Your home is more than just four walls and a roof; it's a reflection of your personality, your style, and the place where memories are made. However, as the years go by, even the most cherished homes can start to show signs of wear and tear. But fear not, because in this guest blog post, we have Tina Martin, a seasoned home improvement enthusiast, here to guide you through the process of reviving your home. Tina understands that a home makeover isn't just about aesthetics; it's an investment that can breathe new life into your space and add significant value to your property. Whether you're preparing to sell or simply want to create a more comfortable and enjoyable living environment, these tips will help you embark on a journey of transformation that will make your home feel brand new. So, without further ado, let's dive into Tina's expert advice, including some of my own personal tips too, on how to give your home a fresh start and a new lease on life. Reviving a home with a makeover is a fantastic way to breathe new life into your living space and increase its value. However, the process of renovating can be overwhelming, especially if you're unsure where to start. Here are some tips from Toscano Interiors on how to revive your home with a makeover. Select Value-Boosting Improvements for Property Before starting your home makeover, it's essential to consider future resale value. While it's important to create a living space that suits your needs, it's also crucial to choose improvements that will enhance your property's value. For example, modernizing your kitchen or bathroom can make a significant difference in how much your home is worth. Use a Home Maintenance App It’s a good idea to use a home maintenance and repair app if you need to make repairs to your home. The right app allows homeowners to quickly schedule service appointments, track the status of their repairs, and access important information about their home systems and major appliances like the refrigerator and washer and dryer. By using the Frontdoor application, you'll also be able to access service professionals, who can provide quotes for repairs or maintenance work. Create an Outdoor Space You Can Be Proud Of Creating an outdoor living space can be a worthwhile investment for homeowners seeking to improve their home's value and appearance. SuperMoney notes that hardscaping elements such as patios, walkways, and retaining walls can enhance the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your backyard. Replace Your Bathroom Tiles A bathroom is one area of the home that can become outdated quickly. A simple way to revive your bathroom's look is by re-tiling the walls or floors. Choose neutral colors and patterns that will stand the test of time. This will give your bathroom a fresh look and feel while also increasing your home's value. Thoroughly Clean Your Home Cleaning your home can be a powerful way to rejuvenate and transform it. A thorough deep clean, including vacuuming the right way, surface wiping, and carpet cleaning, can make a significant difference in the overall appearance and health of your home. With a sparkling clean environment, you can enjoy a more attractive and healthier living space. To get started, go online for tips and hacks from cleaning experts. Maximize Storage Space To create a welcoming and spacious living area, it's essential to eliminate clutter. One way to achieve this is by maximizing your storage space through the use of shelving, cabinets, or closet organizers. This will not only enhance the functionality of your home but also make it feel more inviting by creating a tidy and organized living environment. Declutter by Digitizing Paper Files By digitizing your paper records and converting them into PDFs, you can significantly reduce clutter in your home while also ensuring that all important documents are easily accessible. If you want to combine PDF files after scanning, there are various online tools available to help you do so (click here for more info). This practical solution will save you time and improve your overall organization. Unveil Fresh Art Pieces Anne Anderson Home points out that artwork can add color and personality to your home. Introduce new artwork into your living space that reflects your style and taste. This can be done through paintings, sculptures, or other decorative items. Artwork can also be an investment, and certain pieces may increase in value over time. Upgrade Lighting Fixtures Lighting is a crucial element that can significantly impact your home's ambiance. Replacing outdated light fixtures with modern, energy-efficient options can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home while saving you money on your electricity bills. Don't underestimate the power of updated lighting fixtures to transform your home's atmosphere and improve your overall living experience. Revitalizing your living space through a home makeover and a good cleaning is a fantastic investment that not only enhances the aesthetic value but also boosts the overall worth of the property. By utilizing the tips provided, you can turn your house into an exquisite and practical living area that will significantly increase its market value. In conclusion, a home makeover is a worthwhile venture that adds charm and functionality to your dwelling while also providing a substantial return on investment. Ready to bring some fun, magic, authenticity, beauty and inspiration to your space? Call on Toscano Interiors today! 813.539.2085
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One way to shine in a slow or competitive housing market is to create a good first impression.
According to home-selling experts, and home stagers like myself, I have some quick tips for speeding up this process. Think about burning candles during open houses, filling the home with the aroma of fresh-baked cookies and hanging a wreath on the front door. Home-improvement experts say that investing in new kitchen countertops or a bathroom remodel will give the home a whole new look and that you will most likely recoup your entire investment, if not more. A quick fix can make a significant difference but you don't have to spend a fortune, say experts at lighting control manufacturer Lutron Electronics. An inexpensive yet effective way to increase a home's curb appeal while adding value for its next owner: Add dimmers in key rooms of the home. Priced from just $10, dimmers can completely change the look and feel of a room while adding ambiance and creating moods, not to mention saving energy and increasing the life of your lightbulbs. Plus, your listing can include a mention of your dimmers, to differentiate it from the rest. Dimmers can improve the mood in large and small homes. Cramped for space? A dimmer turns a family room into a home theater, a homework station and a workout room, while an eat-in kitchen can be transformed into a romantic dinner-for-two paradise, just by adjusting the lights. Want to really be a standout in your market? Add a wireless, whole-home lighting control system that lets you turn lights on and off from the car, your bed, the patio or any room of the home. This type of system significantly increases home value while providing added safety benefits, such as tying in with a security system. Adding dimmers is truly a quick fix, requiring less than 15 minutes for installation time. If you run into trouble, help is just a phone call away; Lutron offers a free, 24-hour/seven-day technical support center. Dimmers are available nationwide at home improvement centers and lighting showrooms. #homesforsaleinFlorida #homestagingtips #interiordesign #homedesigntips #housesforsale #realestate #lighting Too hot for you to get out there and do some summer gardening? Well, if you’re selling your home you’d best be prepared to get out there and liven up your landscaping. In summer’s hot and competitive market, buyers are expecting yards to be parading their “best in bloom” colors, and showing off all their assets. So, slap on that sunscreen and get in gear to optimize your homes final sale price. Here are some quick and easy tips, to get you revved up for potential buyers: Stage Your Garden and Yard It’s very important to create some usable, practical entertaining spaces out of your existing yard and garden. This need not be too elaborate of an addition. It can be as simple as setting up a table and a set of comfortable chairs in the corner of your back yard. Stage the table with a nice linen or cotton table cloth: something airy and summery. Set up some colorful potted plants or flowers around the table to add some appealing color. Another idea might be to buy, or build a bench that takes advantage of a particular view or a nice spot amongst your garden. Water features are enticing elements and if you can “spring” for a well-placed fountain on your deck or in your garden, you’d be wise to do so. The sound of water generally evokes a calming emotion and can serve to drain out any unwanted neighborhood sounds. Be sure to keep your lawn and foliage amply watered. You’ll want all green things to look as green as possible. Also, the wetness will bring down the air temperature for a cooling effect. Flower Power Plant bright colored red and yellow flowers to catch a buyer’s attention. Use them as punctuation to accent around other more mono-chrome or green areas of your yard. Likewise, if you live in a very warm climate white flowers can be nice and add a refreshing cooling effect. Green is Gold Adding lush green foliage is a great way to spruce up empty space that is currently unused. An easy way to add beautiful green, tropical flair to your landscaping is to add hanging ferns Prep the Deck A deck is a great outdoor feature and should be highlighted. Again, with the trend for outdoor “rooms” you should make sure your deck is as appealing and comfortable as the inside of your home. Watch for cracks on structural timbers. Check the deck’s surface and remove any old nail heads or screws that are sticking out- replace them with galvanized decking screws. Once your deck is structurally sound- give it a power wash or re-stain it if it’s thirsty! Next, you can create some staged space out there- maybe a canvas gazebo to provide some shade, and some potted tree and colored flowers for visual flair and appeal. Be creative and have fun. Leave No Stone Un-turned A general rule of thumb, is to make sure all of your outdoor space has been attended to in some way. Often times an area can come to life and be much improved with a simple organizing or clean-up job. #homestaging #Floridahomestagers #interiordesigntips #interiordesign #Floridarealestate #homeinteriors #homesforsaleinFlorida #interiordesign
There's no doubt Colorado Springs real estate market is a HOTTT one, but that doesn't mean you should get lazy and skip one of the biggest factors in selling your home- home staging. According to RESA, 85% of staged homes sold for 5-23% over list price in 2020*. Just because our market is absolutely insane shouldn't mean leaving money on the table. Which is why Karl Kennedy with Projectortop.com has come up with 4 home staging tips you can try yourself, or of course call us the professionals at Toscano Interiors- with over 300 homes staged, (we know what we are doing) and would love to help! So once you have decided it is time to sell your home, you want the home to sell quickly and for the most money possible. The best way to help your realtor accomplish this is to stage your home so that it stands out from the crowd. When it comes to updates and staging, being strategic is critical. The whole purpose of good staging is to get potential buyers to imagine themselves living there. So, where to begin? Why Staging Is Important The numbers don’t lie. According to a National Association of Realtors (NAR) survey, 49% of buyers’ agents believe staging affects their buyers’ decision to buy and 77% say it is easier for buyers to visualize living in the home. The NAR also reports that staged homes sell for up to 5% more than unstaged homes, and they sell quicker. Staging Tip 1: Empty and Clean By removing personal items and clutter, your home will appear larger than it really is. So box these items up and get them out of the home entirely. Buyers aren’t interested in buying your personal family memories. Once you have boxed these items up, store them somewhere other than in the home. Stuffing the boxes in the garage or the basement will just make that area look cluttered. Once the clutter is gone it’s time to make everything sparkle. That especially means countertops, bathroom fixtures, and any carpeting. Air the home out if possible, or burn a few scented candles. Another great positive odor enhancer is to bake a fruit pie shortly before any showings. Staging Tip 2: Light and Bright Dust lampshades and light bulbs, open blinds, clean the windows, and wipe down any mirrors. Consider replacing light bulbs with ones that are slightly brighter and of a whiter shade. Bright rooms always seem more inviting. Staging Tip 3: Stage Important Rooms First Many people think the kitchen should be the highest staging priority but the living room is the most important room to stage. Remove excess furniture to make the room seem larger. Next concentrate on the master bedroom, then the kitchen. If your home has a family room with a large screen TV or home theater projector, have a music video playing in the background as a mood setter. If your furniture is not in perfect condition, or it has already been moved to a new home, rent a few pieces from a rental or staging company. Position furniture away from the walls, a technique known as “floating”. The look you are after is cozy and comfortable. A vase full of fresh flowers or a bowl of fruit is always a nice touch. Staging Tip 4: Curb Appeal Once the interior is set, it’s time to dress up the outside. It doesn’t take a lot of effort. A new welcome mat at the front door, maybe a potted plant also, clean flowerbeds with trimmed greenery, and a clean swept deck or patio with a few outdoors furniture pieces. It stands to reason to keep the lawn mowed if you are selling during warmer months. Also you should power-wash any sidewalks or pathways. Staged Homes Stand Out These staging tips will help you sell your home for more money and in a faster period of time. None of them require a significant outlay of cash and they can easily be completed in a weekend. Staging is one of the best things you can do to get your home ready for the market. #homestagingtips #realestatetips #interiordesign #homesforsalecolorado #homedesign #homestagingworks #coloradospringsstagers #coloradospringsdesigners Never in a million years would I have thought I would ever be staging homes during a pandemic. But here I am, almost three months into it. I can tell you it has been a very interesting three months, and houses are still selling in our thriving City.
This week's blog post addresses this crazy topic, and is courtesy of guest blog writer Shirley Martin, with Tidy Life Today. The coronavirus pandemic has put home sellers in a tough spot. How can you show your home off to potential buyers if you’re supposed to practice social distancing? With open houses and in-person showings off the table, you will have to get a little creative. Fortunately, the real estate market has adopted certain tech tools that enable sellers and buyers to complete a home sale with minimal contact. Keep reading to learn more about navigating this new and unfamiliar home-selling process! Prep Your Home for the Market Although buyers may not be touring your home in person, they will still want to see pictures and videos of your space. To get your home ready, TurnKeyHomeLoan recommends giving it a good top-to-bottom deep clean and tackling some major decluttering. Clutter will make your rooms appear cramped, unclean, and uninviting, especially in your real estate photos. You don’t want anything to distract your buyers from seeing your home’s best features! Once your home is sparkling clean, consider making a few impactful upgrades to really hook those buyers. If you want to keep it simple, a fresh coat of paint will have a huge effect on the overall feel of your home—go with a neutral shade to please everyone. You could also touch up the exterior paint, especially if it’s peeling, cracking, or otherwise looking unkempt. When you’re finally happy with the state of your home, stage some elegant vignettes around your home to help your potential buyers imagine living in your space. For best results, try to incorporate the color blue. Blue works great with many different color schemes and stands out in photos, so invest in some blue accents to help your listing pop! Skip the Open House Even if open houses are still permitted in your area, it’s best to play it safe and skip this social gathering. Research suggests that open houses aren’t that effective anyway and tend to benefit the real estate agent more than the seller. Instead, focus on your virtual presence! Take stunning listing photos, create a 3D walkthrough, and offer video tours to interested buyers. Showing off your home's features is even easier online because you can shoot your photos and videos from the angles that make your rooms look their best. To create the most engaging and attractive listing photos, Home Advisor recommends working with high-quality camera equipment and shooting during the day to take advantage of the natural light. When making videos walkthroughs of your home, try to follow a natural path through your home so your online viewers can get a more accurate feel for the flow and layout of your house. Clean Every Day One plus side of the coronavirus lockdown is that you won’t have to deal with buyers coming by to view your home on short notice. However, you will still need to keep the place clean! Your real estate agent might be giving live video-chat tours to potential buyers while your home sits on the market, and you want it to look its best every time. Get in the habit of cleaning up after yourself as you go about your day. Pick up laundry, put dirty dishes straight into the dishwasher, and wipe down countertops when you're done cooking—these simple actions will reduce the amount of cleaning you have to do before a virtual tour. If your kids are home from school, distribute your workload by giving them some daily chores. Try to keep your storage areas clean as well. Potential buyers might ask your agent to film inside cupboards, drawers, and closets so they can check out your home’s storage solutions, so make sure these spaces look neat and organized. Selling a home is always a stressful experience, but the coronavirus pandemic has made things much more complicated. Take steps to prepare for your sale so you can sail through the process with minimal issues. Declutter, clean, and stage your home, work with your real estate agent to create great online listings, and keep up with the daily cleaning so you’re always ready for virtual showings! |
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