What are a Few Resolutions You Want to Keep for Your Home?

It’s a new year and a new you with new resolutions to conquer.  Like many of use, we tend to crush our New Year’s resolutions for the first few months of the new year but tend to forget about them as time passes. For instance, that gym membership you said you would use four times a week but haven’t been in a week or two. They can be difficult to keep but holding yourself and family accountable can really help.  The same goes for your house projects.  Putting together a list of items you want to focus on with your home can help you crush your home resolutions.

Clean room by room- Instead of trying to tackle the whole house all in one weekend, focus on one room at a time.  Focus on the rooms that may need it the most- cleaning up wrapping paper from Christmas, taking down decorations or the tree, deep cleaning your kitchen after hosting Christmas, etc.  Instead of focusing on the whole house at once, try to focus on one room at a time.

Purge your spaces- Cleaning can be a great start to your home resolution but creating a real change will require some real purging.  It can seem overwhelming at first but once you are finished you will feel so much better.  If certain items haven’t seen the light of day in moths, it’s time to get rid of it.

Donate- Once the purging is complete, label each item and separate them into two piles- one for trash and one for donate.  Take the gently used items to a place for others to create new memories with your items.

Decorate your home with fresh flowers- Fresh flowers can really have an impact on you and your rooms.  Flowers can be the least expensive makeover you can bring to a space.  They can also help clean your air to provide an at home aromatherapy to lift your mood.

Plan for this year and next- None of these resolutions can be done every day or month, one of the best ways to make sure you’ll come back to them is to plan them out in advance.  Decide when you want to tackle each room and which room you want to tackle first, spread out your purging over a few months, and so on.  Once you have a plan, you are ready to tackle 2019! 

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How’s the Market in 2019?

New year, new market? Sort of. I get asked this question more than any other question, How’s the market? With the new year here it is important to talk about to expect. My quick answer is expect more of the same. Most reports are showing a similar market to what we have experienced the past 2 years, with a change from being a seller’s market to more of a “normal” market, due to the increase in the inventory levels we are seeing. The first time home buyers price range inventory is still low, and probably will remain that way in 2109, but seeing an increase inventory in the higher priced homes for sure!

Another question that comes into play here is will interest rates continue to increase? Yes, I do believe they will, but not as much as originally predicted. And remember these are still amazing rates! However, it is important to know that a 1% increase in your rate will change the price point of the house you are able to purchase.

2019 is a great year to buy a new home and/or sell your current one! If you or someone you know is looking to make a move this year, please give me a call, as I would love the opportunity to earn your business!

How to Keep Your Christmas Décor Up Year-Round?

Christmas might be the most wonderful time of the year for those who celebrate it. But it’s really hard to deny the love for twinkling lights, sparkling decoration and festive colors sprinkled everywhere.  The magic of Christmas can be so strong, a post-Christmas depression may set in for some after all the decorations are put away.  However, there are a few ways you can use your holiday décor all year-round. Finding items that don’t scream Christmas can be left out for good.

You can probably pack away anything that is sporting jolly ‘ol Saint Nick, stockings, poinsettias, and mistletoe. But you can get away with leaving out the snowmen, reindeer (without Rudolph), snowflakes, and snowy accents for a little longer.

Decorate your home with neutrals and metallic elements for the holidays- blue and silver or any other color combination used to convey Christmas.  These items could still work throughout the year

Try not to use too much green and red together.  People tend to associate those colors with Christmas.  

Leave out Christmas décor that doesn’t necessarily look specific to Christmas. Clear glass hurricane vases can be used all year-round with a few tweaks.  Fills them with colorful bulbs for the holidays, sand and candles for a summer centerpiece or acorns and pinecones for fall.

 Use string lights all year-round on your patio.  There’s no need to pack up your Christmas lights if you enjoy a soft cozy glow. 

Metallic ornaments can be displayed all year when mixed in a bowl or glass vase with other natural materials like seagrass, twine, or wood.

What are Items in Your Home a Mover Hates Moving?

There’s no doubt professional movers are essential when you are moving.  Their job is probably one of the most physically demanding jobs out there. They are constantly going up and down stairs, carrying hundreds of pounds of furniture, dismantling (and reassembling) furniture, climbing in and out of trucks and storage units all day. However, there are a few common items a professional mover hates moving, and some may surprise you.  So, if you have any of these items to move, you may want to kick your mover a few extra bucks for helping you out.

Foam mattresses- Foam mattresses can be one of the more challenging items to move due to them being bulky.  They can also be a lot heavier than spring mattresses.

Sleeper sofas- A typical couch weighs about 300 pounds but one with a built-in bed can weigh an extra 75 pounds.  To make it easier on your mover, use a small piece of rope or bungee cord to tie the bed to the couch to keep the bed from flipping out on the movers.

Particleboard furniture- The budget-friendly furniture may not only be a nightmare to put together but it’s also a nightmare for movers.  The reason for this is the furniture is so lightweight it is easily damaged.

Bunk beds- Dismantling and reassembling bunk beds can be a big-time consuming project which can lead to even more expense for you.  

Dressers with packed drawers- Emptying out your drawers to put them in moving boxes only to unpack them a few days later is annoying.  But don’t attempt to find a short cut by leaving your items in the dressers.  Not only does this make the movers job more difficult, but your furniture can also break due to it being too heavy.

Exercise equipment- Most exercise equipment is not only extremely heavy but it can be very difficult for a mover to reassemble it without breaking it.  Hire a professional to prep the gear before your move and one to reassemble it after the move.

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What are Thing You Should Never Get Rid Of?

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Decluttering your home for the holidays may sound like a great idea but what happens when you get rid of items you actually need. Those old letters from your high school friends, important documents you thought you would never need again, or a memory from your childhood. Before you purge, think!

Personal Paperwork- Before you toss those memories or bills think if the future you will need them.  It may sound like a good idea at the time but what if the future you decides to write a book or catch up with an old friend and laugh at the letters you wrote to each other.

Photos You Think You Don’t Look Good In- Those photos you thought you didn’t look good in a few years ago might have a different meaning to you today.  Old friends or family members who may have passed might be in those photos.  Getting rid of those photos might be something you really regret later. 

Iconic Clothing- What happens when you get invited to an 80’s party but you just got rid of all of your 80’s gear?  Keeping one or two pieces might help you in the future for your get togethers.

Real and Fake Jewelry- Throwing out your fake jewelry may cause you to get rid of an heirloom you never knew you had.  Even if it’s a piece you don’t wear, keep it.  It might be worth more money in the future.

What are Valuable Home Features that May Be a Big Waste of Money?

Paying too much or full prize these days is not something anymore likes.  That is true when you are looking for a new home.  It’s time to make your home-buying dollar count so you aren’t wasting your hard-earned money on things you may not want or need in a home.

A Huge Yard- If you are not an outdoor person or don’t see yourself spending a lot of time outside, why spend the extra money for the home that has one?  Sellers may charge a premium for those extra patches of grass in the yard which you may end up paying even more in maintenance.

A “Short” Commute You Won’t Use- If you work from home, don’t commute during busy times, or retired living downtown or near public transportation may not be right for you. Living in these areas tend to have increased house prices as they attract those who will take advantage of it.

Top School District- If you don’t have kids in the home or don’t plan to have kids in the home you are looking to buy, why spend more money to live in a top school district?  People tend to over pay for home that are in a good school district to ensure their children will get a good education.

Single Story Home When You Prefer a Two Story- Single story homes can be more expensive depending on the area and price of land.  Typically, single story home takes up more land which can cost you more.

Fancy Amenities You Won’t Use- If you don’t spend time working in the garage, why spend extra money on home that has a heated garage?  Or if you don’t drink, why purchase a home with a built-in bar with a wine fridge.  These premium upgrades will send a purchase of the home’s price up.

What are the Fall Home Décor Trends?

New season, new Starbucks drinks, and time for new home décor.  Decorators are predicting this year’s trends to be rich tones, color blocks, and big fancy florals.  With these trends in mind, how can you incorporate them into your décor?

1.    Oversized Florals- who doesn’t love a floral print on an oversized scale? Be sure you don’t overdo the florals in your room.  Stick with one or two pieces with oversized florals.

2.    Modern Neutrals- keeping your look beautiful and simple by adding different elements of natural-looking furniture and décor.  Try focusing on stripped timbers, wood grain, and add in simple or natural materials. 

3.    Gold- gold may have been the trend in spring/summer but it’s still holding on and you’ll see it even more this season! Switch up how you used gold in the past- instead of accessories go for the carpet or a splash of paint.

4.    Tacticle Kitchen- kitchens are continuously going through changes and they may not be about adding one style rather mixing styles. It’s all about adding a mix of different styles into one kitchen with contrasting colors.

5.    Jet black- black seems to be the color of classy and elegance but in home design it may be changing a bit. If you are a fan of monochrome you will love this trend. It’s all about the accessories and they need to be black! Combine this look with tactile pieces and it will help balance it out.