CHCH-Changes

Hi There!!

Yes, it's been a LOOOONG time! We've taken some time away from the Blog to think about a slightly new direction for it.

It was created mainly as a venue for offering seller home sale tips and suggestions on preparing a home for sale and even some new decor trends.

We get lots of emails and questions about making it more decor focused. They come to us from readers who have purchased a new home and want ideas on using what they already have in new ways. They also come from sellers and from those like myself who just love all things HOME!

Soooo --- here's hoping you like the change!

With ALL that said...let's dedicate this 1st post to a bathroom renovation. This one is the "guest" bath in my home. This will be a BEFORE and DURING ~ since it's not done yet!

Here are a few BEFORES. The home was built in 1968 and much of this bath was original.

We lived with it for nearly 6 years. Finally, it was time for the pinkish wall tile to GO!! The cast iron tub has a non slip surface that refused to be cleaned.

We painted the vanity cabinet and medicine cabinet frame a chocolate brown. It was originally all oak.

This final BEFORE shot is the mosaic brown floor tile. My DH liked it as it reminded him of his grandma's house.

Ta-da - the NEW comfort height vanity with granite top and soft close drawers.

AND, the new flooring.

The new wall tile with built in niche.

We chose to put the new fixtures in the same place as the old ones. The depth of the vanity is less to give a bit more room. The elongated toilet is a modified one which allows for an extra 2 inches.

We will post the AFTER photos soon! Can't wait to add some decorative touches and make it ours.

THNX for reading!!

The BLUES

Are YOU into feeling BLUE?

Home decor stores like West Elm and Pottery Barn are crushing on the BLUES for Spring and Summer!

Every shade, from Robin's Egg Blue to the saturated Denim Blues, can play nicely with neutrals like tans and greys. Adding a blue accessory or 2 change really change the feel of your space.

HOWEVER...when I see THESE blues in a home I am touring with a seller prospect or previewing one that currently listed, I feel, well, blue, myself!!

The pastel bath fixtures popular MANY decades ago are not on a buyer's wish list today!

The home buyer will just deduct $$ from his offer since he feels he must update that groovy blue bathroom.

Kitchens and baths sell homes.

Need help pulling your look together? Need a plan to prepare and sell your home? Let's chat about it.

CURB ALERT!

...No, we're not talking about those freebies posted on Craigs List today...we're talking about CURB APPEAL!

My Home Seller clients are busily preparing their homes for sale. AND since Spring has not officially sprung in my area yet (currently there's nearly a foot of snow on the ground), the last item on their "punch" list is their front entrance. Whether your entrance is a porch, stoop, or cozy doorway, it needs to say "Welcome! So happy to see you!!"

Your home’s first impressions begin even before the front door. Your home must have appeal from the street. If it doesn’t appear welcoming on the outside, buyers will either keep on driving or form negative opinions before they come in the front door.

It can be very difficult to look at your own house objectively and with fresh eyes. If this is the case, enlist the help of a very honest friend. I think we all know 1 brutally honest person!

Stand across the street, then look at the property from each corner – is the landscaping overgrown? “If you can’t see it, you can’t sell it!” Add color to beds and plants of varying heights, when the weather permits. Add fresh mulch or ground cover. Remove any dead plants and cut back all shrubs to window height. Clean all debris and moss from roofs and gutters.

Look at the condition of the lawn. Does the mailbox need replacing? What about the shutters and the window screens? And just how welcoming is your welcome mat? Does it say “Go Away” or “Attack Cat on Duty”? Then you might consider replacing that. When choosing a door mat – the wider the better. This gives the impression of a wider entry way.

Perhaps the front door could use a fresh coat of paint, how about the trim – remember to check with your HOA for approved colors. Repainting the doors and trim help to make the house look crisp and in good condition and it’s one of the least expensive things you can do to dress up a home.

Good luck putting a little SPRING in your home's step!

(photo sources unknown)

Going GREEN!

My area is bracing for yet ANOTHER Winter storm! It's a challenge to add a breath of Spring to your home when the weather outside says otherwise!

In the past couple of weeks, I have met with home sellers who are busily preparing their homes for sale ~ wondering how they can "Spring" things up a bit!

In my own living room, I have taken the log holder out of the fireplace and added candles. The pillow covers were replaced with lighter ones. This week, I will replace the faux sheepskin throws (much to my cat's dismay) with a cotton one. Those are just a couple of easy ways to lighten things up.

AND, since the outside temps do not permit any planting yet, it's great to add a bit of green on the inside.

I added some moss balls (from Michaels - using a 40% coupon) to a vignette. The greenery lends a hint of Spring and is cost effective.

A small nest under a cloche also lends a hint of Spring.

Home sellers appreciate some ideas that are easy and affordable to make their homes more appealing to buyers -- even during the Winter that won't end!

Planning on selling YOUR nest? OR, just need some help getting your space together? Lets' chat about it!

Picture This:

Remember "Picture Day" at school? Wishing you hadn't lost your front tooth the day before? Hoping your hair looked JUST right?

Well...NO ONE bothered to do any primping of any kind for this house on its "Picture Day"!

I saw this home's listing on the MLS (Multi Listing Service)this AM. I am not picking on this home, which had a list price of OVER a million dollars, or the agent. It's just sad NO effort was made to make it presentable for its debut on the WWW.

Would YOU or any buyer want to walk through that door?

I can't emphasize enough to my sellers how important Staging is! Buyers begin their search on the internet. If they don't like what they see in the photos, they will not be walking through the door.

Staging does not mean needing the most expensive furnishings or museum-worthy artwork. It's about presenting the home in its BEST light ~ clutter free and CLEAN ~ we're talking Q-Tip clean. It's about decent lighting and furniture arrangement that allows for easy movement through the space.

The busy Spring market for home selling is fast approaching. That means sellers will have competition. They will never have that 2nd chance to make a good 1st impression!

Now that I have jumped off my Staging soap box...let's move onto some photos of homes that are bringing their A Game and are ready for buyers to come check them out!

Thinking of selling YOUR home! Let's chat about a Staging plan designed for YOU and a strategy to get your home not just listed, but SOLD!

ChChChanges

Hope YOUR new year is off to a GREAT start!

The past few days, I have been busy going from this

back to this.

Many say their home seems sort of naked after all the holiday-ness is packed away!

I like the feel of the FRESH start, the clean slate.

A lot of us are spending more time indoors due to the crazy cold weather that has hit most of the country. That's the perfect time to "play house". Try moving a piece of furniture to a different room. Pare down window treatments to let as much light in as possible. Try accessories in different spaces. AND...that new look costs you NOTHING!

Need a little help with your space? Contact us for info on setting up your Staging appointment (Staging for living and Staging to sell services available). Thinking of making a move? Let's chat about a strategy to get your home SOLD!

Here's to thinking warm thoughts! Yes, think SPRING!!

HO HO HURRY!

I've got to know...are you one of those people whose holiday to-dos are DONE?

Sloooowly getting my act together here. Christmas is nipping at our heels. There's a lot of pressure to get it all wrapped up - literally!

This is the one time of year that I need a wife ~ 1 with better handwriting to address those cards and 1 with some Martha Stewart baking skills, please!!

SOME decorated and online shopping has been done ~ BUT I do aspire to be more like the ahhhhsome bloggers I follow:

This beauty is the home of

BlueEggBrownNest.com.

AND...this amazing gal who decorated her laundry room! ThistlewoodFarms.com

What's your status? Are you a holiday over-achiever --- or a bit of a slacker --- or somewhere in between?

I certainly wish you a Happy Holiday - enjoying the season in YOUR own special way!