Spring, As They Say, Has Sprung

Spring Home Makeover Ideas to Inspire

As the signs of spring make their first appearances in nature, it’s time to wake up your home design, as well. From fashionable new window treatments to freshening up the home décor that you already have, we have tips to help you bring in Spring with style!


1. Brighten Your View: The Value of Updated Window Treatments
New, updated window treatments can make one of the most profound changes to the look and feel of a room. With spring in the air, you want to maximize the natural light that flows into your rooms. Choose something light and airy, like a soft drapery or a sheer window shading. There are many options to choose from, for a variety of sizes, from a single window to wide sliding glass doors.

Worried about privacy? Many sheer window treatments offer optional room-darkening vanes that you can adjust for a look and feel that is tailored to your unique needs.

Sunscreen window shades are also especially popular options that will prepare your home for the glare of the sun and the heat of the upcoming summer.

2. Get organized!
Did you know that extra clutter and crowding in your home décor can drain your energy? So, in the spirit of Spring’s renewal and rebirth, start organizing all the clutter that has accumulated throughout the winter. Overwhelming? Take it room by room, one week at a time. Slowly but surely, your cupboards, medicine cabinets, and even closets will bring feelings of peace and calm.

Your newfound organization will save you time (you won’t spend extra time searching for things!), and it will do wonders for lifting your mood, as well.

3. A Change Will Do You Good: Rearranging Furniture and Home Accessories
Okay, so you’ve purchased the latest in closet organization products and you’ve updated your home’s window treatments. Your next steps don’t have to require purchases at all. Look around you– most of your furniture has probably had the same position for years. Change it! Simply switching the placement of a couch, or repositioning the TV can make you feel like you have a whole new room.

Not much room for movement? Change and update the smaller things, like pillows, throws, and lamps.

4. Color Me Beautiful: The Power of Paint
You’ll find that I mention the power of fresh paint in almost every home decorating article. It’s really that important - and valuable. Adding a new color, brightening up the existing one, or changing the texture can give the room a completely new feel.

5. Think Outside the Home
After winter has left its cold, often dingy mark, the outside of your home needs some extra TLC. Be sure to wash the doors (especially your front door) and windows, and touch up the paint if necessary. Hang a wreath of silk spring flowers, or place pots of the real thing on your porch!

Don’t forget the garage, the driveway, tool sheds, and any other areas that may be less visible in winter, but when left to the bright lights of Spring, can sully the look of your fashion-forward home.

6. Cleaning
You can’t have a Spring Home Makeover without it – cleaning. But it doesn’t have to be something you dread. Start by making a “to-do” list for each room - everything needs sprucing up this time of year. Clean or replace shelf liners, and dust everything from the countertops to the dresser drawer handles. And don’t forget to clean your window treatments! Check the instructions first, but most window treatments need little more than a light feather dusting or a low level dust buster to freshen them up.

Once you have your “to-do” list, set the cleaning mood: play your favorite music, light some candles or spray some room spray, and enjoy the prospect of a fresh start for Spring! 

Preparing Your Home For A Spring Sale

Maybe you simply need to clean up the yard and trim your hedges. Maybe you need a new paint job and to clean up a cluttered room or two. Or maybe, you need to bring in the team from Extreme Makeover: The Home Edition.

No matter what you’re facing, you may want to consult a professional stager (we can refer one to you) to ensure that you’re doing the right things in the right order to get your home prepped for the best results.

That said, there is some good general advice from our friends at the National Association of Realtors® that you can rely on to get you started. Here’s a link to this great article that you can use to see what you need to do, if anything, to ensure your home sells fast and for top dollar.

Enjoy: http://www.realtor.com/Basics/Sell/PrepHome/GetReady.asp?source=web

What To Watch For When You're House Hunting

If you're thinking about buying a new (or old!) home, our list of the "Top Things to Look for When Buying a Home" can help to get your search off to the right start. While the number of rooms, condition of the kitchen, and size of the yard are important, there are other things to consider before you make an offer.

• Location, Location, Location
  They say that the 3 most important things to think about when buying are home are location, location, location. You can live with almost any imperfection in a home if you love the neighborhood and your neighbors. You can change almost everything else. But, once bought, you cannot change your home's location. When you go house hunting, consider any potential home's proximity to your work, the charm of the neighborhood, how the home is situated on the lot, ease of access, noise from neighbors, traffic, or pets, and access to parks, shopping, schools, and public transportation.
• Situation Factors
  Beyond location, look at the particular site of the home. If the home is on a hill does it have a view, a walkout basement, or lots of stairs to climb? Do neighbors' windows look directly into the home? Is the yard suitable for kids, pets, gardening, or other uses? Is access to the property safe regarding driveway elevation, stairs up to (or down to) the front door?
• Check Out the Neighborhood
  Be sure the neighborhood, and not just the house, meets your expectations. They say that you should own the smallest home in the nicest neighborhood that you can afford. You'll have a great view! Drive around on week days and weekends, during the day and in the evening. Are homes in the neighborhood consistent in size and features? Do the neighbors keep the yards clean and tidy or are there old cars and trash around? Is the neighborhood safe enough for people to walk, run, or bike and are there children playing in the yards?
• Consider a Home's Curb Appeal
  Your home should reflect your lifestyle. Do you live a laid-back life? Then you might not want a formal Victorian or Tudor style home. Something simpler and more contemporary might be in order. Look at the exterior features. A brick home is easier to maintain, unless you live in an earthquake-prone area! Is the roof in good condition? Is the landscaping attractive and are the sidewalks leading to the home safe?
  Read here about choosing, buying, and applying exterior Paint.
• Size and Floor Plan
  You may be thinking about buying your dream home. But is your dream home impractical? Do you really need 4 bedrooms and 4 baths when you live alone? A large home can give you the extra space you've always wanted for a home office or crafts or art projects. But you'll pay higher heating bills and have higher taxes. It will take more furniture to furnish and money to decorate. Think about how the new home space will be used and whether it will fit your lifestyle now and in the future.
  Get information here on design Tools