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Home
Sweet Home
There is a difference between a house and a home. A house is a
building where people live, but a home is a special place where
memories are made. But when you move to a new house it can be
hard to imagine this different place as your home. Here are some
tips to help transform it from a place you hang your hat to a
place that holds your heart.
Picture This - Give photos of your family and friends a
prominent place. Perhaps you can display them on a bookshelf,
mantel or in an arrangement on the wall. Displaying your
personal photographs throughout your new home is an easy way to
make it a more personal space.
Color It Mine - Consider changing the color of the walls
to reflect your personality. If the house has recently been
painted with cream or white walls, you might change a room to a
more bright and cheery color or warm it up with some earth
tones.
Get Dirty - If the weather permits, start a small
vegetable or flower garden. A bouquet or salad from your own
garden is always sweeter and provides a great sense of
accomplishment. Also, consider planting a tree or flowering bush
in the yard. It will be a joy to watch it grow through the
years.
Start Cooking - Warm up a chilly night in your new house
with some homemade soup. Nothing is as comforting or satisfying
as a home-cooked meal from your own kitchen. And if there are
leftovers, be sure to bring a container to your neighbors. It is
a wonderful gesture of friendship.
Think Bigger - When you move into a new home, you may not
have the financial resources or time to remodel or renovate. But
don't let that keep you from planning home improvement projects
for the future. Think about changes you'd like to make, both
inside and out, make a list, and start saving accordingly.
Personal touches, whether it's a collection of sentimental
photos or a new landscape design, is certain to make your house
a place you're proud to call home.
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Selling Secrets
Thinking about selling
your home? Here are some tips on how to make your home more
appealing to potential buyers. 
· The often-repeated advice is to put a pie or loaf of
bread in the oven before buyers visit to give the entire house a
warm and inviting smell. If you don't have time for that, brew a
pot of coffee, light a soft-scented candle, or sprinkle some
carpet freshener before vacuuming instead.
· Make your property appear even larger by cleaning out
any underbrush and leaves and trimming bushes and trees. If
possible, you may want to plant colorful flowers along walkways
and in flowerbeds. Although subtle, these changes can make a
home much more appealing.
· Be prepared for inquiries. Provide your real estate
professional with as much information as you can about the home.
This can be turned into a fact sheet that can be handed out at
open houses or during walk-throughs. Also, be sure to give
potential buyers honest answers. Tell them what you love about
the home and be up front if they ask about drawbacks.
· Nothing makes a house seem smaller and more cluttered
than a room scattered with children's toys and other items.
Consider boxing up rarely-used books, games and toys and storing
them in the basement, in the attic or at a friend's home until
the house is sold.
And for those unexpected walk-throughs, make sure you have a
storage bin on hand where toys and other items can be quickly
gathered.
A
New Year
Want to keep your New Year's resolution this
year? Then enlist the help of a friend. Studies
show that you are more likely to attain a goal
if you have a support system in place. A buddy
can listen, encourage and share in your eventual
success, so consider making this year's
resolution a team effort. |
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