Decorating Your Home For Fall
Fall is a time of year where nature gives us a beautiful treat of changing from greens to shades of red, orange, yellow and brown. Bringing some of these colors into your home decor is a nice way to adapt to the changing seasons.
It is easy to decorate your home for this transitional period. With the holiday season soon upon us, decorating your home for fall helps you to get into the season by bringing the colors and scents of nature indoors.
No matter what your current color scheme is in your home, you can easily add a few accent pieces to celebrate fall and anticipate the coming of Thanksgiving. Many of these accent pieces can be used again and again. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money either to bring fall indoors.
Think color.
The colors of fall are reds, oranges, yellows and browns. You can incorporate any of these color combinations by adding simple touches like throw rugs, pillows (even a pillow cover), throw blankets and curtains.
Freezing the beauty of the changing leaves is easy to do by adding wreaths, silk fall leaves or garland made of silk fall leaves. You can add these to a doorway, the wall or over a curtain rod. Instantly you add fall colors to your home and give it a festive feel.
Cost.
Check out dollar stores for silk flowers, fall leaves and garland. You are using these items indoors and if you compare them to items at a pricier store, you will see that you can find decent quality decor at a dollar store.
Craft your own.
Visit your local craft store or craft department at your Walmart. There are many reasonably priced DIY craft items for fall decorating. From a wreath that you can make yourself to an easy to make centerpiece that you can use for Thanksgiving dinner, bringing fall colors into your home by DIY can be fun.
Scents of fall.
Don’t forget about the smells of fall. Creating an atmosphere that is cozy and inviting is easy by just bringing some scent into your home. You can do this with candles, scented oil or potpourri. Pumpkin pie, apples and cinnamon and spice are all scents that make you think of the fall. This is also an easy way to bring the colors of fall into your home.
Just as you decorate for Christmas and other holidays, decorating for fall can be easy to do when you bring colors and scents into your home that remind you of the season.
Tags: Decorating, Fall, Home
Get Ready to Sell Your House: How to Prepare Your Home without Going Broke
Selling your home is not always an easy task, especially in today’s real estate market. However, circumstances such as relocating for a new job, or looking forward to getting out from under a mortgage payment that you can no longer afford, can motivate a person to sell their home. However, how can you get your home noticed when the market is down? What are buyers interested in when searching for a new home?
Buyers consider several factors before purchasing their next property. Many find homes that are appealing to them because of the feeling the property gives out that its ready to occupy right away. For the seller, they should look at the more of the same impression of its readiness to move in; the easier it will be to sell. One of the first things that buyers look for in a home is the interior. Many prefer the walls and flooring to carry a neutral tone throughout the house rather than dramatic wallpaper and decorations. This is because they would like something that coordinates with everything.
Now that we talked about what the buyer is looking for in a home, it’s time to figure out how to get your house in tip top selling condition before it is put on the market. There are several ways to accomplish this task without having to worry about any serious renovations or remodeling your home. We are going to talk about how you can get your home in seller shape without spending a small fortune.
1. If there are repairs that need to be taken care of such as dangling fixtures, loose boards, or cracked windows, then be sure that these are fixed up and taken care of before you place your home on the market. Your home should look presentable and maintained when you are presenting it to a potential home buyer.
2. Step outside and take a look at your home’s exterior, see if your trim needs another coat of paint or the exterior looks dull and lifeless. Throwing a fresh coat of paint on a house can add on to its value and give the property that certain appeal which attracts new buyers.
3. Provide your interior walls a fresh new coat of color. Make sure that you use neutral colors when choosing your paint scheme.
4. If you decide to replace your carpet, again find a neutral color such as beige or gray. This gives the new homeowner a choice of how to decorate the inside of their new home.
5. Thoroughly clean each room; arrange things into a neat organized space. This gives the buyer a sense that the home is well taken care of.
6. Put away any decorative items that seem too personal or eccentric to the buyer.
7. Spruce up your yard by adding flowers around the house and by placing flower pots in the house or window boxes in front of your house. This gives your home a lot of curb appeal from the outside while making the inside friendly and welcoming.
Once you have finished your home’s overall sprucing, it’s time to place it on the market and plan an open house. This will allow potential buyers the opportunity to take a look at your warm and welcoming home. You can also show potential home buyers that if they chose your property, that they would live comfortably.
Always make sure to give your home a great cleaning. Place your flower pots and vases of flowers in different rooms. Play some classical or soft music to invite a relaxing mood. Make a treat for your guests around an hour before your open house is to begin. This can also give off an aromatic smell that is inviting. Never use air fresheners or artificial scents for any reason.
Make sure to turn on all the lights throughout the house for the entire day. Finally, excuse yourself so your agent and potential buyers can have a tour of the property. It’s known that if the owner is around, interested individuals will say nice things and then leave. When you are away, buyers can freely express their concerns while their agent can answer them in a professional manor.
Sell Your Home, Fast
DE-PERSONALIZE Your Home: This is perhaps the most important step in preparing your home to be viewed by strangers. While everyone’s standards and values are different, it’s important to remove items which may cause buyers to focus on things other than the home’s natural features. You want people to walk into your home and feel an inviting difference they won’t soon forget.
* Put away your family photos and leave your walls bare.
* If you must decorate, use large, single pieces of non-cultural art. Nature scenes, flowers, and abstract paintings are good. Put one piece of art on the most exposed wall in each room.
* Remove other decor which may indicate religion, or social organizations. These might be opposite of the buyers likes and preferences and they might be, momentarily, influenced by the presence of these things.
REMOVE CLUTTER: While this is a common-sense concept, many people still believe that a bed full of stuffed animals or a wall covered in different visual effects may be impressive. The less clutter in your home on viewing day, the more opportunity you allow buyers to focus on the home’s real textures and special features.
CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN: There is no doubt that selling one’s home can be terribly inconvenient. However, a clean home always gets the best reviews. A good, experienced Realtor will tell you this truth. If you ignore this piece of advice from the beginning, your home could remain on the market longer than necessary. Have your family and friends come over one day to help you clean, store away unnecessary items, and do paint touch ups if needed.
REMEMBER TO:
* Make beds each day just in case there’s an unexpected showing.
* Keep a habit of picking things up off the floor as much as possible.
* Put beauty products under the bathroom counter or somewhere out of sight.
* Keep your jewelry or expensive items locked away or in a hard to find place.
AVE A PLAN OF ACTION: During the listing appointment, ask your Realtor to state in the listing that a two to three-hour notice is required before the home may be viewed. This will give you and your family time to straighten up from the day’s activities, get a bite to eat, and leave the house for a walk or a trip to the mall.
PREPARE FLYERS with one large picture of your home’s best looking feature or room. Put the address, the Realtor’s contact information, and list a few nearby points of interest or neighborhood amenities on the flyer. Let your agent know that you would like the flyers given to each prospect. Home buyers tend to hold on to visual aides, such as a pretty flyer, so that they can revisit the showing in their minds each time they take a look.
OPEN HOUSE: Allow your Realtor to hold Open Houses at least once each month your home is on the market. Serious buyers are elated when they spot an Open House on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Also, it’s wise to leave the house during those hours so that potential buyers can feel comfortable walking though your house. A 3-4 hour open from 1pm to 4pm is typical and should do the trick. Ask the Realtor to advertise ahead of time, or you can announce the open on Craigslist a day before the event. Your flyers should be placed in the hands of everyone who comes to the Open House.
USE YOUR JUDGMENT: Think about things that would turn you off if you arrived at someone’s home for a visit. Consider the things that made you feel welcomed and try to do the same thing with your home.
Keep in mind that there are so many homes on the market, a WOW factor in your home may help it stand out above the rest.
Sell Your Home, Fast
DE-PERSONALIZE Your Home: This is perhaps the most important step in preparing your home to be viewed by strangers. While everyone’s standards and values are different, it’s important to remove items which may cause buyers to focus on things other than the home’s natural features. You want people to walk into your home and feel an inviting difference they won’t soon forget.
* Put away your family photos and leave your walls bare.
* If you must decorate, use large, single pieces of non-cultural art. Nature scenes, flowers, and abstract paintings are good. Put one piece of art on the most exposed wall in each room.
* Remove other decor which may indicate religion, or social organizations. These might be opposite of the buyers likes and preferences and they might be, momentarily, influenced by the presence of these things.
REMOVE CLUTTER: While this is a common-sense concept, many people still believe that a bed full of stuffed animals or a wall covered in different visual effects may be impressive. The less clutter in your home on viewing day, the more opportunity you allow buyers to focus on the home’s real textures and special features.
CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN: There is no doubt that selling one’s home can be terribly inconvenient. However, a clean home always gets the best reviews. A good, experienced Realtor will tell you this truth. If you ignore this piece of advice from the beginning, your home could remain on the market longer than necessary. Have your family and friends come over one day to help you clean, store away unnecessary items, and do paint touch ups if needed.
REMEMBER TO:
* Make beds each day just in case there’s an unexpected showing.
* Keep a habit of picking things up off the floor as much as possible.
* Put beauty products under the bathroom counter or somewhere out of sight.
* Keep your jewelry or expensive items locked away or in a hard to find place.
AVE A PLAN OF ACTION: During the listing appointment, ask your Realtor to state in the listing that a two to three-hour notice is required before the home may be viewed. This will give you and your family time to straighten up from the day’s activities, get a bite to eat, and leave the house for a walk or a trip to the mall.
PREPARE FLYERS with one large picture of your home’s best looking feature or room. Put the address, the Realtor’s contact information, and list a few nearby points of interest or neighborhood amenities on the flyer. Let your agent know that you would like the flyers given to each prospect. Home buyers tend to hold on to visual aides, such as a pretty flyer, so that they can revisit the showing in their minds each time they take a look.
OPEN HOUSE: Allow your Realtor to hold Open Houses at least once each month your home is on the market. Serious buyers are elated when they spot an Open House on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Also, it’s wise to leave the house during those hours so that potential buyers can feel comfortable walking though your house. A 3-4 hour open from 1pm to 4pm is typical and should do the trick. Ask the Realtor to advertise ahead of time, or you can announce the open on Craigslist a day before the event. Your flyers should be placed in the hands of everyone who comes to the Open House.
USE YOUR JUDGMENT: Think about things that would turn you off if you arrived at someone’s home for a visit. Consider the things that made you feel welcomed and try to do the same thing with your home.
Keep in mind that there are so many homes on the market, a WOW factor in your home may help it stand out above the rest.
