Most people have wandered through new home developments and wished their own home looked as modern and chic. Model homes showcase the latest upgrades and decorating trends; for home sellers these homes are their competition, and it can feel daunting to offer an older floorplan and design. While it might seem like a smart idea to simply offer a buyer credit and list, there are downsides to this plan, and taking the time to update a bit on your own first could mean thousands of dollars in your pocket. Here are a few reasons why offering a credit might not be the best strategy: • Buyer Impression – A dated home looks old and not all buyers can see the potential. • Lower Offers – Offering a credit could be viewed as high seller motivation, resulting in lower offers. • Value Differences – You and your buyer might disagree on the value of needed upgrades. For example, you might feel $7,500 is a fair cost for a new countertop where as your buyers might expect considerably more; this can lead to more negotiations and lower sales price. • Home Condition – A property that shows its age can prompt the buyer to worry about the overall condition. • Loan Approval – Lenders are wary of buyer credits; in fact, upgrade credits are no longer possible. You might have a buyer unable to take advantage of the credit at all and you could lose the buyer. Home design trends change quickly. If you’re ready to sell, it could be tempting just to list your home in its current condition. Before you just add a credit to the listing, consider some simple updating so your buyers can see the value of your home.

  Fall Decorating on a Budget There is something about decorating for fall that gives me the warm fuzzies! It may be the promise of cool, crisp evenings with brilliant sunsets, or the fact that fall decorating is all about creating a cozy atmosphere in your home. The fun thing about fall decorating is that it’s easy and inexpensive. Here are a few of my favorite fall decorating ideas that are easy to accomplish on a shoestring budget. Hit your local nursery, grocery store and fabric store for fall color. Place potted chrysanthemums, pansies, croton, purple fountain grass, or flowering kale on your front porch, in your foyer, or around your fireplace to add color. Tuck some mini pumpkins, Indian corn, or gourds around the base of the plants. Instead of spending money on pots, wrap the plant containers in fall print remnants from the fabric store. Scavenge your yard for fresh ornamental cuttings. Put on your gardening gloves, grab your cutting shears and a basket, and head outside for some free décor. Fall leaves, small branches, ivy, ornamental grasses, flower blooms, pinecones, and seed pods make great accents. Arrange cuttings on your mantel or dining table with LED flameless candles and small gourds, or place branches and blooms in a large mason jar or vintage pitcher. Get creative with pumpkins. There are lots of fun things you can do with a pumpkin besides carving a jack-o-lantern. Try painting some pumpkins in fall colors that coordinate with your home’s decor. Or wrap a few large pumpkins in light strands to light up your front porch. Make pumpkin topiaries by stacking three or four on top of a plantar, largest to smallest, and wrap then in garland or light strands. Go antiquing for cheap accessories. Your local antique market or thrift stores can be a treasure trove for great fall finds. An old wagon, a wooden ladder, woven baskets, ceramic jugs, aluminum tubs, antique picture frames, straw hats, and vintage farm tools all have a rustic fall flavor. More ideas for fabrics. You don’t need a sewing machine to make use of fall fabrics. Many fabric stores stock fall prints or have remnant pieces for quilting. Fold a couple of yards of plaid fleece like a throw blanket and drape it over a chair.  Wrap your throw pillows in a yard of a fall print and secure it with craft ribbon or safety pins. Fold the raw edges under and iron to make a simple table runner. Wind strips of fabric around a grapevine wreath or use them to tie big bows around your pumpkin stems.

Are you preparing for a move, but don't know where to start?  We've researched, asked our clients and came up with a few great tips from a recent move of our own. Purge before you move! It's much easier to do it now than after. As you are packing up, evaluate things and have a donate, give away or throw away pile. Try to throw things away in the weeks before the move, so you don’t have all the extra trash.  Label, label, label… not just “Kitchen” more like, “Kitchen-toaster, place mats, dishtowels”. Smaller boxes are easier to handle and move. If renting a truck, book it early and if you are reserving a UHaul, ask them if they have free boxes you can use. Have an open first box!  This box should have everything important that you need for that first night. For example; Phone charger, clothes, toiletries, shower curtain, towel, and pet supplies. Have a cleaning box! Keep it readily available for while you are moving from one home to the other. Include paper towels, cleaner, dishwashing soap, magic eraser, ziploc bags and toilet paper. Also, having a simple tool kit can be handy. Pack the kitchen first!Pack up all kitchen stuff ahead of time and leave the necessities. Clean out your fridge and pantry a week or so before the move. Toss old and expired items. Start eating what you have. It’ll help out this month’s grocery bill & there will be less to move or throw out. Have a cooler ready for moving day for condiments and frozen foods, etc. Pack up the toy room/guest room now. This keeps your house cleaner during the next few weeks and you can use that room to store packed boxes or if possible, store packed boxes in the garage. More than one bathroom? Pack it up, clean it and lock everyone out. Keep your clothes on hangers. Rather than taking the time to remove every piece of clothing in your closet from their hanger just to put it right back up at your new home, keep them as is and use a plastic garbage bag to keep your clothes protected.  Get rid of any furniturethat you don’t like or that won’t fit in the new house. Tape screws and bolts on the back of the furniture piece in a ziploc bag. Bed in a box! One of the first things to unpack in your new home is your bedding and setup of your bed.This way after hours of unpacking you can easily crash without having to look through boxes. HAPPY MOVING!!!