Decorating Principles To Help You Get Ready For Spring

Carter Oosterhouse brings design tips and pointers to everyone in his book Carter’s Way. Photo from Huffington Post.

With spring around the corner (13 days away) the great spring fix-up will be underway soon!  Ten minutes on the internet will reveal a whole Pinterest board full of ideas to breath some fresh air into your home. In the fall everyone’s favorite designer, builder and TV personality came out with a book, Carter’s Way. Carter Oosterhouse of HGTV fame, wanted to put some of his best tips in print.  He says his goal was to empower people to reach beyond their conscious design ceiling just as he did with every job he’s ever had.

Here is and excerpt from Carter’s Way via Huffing ngton Post Home

Customized Style

Style is the subjective part of the design process. Your personal tastes will differ from mine, which will be different from another person’s. That’s why I call this component “customized” style. You’ll create your own unique look that has a strong foundation in the timeless principles that guide sound design. Just like every home–no matter what architectural style it is–has to have a foundation, every interior design stands or falls on a few universal principles. As long as these are in line, you can put your own stamp on your home design.

Color

You’ve probably been exposed to the basic principles of color many times, but just in case you haven’t, here’s a refresher. Individual colors can be divided between warm (reds and yellows) and cool (blues and greens). They can also be divided into receding and advancing colors. Dark or warm colors advance–they look like they are closer to you. Cool or light colors recede, or appear to be farther away. (Useful effects to know about when you want to visually change a room’s shape or perspective!)

Interior design involves grouping colors into “schemes” that can be complementary (those that sit across from each other on the color wheel), analogous (those that sit next to each other), or monochromatic (different shades and tints of the same color). There are more complicated color schemes, but these three are the root of all of them, and you can play off them in your own design. Neutrals–brown, taupe, beiges, and off-whites–work with any other colors, as do black and white (technically called “achromatic”). A shade is a base color with black added to it, while a tint is a base color with white added to it (a tone is the color plus gray). All the particulars aside, you judge color by the way it looks in the actual space–there’s no other way to do it. Whether you’re looking for new wall paint, wallpaper, sofa fabric, or tile, manufacturers have made the process easy by collecting and organizing samples by color and combinations.

Lighting

Even though every room has its own lighting needs, there are three basic types of interior lighting used in any room. Ambient lighting is the term pros use for general light. It’s the overall light that spreads throughout the space and fills in shadowy areas, making the room safer to navigate and more inviting. Ambient fixtures include ceiling-mounted units and floor and table lamps. Task lighting is any light used to aid in a specific function. Undercabinet lights in the kitchen and a desk light in a home office are examples of task lighting. Accent lighting rounds out a room’s lighting scheme, emphasizing decorative features or drawing attention itself. Frame-mounted art lights and cove lighting are examples of accent lighting.

Properly lit rooms usually include all three types of illumination to play up the strengths of the room’s design and make the space easier to use. Lighting fixtures not only supply the illumination you need, they are also decorative elements. We’ll talk more about lighting and fixtures particular to individual rooms in the chapters that follow. For now, understand that no single light source provides all the necessary lighting for a room; you’ll need a combination if you want your design to look its absolute best.

These are great tips to help create a space perfect for you! Continue reading more of his tips here.

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Spring Is Around The Corner in North Atlanta – Freshen Your Home for Buyers

It may not feel like it this morning, but Spring is a mere 4 1/2 weeks away. The sunlight is already sticking around a little bit longer each day and on March 10 Daylight Savings Time will make it feel like warmer weather should be arrive any minute.  As these things start to happen Spring fever is inevitable. I don’t know about you, but Spring fever makes me want to make a change. Of course, I want to clean out and get rid of the clutter, but breathing some fresh air into my surroundings takes over my thoughts more than cleaning out my closets!

If you are looking to sell your home this Spring focus on what you can do to add some pizzazz to your home to catch a buyer’s attention.  Of course first you need to do any necessary repairs that you have been putting off.  No amount of paint or eye-catching light fixtures are going to distract the buyer’s attention from maintenance that you are trying to hide or avoid!

What can you do to give your home a pick me up and set it apart from others?  An easy inexpensive change can be new pillows and a throw blanket to a main living space. Pick a new color or even just a more vibrant tone of one of your existing colors and add some depth to your space.

Deep jewel tone colors are going to be popular into 2013. Emerald greens, vibrant oranges, turquoise, and purples are all out there. Adding these colors will instantly perk up a room. These are all things that go with you when you move too!

Neutral furniture with color ful pillows, art and accessories give a a room a fresh look for Spring. Photo from bhg.com

Updating a few key light fixtures can also add appeal. Pendent lights are everywhere, if you can make it work with the rest of your decor adding a simple one like this one from West Elm transforms a space.  Adding a single pendent over a sink where a can light currently is an easy element to change too.

Be careful with adding too many bright paint colors if you are planning to sell. Believe it or not, there are people that cannot see past the the paint. The idea of painting over that orange accent wall you love or the stencil that you feel added the perfect flair to your foyer, may scare someone.  Save your time and money and add those touches to your new home!  Stick to subtle colors on your walls while adding patterns and colors through accents.

Subtle paint colors with vibrant accents is an easy way to update a room. Photo by Laura Resen on housebeautiful.com

Those are just a few things you can do to liven up your space whether you are want to stay in your house for awhile or if you are  ready to sell! Either way, Spring is closer than you think, so it is time to start planning!

To view homes currently for sale in the Atlanta area click here.

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What Should A Home Seller Do To Sell Their Home In Alpharetta or Greater Atlanta

From time-to-time, I find out that a friend or friend of a friend wants to sell their home, but is overwhelmed with the idea of what needs

What to do to sell your home in Alpharetta and Greater Altanta photo by© yuliaglam – Fotolia.com

to happen before listing their house for sale.  The preparation process is an important one and can feel like a bigger than life job.  Between preparing your home for potential buyers to see, finding an agent, signing and organizing paperwork, and the mental preparation of transitioning to a new living space – each step should be taken with care.

Below is a list of things to do that I give to my home sellers prior to us getting the For Sale sign in the ground.  It is a good checklist to have when you are thinking about what documents you need to find or what work really needs to be done. Do these items early will make life easier for you in the long run!

• Handle all “before market” repairs.  If you think it is too much to repair, the buyer probably does too.  Buyers often think repairs cost more than they actually do.

• Sign FMLS Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement and the Affiliated Business Arrangement Disclosure Statement

• Complete & Sign Seller’s Disclosure Form

• Sign Lead Based Paint Form, if built before 1978

• Copy of Legal Description (from Warranty Deed or Security Deed)

• Two Front Door Keys (one for lockbox, one for agent’s copy)

• Security Code (if applicable)

• Complete “Utility Costs” form

• Property Tax Bill (most recent year)

• Termite Bond/ Warranty (if under bond)

• FMLS Homeowner’s Association Fee Exhibit

• Homeowner’s Association Covenants & Restrictions

• Copy of Survey (if available)

• Copy of Appraisal

• Get Independent Appraisal, if necessary

• Floor Plan (if available)

• Confirmation of School District

• Neighborhood Newsletter (if available)

• List of Upgrades

• Keep Your Home In Showing Condition

Let me know if you are considering listing your home soon or in the future….we can walk through these steps together.

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What Does “Low Inventory” Mean In The Atlanta Market?

Lots of people are asking that right now..it seems to be the buzz term within in our media and among the real estate community. It

What does low inventory mean to you if you live in Atlanta?

means different things to different groups.

Agents

Low inventory simply means less real estate for sale. In metro Atlanta, we see that in all price ranges and areas as much as 40% less inventory is available as compared to this time last year.  Buyer’s agents all over the metro area are on the hunt to find property for buyers that have been searching and can’t find that perfect house. Whether it is the in-town condo buyer, first time home buyer, move up buyer and even in the luxury market, we all have buyers that haven’t found a home yet. As realtors that means we are networking to find listings not on the market yet.

Buyers

What it means for buyers is that you may need to be patient in finding that one home that you love. You and your agent will have to work closely on new listings and unlisted property. A listing we showed this week in Chastain, to one of our clients, was not even on the market yet. This particular home had four showings the morning prior to being listed on FMLS and officially on the market. We knew about it from networking with other agents and were able to show our buyer. As a buyer, it will help if you are pre-approved with a reputable lender so when you find the one that you do love, you are ready to make a strong offer.

Sellers

For sellers, make the changes and do the upgrades. Now more than ever buyers want the place move in ready. So go ahead and paint and touch up, freshen up carpet, change out hardware and do the things that were on your list “to do” or “not to do” in order to sell. If you do those items combined with staging, professionally photography and choosing a great agent  who will market your home  and take you through the transaction to closing you will sell, and sell relatively quickly. Not without any hurdles of course….:-)  But you will sell!

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General Motors to Create 1000 Jobs in Roswell

On last Thursday some very exciting news came out of Governor Nathan Deal’s office. It was enough to make everyone in North Fulton end their

General Motors brings jobs to Roswell. Photo © General Motors.

week with a smile on their face. General Motors will open an IT Innovation Center in Roswell, creating 1,00o jobs over then next 3-5 years. The Roswell location will be one of four such centers across the U.S., two of which are already open in Austin, Texas and Warren, Michigan. The fourth will be announced later this year.

According to GM’s Chief Information Officer, Randy Mott,

These Innovation Centers will design and deliver IT that drives down the cost of ongoing operations while continuously increasing the level and speed at which innovative products and services are available to our GM customers.

The company plans to begin recruitment immediately for database experts, developers, project managers, and other IT professionals. This is great news for college graduates and industry veterans looking for a new challenge.

It is also great news for homeowners looking to sell their existing home. Such a large volume of jobs, will undoubtedly bring more buyers into North Fulton communities. If you have been putting off getting your home ready to list, don’t wait any longer.  Finish those last jobs you have planned or give The Cueny Team a call if you are having trouble figuring out where to begin. Our team is experienced in helping sellers assess their homes and determine what can be done to grab a buyers attention. It will probably be easier than you think and it always helps to have a fresh pair of eyes! We are ready for you!

To read more about the new plant opening visit The North Fulton Chamber of Commerce website.

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Three reasons your home may not sell in today’s market

John Adams is an author, broadcaster and investor. He answers real estate questions on radio station WGKA (920 AM) every Saturday at noon. money99.com

Written by John Adams for the AJC

The other day I overheard one very young agent talking to another very young agent about the listing she had that would not sell. The listing agent blamed her owners for not embracing social media and paying to set up a Facebook page and a twitter account to help market the house.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for smartphones and websites and tweets and blogs and SEO, but the real estate world just does not revolve around social media.

In fact, there are three primary reasons that your house won’t sell. They haven’t changed in the thirty five years I have been in this business, and they bear repeating:

CONDITION :

The condition of your house is unacceptable.

It’s vitally important to remember that prospective purchasers will buy your house emotionally, then justify it logically. Buying a home is a very emotional process. And the house carries all manner of feelings along with it.

If your buyer simply can not imagine themselves living in your house and enjoying raising their family, they won’t fall in love with it and they won’t even make an offer. All buyers say they just want the facts, but in reality, emotions rule the day.

So if you are fooling yourself into believing that you shouldn’t replace your smelly dirty carpets because the new owner will want to pick out their own color, you are only hurting your chances of getting a sale.

MARKETING :

Nobody knows it’s for sale.

In today’s tough real estate selling market, it’s not enough to just stick a “for sale” sign in the yard and hope a prospective buyer will show up. OK, I admit it’s possible. But not likely.

In my opinion, this is where an experience real estate professional really earns their commission. Surveys show that almost 90 percent of homebuyers begin their home search on the internet, and there are literally a thousand ways to capture them as leads.

A good agent is worth his or her weight in iPads if they can bring the power of the Internet to bear in helping spread the word. The Internet-based Multiple Listing Service is likely the most powerful tool in the agent’s arsenal. But it takes even more than that.

My own experience shows that about a third of my prospects come from the internet, another third from yard sign and directional signs, and the final third from all other sources. It’s that final third that has become elusive in today’s younger real estate agents.

It involves everything to holding a neighborhood open house for nosey neighbors to posting fliers are nearby schools, churches and employers. It can be as expensive as catering an agent open house with great food and prizes to as little as taping business cards on the yard sign so passers-by will remember to call.

Great marketing will get the word out, but the third problem is the real deal killer.

PRICE :

Your asking price is too high.

I saved this for last because inexperienced agents always want to start with the price.

My advice is to get the house in excellent condition, have the house professionally appraised by a licensed appraiser, then list the house for sale at that amount.

Remember that almost every potential buyer will want to get a loan to purchase your house. And if the house won’t appraise for the contract price, they won’t be approved for the loan, and the deal will fall through.

In today’s real estate market, there is nothing more frustrating than reaching a meeting of the minds, signing a contract, having your inspection, applying for the loan, then watching the whole thing blow up because the house didn’t appraise for the contract price.

Further, you are better off turning down low ball offers than you are getting offers that won’t get to the closing table. Get it appraised, hand out copies of the appraisal to every prospect, and rest comfortably knowing you are selling it for what it’s worth.

Condition, marketing and price. Unless these three parts of the selling puzzle are in place from the beginning, all the facebook and tweeting in the world won’t move your home into the sold column.

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Walkway Landscaping Offers a Friendly Welcome

Add color and curb appeal to your home with a statement-making front landscape

Sprawling and beautifully manicured front yards line the streets of Metro Atlanta, no doubt about it. A well-landscaped yard creates curb appeal and helps your property retain maximum value. The walkway to your front door is one of the most important elements of the overall landscape because it greets guests to your home even before you do!

So whether you prefer something simple to fit into your traditional exterior or crave something extraordinary for a grand estate, there’s a perfect landscape scheme for every front walk. Below are a few tips and tricks, as well as shining examples of how to spruce up your outdoor spaces.

Green up the grass

If your house has a front yard, make sure it‘s neat and green. You don’t want bare spots, sprawling weeds, or an untrimmed appearance.

“It’s so simple to go to Home Depot, buy fertilizer, apply it every six weeks, and water it,” says Mitch Kalamian, a landscape designer. “It will green up.”

If the yard looks really scruffy, you may decide to invest in some sod. According to the National Gardening Association, the average cost of sod is 15 to 35 cents per sq. ft. If you hire a landscaper to sod your yard for you, labor will add 30% to 50% to the total cost of the project.

This Milton home for sale at 545 Treyburn View features a very green, well manicured lawn. Currently listed at $559,000, click on the image for more photos and information from Andrea Cueny of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.

Add colorful planting beds

Flower beds add color and help enliven otherwise plain areas, such as along driveways and the edges of walkways. In general, annual flowers are a bit cheaper but must be replaced every year. Perennials cost a bit more but come back annually and usually get larger or spread with each growing season.

If you’re not sure what to plant, inquire at your local garden center. Often, they’ll have a display of bedding plants chosen for their adaptability to your area. Also, they‘ll be inexpensive because they’re in season, says Peter Mezitt, president of Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton, Mass. Try pansies in the summer, and asters and mums in the fall to add vibrant color. “That’s what we do around the entrance to our garden center,” Mezitt says.

Line it up

A row of simple shrubbery flanking the walkway to your front door feels clean and classic. Boxwoods are a great choice for imitating the look of one cohesive hedge.

Currently listed at $369,000, this beautiful brick home in Marietta features shrubbery that lines the driveway and directs you to the front walk. Click on the image for more photos and information of 143 Gant Quarters Lane from Andrea Cueny of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.

For longer front walks, try incorporating shrubbery with different layers of height. Multiple heights add depth to a landscape and tall shrubs can mimic the effect of a beautiful gate.

5215 Estate View Trace in Suwanee is currently listed at $489,000. Along the front walkway shrubbery with different layers of height frame the front porch and highlight the dramatic double doors. Click on the image for more photos and information from Andrea Cueny of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.

Add landscape lighting

For homeowners who have made a sizeable investment in landscaping, it makes sense to think about adding another 10% to 15% to the bill for professional lighting. “You can’t see landscaping after dark,“ says Brandon Stephens, vice president of marketing for a landscape lighting firm in Lubbock, Texas, “and buyers are not always looking at houses on a Saturday afternoon.”

The cost of a system runs from $200 for a DIY installation to more than $4,000 for a professional job. If you‘re doing it on your own, the key is to light what you want people to see, such as mature trees and flowering shrubs.

Source: HouseLogic

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Pati-ohhhhh!

Plan a perfect patio complete with comfy seating, ambient light and plenty of plants

I have patios on the brain as this warm weather has proven it’s here to stay. Meaning “back garden” or “backyard” in Spanish, patios are extensions of our interiors that can double our living spaces. The eye candy below offers inspiration but you can continue browsing for more here.

The patio above features comfortable furniture, a large light fixture and the canopy provides plenty of shade. Photo from houzz.com

Decorate your patio to make it a true extension of your home. An outdoor dining room is the perfect setting for a dinner party. Photo from houzz.com

This mediterranean patio design includes comfortable furniture next to the fireplace in order to enjoy cooler nights. Photo from houzz.com

The vines atop this pergola offer plenty of shade and the perfect place to relax. Photo from houzz.com

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Designer’s Touch: Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

From pavers to plantings, these professional tips can help your home make an instant impact on the street

Life is all about first impressions, and this is as true of homes as it is of people. Your home’s positive physical appearance from the street is called curb appeal. What does your house say to those passing by? Try these professional designer tips to heighten character and charm while you increase resale value.

1. Sugar coat. Apply decorative siding and detailed moldings that accentuate your home’s period for immediate eye candy that will keep heads turning. But remember, less is always more.

2. Architectural eyeliner.Forgo over-the-top flower beds, pots and plants, and stick with classic and timeless shrubbery. This look will outline your architectural elements rather than camouflage them. Neat and orderly never looked so good.

3. Fashion your driveway. Get the hottest look straight out of a magazine with this fashionable driveway of grass and concrete pavers. Your haute driveway will have people talking.

4. Flower power. Flowers are one of the least expensive ways to make the front of your house blossom with curb appeal. For those with a green thumb, sprucing up your home will never be so fun.

5. Focal door. Place the emphasis on the entrance of your home by painting your front door a contrasting color from your house — it’s the easiest and most inexpensive way to improve the exterior of your home. Bam! Instant character.

For more ideas visit houzz.com.

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Fresh Start: Creative Ways to Organize Your Stuff

*Brilliant ideas collected by Houzz.com

Admittedly, most of my resolutions tend to fall to the wayside. But this year, I’m bound and determined to make one a reality: It’s time to get organized. Houzz users provide plenty of creative ideas for getting a space arranged and in ship shape with ease. Here, a massive selection of tips and tricks for organizing around the home:

Think outside the filing cabinet: Here, a dish rack gets reimagined as a file and pencil holder by blogger Cozy Little House.

Clear containers provide an orderly base for food in plain view. Arranging an area with one clear purpose (here, tea and other drink items) so everything you need for the task at hand is in one place.

A giant bulletin board keeps desks clutter-free, and holds inspiration, to-do lists, a calendar — even impromptu artwork.

A row of clipboards keep important papers in order. Give them a perky facelift with decorative contact paper. Recycled glass jars can hold desktop necessities. See more ideas from Ish and Chi.

Click here to see all 39 great storage ideas from the Houzz community.

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