Real Estate
Staging A Home 101!
Staging a home is a very important tool when comes to getting it ready for the market and can greatly affect the success of the sale of your home. The goal of staging is to highlight your homes strengths and downplay its weaknesses to make your home feel more inviting and comfortable and increase its appeal to potential buyers. We have developed a list of the top tips on staging to help you through the process and ensure that your home staging experience is a complete success. 1.) Lighting Is Key: Lighting plays an extremely vital role when it comes to setting the mood of your home but is often over looked when it comes to home staging. Dark hallways and living areas are not inviting and can greatly affect the way potential buyers feel about your home. However you don’t need to go renovating your home when a few strategically placed lamps and mirrors can really help brighten up any area. 2.) Clean Clean Clean: Most people think that they have been a good home keeper and so there home can’t be that dirty. But the thing is when you live in a place for a period of time you start to get used to the way it looks and dirt can go unnoticed. It is very important that you do a deep and thorough cleaning throughout your entire home and this means behind sinks, toilets, fridges, ovens, and everywhere else there might be some dirt. 3.) Don’t Underestimate The Little Details: The little details can really help set the mood and increase the appeal of your home. Adding things like fresh towels and decorative soaps to your bathrooms, a bowl full of fresh fruit in the kitchen, magazines on coffee tables, and vases full of fresh flowers throughout your home will set a very comfortable and inviting atmosphere that will be very appealing to potential buyers. 4.) De-Personalize The Entire Home: It is very important that you completely depersonalize your home so potential buyers can envision themselves living in it as their home. This is more than just removing your photos and personal affects you should also remove any personal, political, and religious items that may make your home unappealing to a certain group of people. You never want anything in your home that could risk loosing you a potential sale. 5.) Make Necessary Repairs: It is very important that you make all necessary repairs so that your home is at its optimum appeal. Dripping faucets or cracks in the tile send the wrong message to potential buyers and can greatly damage the success of your home sale. Be sure that you make all necessary repairs so that potential buyers can see the real beauty in your home and not get distracted by things that need to get...
read moreGreat Home Renovations You May Not Think Of!
So everyone knows that the kitchen, living room, and dinning room are always very desirable renovation projects but what happens when these areas are done. If you still have some money left over after the major renovation areas are finished and you still want to invest into your home there are a variety of other great renovation projects that will help increase the value and appeal of your home. So here is a list of great renovation projects that you may not have thought of. 1.) Your Garage: Your garage is a great place to start and this can be anything from a new door and paint job to adding an entire second level. A dirty damaged garage can really detract from the appeal of your home that can wind up greatly affecting the value of your home. But a fresh new looking garage especially one with a second level can really set your home apart from others. 2.) Your Yard: Everyone has heard of the term “curb appeal” but a lot of homeowners don’t really understand the importance of a clean and well-kept yard. This is anything from eliminating any unsightly weeds and broken branches to purchasing a new storage shed or stone bench. Upgrading your yard will directly affect the appeal of your home to potential buyers and help create a great first impression. 3.) Your Basement: Finishing off your basement is a great way to create more living areas in your home, which will directly affect the appeal and value of your home. Using this space wisely is very import be sure to give this area its own bathroom. A finished basement can be listed as an extra bedroom, media room, den, or whatever potential buyers in your area are looking for. 4.) Your Attic: Much like your basement your attic is a great renovation project and all that extra space should not go unused. A finished attic can greatly boost the appeal and value of your home. However, with an attic there is no real need for a bathroom but adding one will boost the appeal and value of your home even further. You should design the are more towards an guest bedroom or study/office...
read moreHome Selling Advice!
So you have decided that you want to sell your home right? Well you need to be sure that you are prepared and that your home is inviting, comfortable, and ready to show in order for you to have a successful sale. Proper preparation and planning is the key to selling your home quick and at a premium price. However, all too often sellers fail to realize how important preparation and planning actually is to the selling process until its too late. But when the preparation and planning is handled correctly the actual selling process tends to go much smoother and stress free. So here is some advice on how to properly prepare and plan to help ensure that your home selling experience is a success. 1.) Hire A Professional: It is very important that you hire a professional to help you through the selling process and get the word out on your home. The right real estate agent will make your selling process less stressful and their experience and knowledge will help you sell your home quicker and at a more premium selling price. Try to find an agent who specializes in your area and has a proven record of success. 2.) Clean And Keep Clean: Most sellers understand the importance of cleaning their home but don’t understand the importance of keeping it clean especially if they are still living in the home. It is very important to give your home a complete scrub down and then try your best to keep it that way until you get your home sold. Every little thing you can do to ensure your home stays clean can really help you sell your home quick and at a premium price. 3.) Set The Stage: Home staging is a very important and valuable tool that can really help increase the appeal of your home to potential buyers. The goal of setting the stage is to make your home feel as comfortable and inviting that you possible can so that potential buyers fall in love with your home. Staging involves a variety of things that range from de-cluttering and de-personalizing to rearranging your furniture in a more appealing way. 4.) Understand Your Home’s True Value: Selling your home can be a very emotionally charged experience and if you can’t control your emotions it can greatly affect the sale of your home. The true value of your home has nothing to do with your memories, needs, or wants. You should use data from comparable homes that have recently sold in the past six months to help determine the market vale of your home and help you set an accurate and reasonable asking...
read moreJobs Coming To South Florida!
The Cancer Treatment Center Of America Is Coming To Boca Raton It was recently announced that the Cancer Treatment Center Of America has chosen Boca Raton for the location of its new corporate headquarters. Making it the second major company to be lured to Boca Raton and South Florida in the past month and a half. The jobs that these two companies are bringing to the area carry an average salary of more than $90,000 and the Cancer Treatment Center Of America alone will bring over 200 jobs. The state of Illinois recently raised its taxes making it the highest in the nation so the Cancer Treatment Center Of America was lured to the area with an aggressive economic package from the state, county, and even the town itself. The package included $1,260,000 from the state and $357,000 from the county and town. Microsoft To Put Its First US Innovation Center In South Florida Microsoft also announced that they would be placing their first US Innovation Center in South Florida. An Innovation Center works to create a “synergistic environment” by working with area governments, academics, and start up companies using Microsoft branding and products. There is a heavy focus on start-up companies with a program called Bizspark where Microsoft will provide free products to start-up companies for three years or until they reach $1 million in revenue then Microsoft starts charging them for licensing fees. Microsoft has opened 90 of these innovation centers in other countries and internationally has helped more than 50,000 start-up...
read moreSecrets To Home Buying Success!
It can be a very difficult and stressful experience to buy a home in a housing market where the amount of potential buyers looking for a home out weighs the inventory of homes for sale. However, there are many hints and tips that can help make the home buying process run smoother and stress free. So we have put together a list of very useful tips that are sure to make your home buying experience a success. 1.) Don’t Move Around Your Money: Experts say that it is not smart to move your money around or make any large purchases for around three to six months prior to trying to purchase a home. You should be positive that your credit is in good standing and not take any chances that could alter your credit profile. 2.) Get Pre Approved For Your Mortgage: You need to understand that there is a big difference in being pre approved and being pre qualified. Almost anyone can get pre qualified for a mortgage but being pre approved means that an actual lender has gone through your finances and has determined how much they will lend you. 3.) Don’t Try And Time The Market: Trying to predict the housing market is virtually impossible. Obsessing over when the best time to buy is a mistake and can have you ending up missing out on the perfect home. The best time for you to buy is when you find your dream home and you can afford. 4.) Bigger Might Not Be Better: Most homebuyers are drawn to the largest and most beautiful home in the neighborhood at first but typically never buy it. So when it comes to homes bigger is generally not better due to the fact that if or when you go to re-sell, you typically will have a limited pool of potential buyers interested. 5.) Hire The Right Agent: One of the most important things that you can do to ensure that your home buying experience is a success is to hire the right real estate agent. You need an agent with the knowledge and experience to guide you through this process stress...
read moreTips To Get Your Home Sold!
If you have decided that you will be selling your home at some point this year, then there is no better time to start the planning and preparation process than right now. However, even though the housing market’s inventory of homes for sale is still rather depleted your home isn’t going to sell itself for you. But there are steps that you can take to help ensure that you sell your home quick and at a premium price. 1.) Hire The Right Agent: Maybe the most important thing you can do to ensure a successful sale is to hire an experienced and knowledgeable real estate agent to help guide you through the selling process. The right realtor can make all the difference in the successfulness of your home sale. 2.) Make All Necessary Repairs: It is very important to go through your entire home and make all necessary repairs. This is everything from big issues like any wholes in the walls to little things like leaky faucets. As you walk through your home make a list of needed repairs and then be sure to fallow through. 3.) Boost Your Curb Appeal: Once all your necessary repairs have been made it is time for you to start focusing on boosting your curb appeal. You curb appeal is what will develop your potential buyers’ first impressions and needs some close attention. Be sure to fix up your exterior and clean up your landscaping to optimize your cub appeal as much as possible. 4.) Have Your Home Staged: Having your home staged is very important to a successful sale. It involves a variety of aspects such as ridding your home of all clutter, depersonalizing it, giving it a deep clean, and arranging furniture and furnishings in the most appealing and inviting way. 5.) Determine A Reasonable Price: It is very important to keep your emotions in check and remember that your memories don’t add up to any real value. The worst thing you can do is overvaluing your home and wind up scaring away potential buyers. Be sure to listen to your realtor and set a reasonable and realistic asking price for your home. 6.) Differentiate From The Competition: It is important that you attract attention from potential buyers and create a lasting impression that will have your home stuck in their heads. Consider adding a luxurious upgrade to really differentiate your home from the...
read moreCreate The Perfect Guest Bedrooms In Your Luxury Home!
Every luxury home needs perfectly designed luxurious guest bedrooms to go with it that are designed to be serene retreats for guests to just get away from everything and relax. Creating the perfect guest bedroom requires you to bring together a few key elements so here is a list of tips that are sure to help you create the perfect guest bedrooms for your home. 1.) Choose The Right Bed: Everyone wants a spacious bed in their guest bedrooms but it is very important that the bed is in proportion to the room. A large bed is nice but if it is too big for the room it will feel cramped and it may be inconvenient to move around in. 2.) Choose Furniture That Compliments Your Bed: The same thing goes for the rest of the furniture in the room. So if the room is smaller consider only going with a bed, one or two night stands, a wardrobe, and maybe even a bench. Plus the rest of your furniture should compliment the bed in design and color. 3.) Add A Featherbed Padding: Adding a featherbed topper to the bed not only affords your guests with comfort and relaxation but it also helps to create a plush and luxurious look for the room as well. 4.) Layer Your Pillows: Using two layers of pillows on the bed is a great way to add some luxury appeal to your guest room. Use one layer of bed pillows for sleeping topped with a second layer of throw pillows that match the bedding and the walls for a coordinated look. 5.) Add Some Style With A Decorative Headboard: The bed is going to be the focal point for the room. A great way to really make it stand out and bring some real luxury style into the room is by incorporating a decorative headboard made from stunning dark hardwood or lavish upholstered fabric. 6.) Consider Layered Window Treatments: Give the room an elegant style by layering the window treatments. You can do this by topping blinds with window shears and topping that with floor length drapes. Be sure to match your window treatments to the color scheme of the rest of the room. 7.) Accessorize: Last but most defiantly not least don’t forget to accessorize the room to finish everything off. This includes everything from art for the walls to candles and flowers on the side tables to help set the...
read moreDecorating The Perfect Living Room!
Your living room is a space where you and your guests will often spend a lot of time and is where you can really add some appeal to your home with a friendly and inviting atmosphere. However, this area can often be a difficult one to decorate so we have put together a list of great tips that are sure to help you create the perfect living area. 1.) Be Sure To Anchor The Room: Large areas like living rooms can often end up with a very cluttered feeling when too many small pieces are crowded into it without an anchoring piece or two. Try and anchor your living room with a large piece of furniture like a sectional, large sofa, large coffee table, or maybe even built in bookcases or a piano for some style. 2.) Try To Designate Zones: With a smaller living room you will generally only have one conversation and sitting area but larger living areas can act as much more than a simple sitting area. You may need to think creatively depending on the size or shape of your room. Try to designate zones by identifying the best functional areas of the room for things like conversation, media, and maybe even a small eating nook or gaming table. 3.) Utilize Color And Pattern Correctly: Color and pattern is a great way to break up larger areas and cut down tall walls to make your living room more cozy and comfortable. If you have a really tall ceiling try painting a shade or several shades darker than your walls to help snug up the area. Be sure to repeat colors and patterns throughout the room from zone to zone with things like fabrics, furniture, throw pillows, accessories, and even window and wall treatments to tie the entire living room together. 4.) Don’t Hug The Wall Too Much: One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make that end up leaving them with a funny poorly designed looking living room is when they hug the wall too much. This is done by pushing their sofas and chairs up against the walls leaving them with too much awkward open space in between. Too many homeowners fear open walls but this space is great for art, consoles, benches, and bookcases. Try to cozy up your furniture into a more comfortable conversation area around a focal point like a fireplace or large window with a...
read moreIncrease Your Home’s Resale Value With These Great Home Improvement Tips!
Owning a home is one of the biggest and most important investments that you will make in your life. Improving your home throughout living in it via renovations and upgrades is essential to the success of your investment. Upgrading your exterior affords you with curb appeal and can help form great first impressions with your potential buyers, interior upgrades help create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere that will impress your buyers and help close the deal. However, many homeowners make the mistake of choosing home renovation and upgrade projects that have poor return on investments and don’t really improve their homes resale value. So to make sure you don’t make the same mistake here are some wonderful interior and exterior upgrades that are sure to boost the resale value of your home. 1.) Renovate Your Kitchen: Renovating your kitchen can be a costly project but these upgrades can significantly improve the resale value of your home. Upgrading your kitchen counters will run you around $5,000 and will increase your resale value around $8,600. Replacing your cabinets will cost around $870 and will increase your resale value around $1,500. Upgraded appliances will run you around $4,000 and will deliver you around $6,700 in resale value. 2.) Install Wood Floors: Wood flooring is a very desirable flooring option for potential buyers. However, you don’t need to install custom hardwood flooring to get the resale value that you desire. Laminate flooring is a wonderful substitute and for a 1,200 square foot home will run you around $4,000 and will boost your resale value as much as $8,500. 3.) Upgrade Your Exterior Doors: Your entry way is one of the first things potential buyers will see and will help form their first impression of your home. The sharper your entryway looks the more excited potential buyers will be to see the interior. Upgrading your front doors will run you around $1,200 and will afford you with around $2,100 in resale value. 4.) Repaint Your Exterior: Repainting the exterior of your home is one of the most recommended home renovation projects by experts and realtors. This is because on top of increasing your homes resale value it will also greatly boost its appeal to potential buyers. Repainting your exterior will generally run you around $1,400 and will deliver you around $2,200 in resale value. 5.) Replace Your Roof: Replacing your roof can be a timely and expensive project but can deliver you a great return on your investment. Not to mention that you can create a more bright and open feeling by raising the roof and adding a skylight or two. A re-roofing project will generally run you around $20,000 but can provide you with over $30,000 in resale...
read moreSimple Upgrades To Boost Your Home’s Luxury Appeal!
Admirals Cove is a luxurious resort style country club community in South Florida and its residents enjoy the finer things in life. Even in the days of economic uncertainty most people who own a home want as much luxury appeal that they can get. So here are several low cost upgrades that can really boost the luxury appeal of any home and won’t break the bank. 1.) Wine Coolers: Wine coolers can deliver you some very desirable luxury appeal and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can purchase tabletop coolers that hold up to 12 bottles for around $100 to $150. However we recommend you go with an under the counter built in model that will hold between 30 and 50 bottles and will cost you from $600 to $1,900 if you really want some luxury appeal. 2.) Spa Style Shower: The bathroom is where we like to be pampered the most and there are plenty of ways to create a luxurious spa like retreat without completely remodeling the room. A great way to do this is with a spa like shower and all you have to do is switch out your regular showerhead with a “rain” style showerhead. Detachable handheld models with options like slow flow, massage, and pulse are the best choice. 3.) Electronic Fire Places: Even in warm climates you will have the occasional cold spell and there is nothing more comfortable and luxurious on these nights than a warm and cozy fireplace. You don’t need to renovate your home to add one in fact with the sizes and styles of electronic fireplaces these days you can pretty much put one anywhere and in any room of your home. Gel and electric fireplace models range in price from $300 to $1,000. 4.) Sound Systems: A luxury home is not a luxury home without a movie theater or media room. However, experts say that you can get a similar experience and some great luxury appeal with “a home theater in a box”. Which typically includes, a subwoofer, an amplifier, and five speakers. These packages generally range between $300 and $1,000 and can revolutionize your movie and TV watching experience. 5.) Custom Bar: Most homeowners love to entertain and there is nothing that screams luxury when entertaining than having a custom bar to entertain your guests at. Bar furniture and accessories boost luxury appeal as well so consider adding a bar cart so you can cart your favorite spirits into the other rooms of your home when you entertain. You can general add a custom bar into your home for $700 to $2,300 depending on what you...
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