget, is doing most of the work to prepare a home for sale without seeking the advice of a professional real estate stager.

In this highly competitive real estate market how does a homeowner know where to begin?  Watching and gaining knowledge from HGTV is a good start but as is everything on television it looks easier than it really is. My recommendation is to start by hiring a professional home stager who offers a written consultation.   

When clients call me it is usually because they already know the value of home staging and want to take advantage of its benefits.  I explain my tier of services offered and that I always start with a consultation.  My consultation is not designed to be a quick hello walk through and “Oh, how lovely your house is.”  It may very well be lovely for the homeowner but my job is to get it sold!

I have designed my consultation to be extensive (3 hours) and detailed.  The seller(s) and I will walk through the house addressing every area individually both inside and out.  We discuss paint colors, furniture placement, the issue of personal items, clutter, accessories, lighting, window treatments, artwork etc. We each have a copy of my staging report in order for us both to make our own notations about what actions will take place. I try to keep the homeowners budget in mind while making recommendations as well.  I am sympathetic to the fact that they are moving, an expense in itself, and are hesitant to invest in a home they are leaving.  There are many ways to ‘improve’ existing items in the home for staging purposes.  If I suggest purchases they are always to be something that will be an exciting upgrade for the new home.

In other words, my consultation is designed so that once all suggested items on the report are complete the home should be market ready.  Of course, I am always available for Finishing Touch Staging if required.  The objective is to get your house SOLD as quickly as possible so sellers can move forward. By utilizing the suggestions on my straightforward Staging Consultation Report we can work together to accomplish this goal.

Pittsburgh Ranked No. 2 on Best Cities to Buy a Home Now List

I am posting this today for all you Pittsburgher’s both here in the ‘burgh and those displaced but left their hearts here.

Forbes Magazine’s Jason Gallagher wrote this article May 13, 2011:

Pittsburgh may not be the best city to buy a home, but it is darn close. Real estate website Zillow has released a study on the best places to purchase a home, and Pittsburgh is ranked second. Rochester, N.Y., grabbed the top spot. Zillow used several factors to evaluate 125 areas in order to determine their list, including: affordability, the foreclosure situation of the area, the unemployment picture, and year-over-year home pricing trends.

After getting disappointing news early in the week about the young adults in the area not making the grade for military service, Pittsburgh receives high marks on a great list. In addition, having a name like Forbes backing up the information provided by Zillow is a nice shot the arm to spur interest in the Pittsburgh area, but also for Pennsylvania as a whole. Also appearing in the top 10 on the list is Lancaster, Pa.

Pittsburgh receives a major boost in the list because the housing recession was on the weaker side. Also the city has great healthcare with UPMC and other top outlets, but the city also has a few universities will help keep the economy flowing, the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie-Mellon University. The median home price in the Pittsburgh area according to one ABC report is $103,900. That total underscores the affordability of many homes in the area.

Pennsylvania as a state has been struck hard on lists concerning transportation, coming in with the worst bridges in America and eighth worst roads in America. However, when it comes to places to live individual regions like Pittsburgh have been performing well; the city has been raking in the accolades. The city was named America’s most livable earlier in the year, and other lists have the city ranked among the best in the nation for moms and single moms.

Pennsylvania is currently undergoing a budget battle, like many states, where education may be taking a huge hit in funding. Should those cuts stand, the state may find many cities affected by rankings on lists like those compiled by Zillow. The challenge will be to maintain an even education experience, while keeping taxes in check. In addition, the cities that appear on these lists, like Pittsburgh and Lancaster, will need help from the state in investing in infrastructure to keep their rankings intact.

Jason Gallagher is a former travel professional and long-time Pennsylvania resident. These experiences give him a first-hand look at developing situations in the state and everything included in the travel industry from technology to trends.

Sarong Idea

Whether you are staging or staying….

    
To add a splash of color to outdoor living spaces use sarongs or scarves.  They can be hung from plant stands or cabanas, wrapped around pillows, or as a bright tablecloth.  The possibilities are endless….

Take it Off for the Summer

Looking to brighten rooms for the summer season?  Here are a few quick and inexpensive ideas:

Take down heavy curtain panels and replace with cheerful sheers.  Open windows and let the breeze come in.

If privacy is not an issue take window treatments down completely to enjoy the view.

Place a lighter bedspread or comforter on your bed.

Swap heavy dark accent pillows with softer colored pillows for a lighter look.

These simple changes give the room a whole new look without a lot of effort or cost.  So go ahead take off those window treatments.

Like Sands Through the Hour Glass these are The Days of Our Lives…..

                                                              

The pictures I see in people’s homes always intrigue me.  The photographs and portraits displayed tell the many stories of family members.  A photo journal of children’s lives as they grow, vacations, day trips, weddings, birthdays, even the family pets.  A very personal tribute to what is so special to family.

I could admire them for hours. But not when I am trying to get your house sold.  These portraits are much too personal when the house is on the market.   A Seller has to remember when the house is on the market it is no longer their home. I understand this is difficult, after all this is where memories have been made.   If you truly want to get your house sold the personal items must to be removed.  Any potential buyers will not be able to envision themselves in your home.  They are unable to do this with portraits of little Johnny’s soccer team or grandmas 75^th birthday party looking at them.  Another concern is safety.  You never know who will be looking at your house. Photographs of children could make them potential victims of crime.

As much as your life is worth an Emmy of award winning personal photographs the best advice I can give is to remove them from your walls.  Replace photos with generic artwork, which can be purchased inexpensively at discount home stores.   There is no need to fill the walls, just place a few pieces in strategic places.  Purchase something you will use in your new house where new memories will be made.

Quick Kid’s ~ Sunday is Mother’s Day!

Today is Friday.  Two days before Mother’s Day.  Father’s are panicking everywhere. Dads will head out with kids in tow looking for that special something for mom.

Listen up dads.  The garden centers are open.  But, don’t just buy mom flowers. Take it up a notch and stir in some homemade love!   Flowers are beautiful.  Hanging baskets brighten the patio, deck or the fence.  Planted flowers along borders and in beds create a backdrop of colors and textures. But, the color doesn’t just come from the flowers; it comes from the pots too.

Here is a simple project dad and the kids can do in an afternoon.  (Maybe you’ve done it before). The outcome will be beautiful!  And moms love everything homemade!

Items needed for the project:

Clay pots in a variety of sizes

Exterior Primer (White or a light color is best)

Colorful Exterior Paints (Michaels ® and Lowe’s ® carry the specialty paints needed)

Paint brushes

Potting soil

Assortment of flowers and plants or herbs

Painting the pots is easy.  Just wash them first.  Let dry.  (May want to do this the night before).  Prime, paint and design the pots with your favorite colors.  Use your imagination the possibilities are endless! Once the pots are painted, fill with potting soil and transplant the plants.  Use smaller pots as candleholders so mom can enjoy the garden into the evening.

Guaranteed results!  Mom will love relaxing among the beautiful pottery created by dad and the kids the entire summer.  Of course, she will be wearing the stunning macaroni necklace too!