| Paint Colors |
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The most asked question, what color to paint the walls?
The answer depends a great deal on the lighting in your home, your furnishings, the room itself, the orientation of your property on the lot and the target buyer.
The end goal is have the rooms look rich and live well. Color is our friend but we have to avoid being too design specific. You want to appeal to a broadest spectrum of people possible.
Here are some colors that I love, they are anything but "plain Jane' and won't overwhelm a room. These are from the Pottery Barn palette. Check them out and see if you agree.
Benjamin Moore
Cedar Key- OC 16
Cameo White 915
HC-35 Powell Buff
2141-60 Titanium
Cottontail 2155-70
Natural Wicker OC-1
Watch the BLOG for more color advice.
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| Closet Tips |
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You may be putting off organizing because you assume it will take forever or is expensive. Check out these tips from www.realsimple.com
1. Canvas boxes
Roomy, collapsible canvas-covered boxes (shown, at top of image) organize anything - and look good while they're doing it. Natural Canvas Boxes, $16 to $20 each, the Container Store, www.containerstore.com.
2. Hanging shelves
Only 12 inches deep, these shelves and drawers (shown, right) fit in almost any closet. Canvas 6-Shelf Sweater & Accessory Organizer, $17; canvas drawers, $10 for two: Organize Everything, www.organize-everything.com.
3. Shoe bags
The back of the door is a closet's most underutilized space, and the shoe bag (shown, left) may just be the most versatile home-organizing tool. 24-Pocket Vinyl Overdoor Shoe Bag, $15, the Container Store, www.containerstore.com.
4. Collapsible storage bins
These plastic-lined canvas bins (shown, bottom left) fit in tight spots and hold anything from toys to dirty clothes. Umbra Crunch Cans, $22 each, www.umbra.com.
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| Happy New Year! |
| Snap, Crackle, Sold is the newsletter for everyone who deals with properties that are for sale, agents and sellers. At ROOMS by Laura G. we strive to provide you with timely and up to the moment information. Our goal is make your life on the market easier with real world case studies and tips.
Happy 2008! I hope that you are well on your way to making all your resolutions come true. If getting a SOLD sign on your property is on that list, you are waking up in a new market this year. But don't let that dampen your spirits because you are in the driver's seat.
I won't even attempt to explain the reasons for the problems that the housing market is facing, but I do have solutions that will help your properties weather the storm. 
Staged houses sell first, no matter what the market conditions. They show better and ease buyers mind about existing upkeep and repairs after closing. There is no big secret.
For the latest news on the market you can check out my blog, no need to rehash it here.
What I do want to talk about is how a few simple strategies can help you get your property sold.
Home staging is a strategy that sellers across the nation are discovering really works. Sadly many sellers do not even consider it until their house has been on the market for six months with no contract.
Home staging is available at varying price points and really carries it's highest value if employed early. It can save you months and months of the frustration of being on the market.
Living in a home that is "For Sale" is very much like living in a fish bowl. While no one enjoys it, there are ways to lessen the stress of being always prepared for company. I will put some tips on our blog over the next few weeks that will help, so be sure to bookmark our BLOG and check back often.
My previous years as a REALTOR and most recent time as a professional stager have taught me that there is no time like NOW to set the scene for success. My light is always on, 704.517.6653 or laura@roomsbylaurag.com |
| Seasonal Staging Tips |
| The holidays were wonderful but it is time to put away all the holiday decor. I will leave mine up until mid January because I can, my house is not on the market.
Do you remember when you put up your decorations how you wondered if it was too much? After a few days you became accustomed to the extra things being out and you loved it, it felt warm and wonderful.
Well prepare yourself for the "empty shelf syndrome". Once you remove all the trimmings your home is subject to feel bare and bleak in comparison. Fight the feeling to fill in the spaces and give yourself 10 days to marinate in the new space. It will grow on you. Remember that buyers are distracted by clutter, let your home shine through.
The months that follow the holidays are all about new starts and reclaiming the life we all want to live. That means different things to different people but everyone would love to feel more in control of the clutter of life. Simple organized spaces are just what the doctor ordered.
So focus on organization. Stage your closets, your kitchen cabinets, under the sink and your garage. Buyers place a high value on storage, so set your storage spaces straight.
There is nothing like the sound of buyer opening an organized closet, ahhhh. It's like adding another room to your home.
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