Archive for the ‘Tips and ideas when selling your home’ Category

Spring, real estate busiest time, are you ready? Typically spring has always been real estate busiest time, especially here on Long Island NY. As a homeowner looking to sell your home, are you ready? There are so many things you can do to get you home ready and it won’t break the bank. These are just a few suggestions.

1. Curb Appeal. Now is the time for planting flowers and mulching. Just these simply suggestions can make a huge difference in your curb appeal.
2. Furniture placement. Do you have too much furniture in you home? If so, eliminate pieces. Remember space sells and if your house looks too cramped, then buyers will think the house is too small. Less is more!
3. Clutter. Nothing turns a buyers off faster then too much clutter.
4. Updating your kitchen and bathroom.. It doesn’t have to be costly. There are many new products on the market that can totally change the look of  kitchen or bathroom. Rust0leum has a great product that can literally transform your cabinets and countertops.
5. Clean! Clean! Clean! I can’t stress that enough. Buyers will be turned off if they perceived your home to be dirty.
6. Hire a Home Stager. Hiring a professional home stager will give you the edge in this very competitive market. Well worth the cost!

These are just a few suggestion to improve the look of your home. Home owners would be wise to follow as many of these suggestions as possible. Spring, real estate busiest time; are you ready?

Rust-oleum Countertop Transformation, this is a relatively new product. Not too long ago I wrote a blog about Rust-oleum cabinet transformation. It’s nice to see they now make a countertop transformation. This is a great alternative for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money or time transforming their countertops.

Like it’s counter part, it’s easy to use. Comes in five different colors, and can be done in a few days. As a home stager & redesigner living on Long Island NY, I am constantly asked what can I do to update my kitchen without spending a lot of money or time. It’s great to know I can now offer this product as a solution. Imagine what you can achieve if you use both these products in your kitchen! It can totally change the look of your kitchen!!

Rust-oleum Countertop Transformation

Color made easy. Many people fear picking out colors. Hopefully I can take that fear away. Most people are attracted to the level of saturation (Intensity of that color) and not so much with the color. Think blue and how many variations of blue there is. You many like one shade of blue but not the others. When picking a color there are many things to consider.

1. Visually- what are you attracted to?
2. Saturation- it’s the saturation of that color that matters most, not the color itself (Think shades of blue).
3. Col0r ratios-using the 60-30-10 ratio in a room will pull the room together. And add different values for interest.
4. Use color three times at different levels.
5. Adding a contrast wall actually shrinks a room.
6. Create balance-a room that has all the furnishing near the floor tends to be bottom heavy. Don’t forget adding visually interest near the ceiling (wall art, drapes).
7. Stay within three values of that color. When looking at a color strip go up or down the color.
8. Are your color current-like food, design has an expiration date. Has your’s expired?
9. When purchasing major items like sofa go with neutral and add punches of color. It’s easier to replace pillows then a sofa.
10. Love the color you choose-or you won’t be happy no  matter how great the room is!

If you need help in pulling together a room, or afraid to get started, give Abella Home Staging & Redesign a call. We can get started and give you the rooms/home you desire!

Rust-oleum cabinet transformation, is a do-it-yourself cabinet refinishing system. It is sold at Home Depot. It is a great way to refinish your cabinets without spending a lot of money. Although I’ve never used the product, I was impressed by the color selection and the easy of this product. It comes in dark color kit and a light color kit. The dark color kit has 24 tintable colors and the light color kit has 11 tintable colors.

This could be a great way to update your kitchen when you’re looking to put your home on the real estate market. As we all know kitchen and baths sell a home. If your kitchen is looking out dated, this could potential be a great way to update it. As a home stager  in Long Island NY, I am always looking for way to save homeowners the cost of remodeling or refacing.Rust-oleum Cabinet transformation could be the answer people have been looking for!

Rust-oleum Cabinet Transformation

Bland is Boring!

When selling your home, Bland is Boring! Most people have probably heard the term Home Staging or have seen staging on HGTV. But what they don’t realize, it’s not as easy as removing clutter, or family photos. In a recent episode, I saw a home owner remove all family photos, including all wall art. Her walls were bare and she had removed all clutter to the point, where  there was no centerpiece and no accessories  at all! Her home was bland and boring. Buyers are not going to “Fall in love” with a home that is bland or boring.

Many people think they know how to stage their own homes, because they’ve seen it on HGTV. It’s not that simply! It takes an expert to see what needs to be removed and what need to be brought in. Removing to much is just as detrimental, as having to much!  There is a fine line and a home stager knows the difference. A Home Stager can make recommendation on paint colors, furniture placement and even updating accessories.

Buyers have to picture themselves living in your home, they won’t do that if it’s bland and boring!

Bland & Boring! No Charm or color!

Granite Vs Quartz: Who wins?

Granite vs Quartz: Who wins? Granite has been all the rage for the last 10-15 years in kitchen and even in baths. Here on Long Island, New York, granite has very popular with real estate buyers. But recently the has been a shift towards Quartz. Why?

1. Contrary to popular belief. Granite has to be resealed every year.
2. It can be chip if you hit a corner or a vein.
3. There is less radon in quartz because quartz, although a natural stone is mixed with polymers, making it the best of both worlds, engineered and natural.
4. Quartz is less porous than granite making more resistance to bacteria.
5. Quartz is available in more colors.
6. Quartz has increased in popularity by 13% in the last year, while granite only %5.

In my opinion, while granite is unquestionable beautiful, I think it quartz is the new “Trend”. It will continue to raise in popularity, while granite takes a back seat. They say it take ten years for a trend to come in and go out. Since it’s been about 15 years for granite, I say its long over due for a new stone to take its place and that stone is quartz!

Granite

Quartz

Making your bedroom serene!

Making your bedroom serene doesn’t mean you have to lose style. A soothing bedroom doesn’t have to be boring. Here are some easy step to achieving the bedroom of your dreams!

1. Imperfection-don’t try to fight it, instead embrace and work around it.  Long narrow horizontal   windows can be a problem but if you get floor to ceiling curtains, that will give the illusion of wider windows.
2. Matchy, Matchy-this is one place you can and should match. Matching nightstand , lamps these will give the room a symmetric look and feel to the room. This will enhance that soothing feeling that we want to achieve.
3. Fabric-use fabric that can withstand stains
4. Color-when choosing sheet for your bed, my rule of thumb is to match the bedspread. Too many color  are jarring to your sense.
5. Be practical-don’t try to have a high fashion bedroom that only looks good but is difficult to live in. Be practical and make it livable.

Remember this is your bedroom, use items that will appeal to your sense. Limit the amount of furniture (over crowding is a huge problem in bedrooms) and if you can at all help it, don’t put your office in the bedroom. Think 5-star hotel feeling and you won’t go wrong.

Laminated floors, what are the pros & cons? Laminated floors have exploded into the general public and with good reason. They are much more affordable then natural stone or wood and most homeowners can tackle the job themselves if they wish too.

So what are the pros?

1. Installation. Many have a “click-lock” design. It comes with glue already on it. You simply activated with water and wipe off excess. The new laminated stone tiles can be applied by using glue. You can even grout them so they look like natural stone.
2. Moisture resistance. They’re great for basement and even bathroom. Solid wood would expand and warp with moisture. Although neither solid wood or laminated floors can withstand pools of water.
3. No Defects. Unlike solid wood or natural stone which may come with defects, laminated wood or tiles do not.
4. Easy to clean. Laminated wood floors don’t need waxing or refinishing. Laminated tiles don’t chip like natural stone. They don’t need to be sealed either. Use damp mop and you’re good to go.
5. Durability. Unlike wood which will wear out and scratch, laminated floors don’t. Laminated tiles don’t crack or chip like natural stones.
6. Resist Staining. Laminated floors resist stains. If you have pets, that is a huge benefit. Imagine what pet urine can do to your wood floors!
7. Easy to replace.Tired of your natural stone look?  Unlike laminated tiles, removing natural stone is a huge undertaking!!

So what are the cons?

1. Not real wood or natural stone. Lets face it nothing looks richer then real wood or the beauty of natural stone floors.
2. Resale value is not the same as real wood or natural stone.
3. Not Refinish-able. Unlike wood where you can sand the finish down and literally change the look by changing the color of the stain. With laminated floors you can’t.

When it’s all said and done, I think laminated floors are a great options to homeowners who want that look without the expense. Years ago if you couldn’t afford natural stone there wasn’t much choice.Today are so many options out there and the price is very reasonable.

Laminated Wood Floor

Laminated Stone Tiles

Going “Green” in the Kitchen!

Going “Green” in the Kitchen is the newest trend. Not only here in Long Island New York, but world wide. It’s also the best way to add value to your home. If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen, here are some suggestions to incorporate going “Green”. Not only will this be eco-friendly, but it will be great for resale!

1. Appliances-with the tax incentives, buying Energy Star appliances will save you money in the long run. Yes, they do cost more money to purchase than other appliances but the savings and resale value will more then make up the cost.
2. Flooring-Did you know that bamboo is a fast growing natural resource? It grows in abundance, almost like weeds. Because of this, bamboo flooring is a wise choice when going “Green”. And it looks beautiful as well.
3. Windows-Don’t scrimp when purchasing new windows. Energy saving window will save you a small fortune when it comes to paying your utility bill. Buy windows with argon gas between the panes.
4. Lighting-Use fluorescent lighting as oppose to incandescent lighting. There is talk that incandescent lighting will be banned in the future. Also, use sky light to let the natural light in. If you don’t have the room or don’t want to incur the expenses, use solar tubing. A much more affordable option then sky lights.
5. Countertops-Recycled glass is an excellent choice for counters. The colors are dazzling and it’s quite durable. Another choice is concrete. It comes in array of colors. Concrete , like glass are in abundance supply.
6. Paint-Using low or no VOC paint. Thses paints have no volalite organic compunds that are hazardous to your health. They cover just as well.

There are many more ways to go “Green”. These are only a small sample of what can be achieved. When it’s time to remodel your kitchen, do your homework and research your materials. But most of all have fun experimenting, that’s what good design is all about.

When selling your home, Curb appeal matters!

When selling your home, curb appeal matters. Does your home have great curb appeal? Do potential buyers keep driving past your home? What kind of impression is your home saying?

The color of your home has a great impact, but painting your entire home may not be in your budget. There are still many ways to change the look without breaking the bank. How about repainting the shutters, trim, garage door, railings, front door?  You can update your house numbers, mail box and light fixture. Buyers spent a long time at your front entrance waiting for you to open the door, so the front entrance should be meticulous. Change out the old mat for a new one. When selling your home curb appeal is crucial. It’s the most important step right after posting your photos on the internet. If they like your photos buyers will do a drive by, if they like what they see, then and only then, will they make an appointment to see your house.

Consider resealing your driveway, power washing your house, reseeding your lawn. In fact if you can hire a landscaper until the house is sold that would be ideal. Plant flowers or use flower pots to add a splash of color.

By now you can see there are many ways to inexpensively spruce up your curb appeal. Remember curb appeal matters when selling your home, so don’t over look this very important step when putting your home on the market.

Immaculate Landscaping