Happy New Year!

Count your blessings! Make this year your best year ever! Enjoy your space, Rena

Curb Appeal Helps Sell Houses

Eye catching curb appeal is critical because buyers need to want to see the interior. At a bare minimum, the flowerbeds need to be freshened, grass mowed, and the walk-way swept. Make sure the little things that are no longer noticed by a seller, but will scream deferred maintenance to a prospective buyer, are addressed. The cracks in the sidewalk must be repaired before they start chipping away at the asking price. It is amazing how much money a prospective buyer deducts from the asking price because of minor imperfections.

Another reason curb appeal is so important is because realtors typically tell buyers to drive by houses to see if they like the outside before proceeding to make an appointment to show the inside. Realtors know how important curb appeal is to buyers.

Remember, if a buyer doesn’t like the outside of the house, chances are they won’t want to see the inside.

Enjoy your space, Rena
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Remove Clutter When Selling a House

After the curb appeal test has been passed and a prospective buyer crosses the threshold they decide if they like the house within the first 8 seconds! First impressions are lasting! Pay special attention to the foyer. Make it warm and welcoming instead of a drop off place for shoes, mail, and keys. In addition, clutter must be banished from every area of the house. Buyers are looking for square footage. Clutter is the number one culprit that conceals valuable real estate.

When selling, it is imperative that a house appear as large as it possibly can. If there are boxes or extraneous furniture in the house, a buyer cannot see what's for sale. Most buyers lack imagination and can't visualize what the home would look like if it were not overrun with clutter. Remember to help the buyer see what is for sale by removing the clutter. Enjoy your space, ReDecorating by Rena

Make a Large Room Cozy

Large rooms can be a good dilemma to have. To make a large room more cozy and inviting, consider establishing a seating group that is anchored by at least 1 chair, a table and lamp. Adding area rugs are also helpful in defining areas in a large space. Just remember to take a step back and make sure there is enough room left for an unobstructed traffic pattern. Enjoy your space, ReDecorating by Rena

Grouping Collectibles

Displaying bric-a-brac or collectibles is one of the easiest ways to add personality to a space. More good news is that the items don't even need to be related to each other in terms of size, shape, color, or purpose. What makes groupings work well is arranging them in odd numbers. Try it!

Enjoy your space, ReDecorating by Rena

Choose fabrics carefully

The style you choose to decorate in and the purpose of the space will strongly dictate the kind of fabrics you choose. For instance, if you are decorating a family room that has a southern exposure in the casual style, fabrics that do not stand up to constant use (perhaps by children and pets) would not be a good choice. Additionally, a space that receives a great deal of sunlight would make using silks and other delicate fabrics prone to fade not cost effective options. So, take some time and research the fabric before introducing it to your space. Enjoy your space, ReDecorating by Rena

Choose the color for your space carefully

Color has the ability to evoke emotional responses in people so consider the style and mood of the room and choose the color accordingly. For instance, red is a stimulating color well suited for family rooms. Green, on the other hand, is a calming color that would be a good choice for a space dedicated to relaxing.

Because there are countless colors to choose from it is helpful to utilize what professional decorators call the rule of three. That is, use only three colors, excluding neutrals, in their various values, intensities, and textures to avoid a space that is overwhelming with too many colors that may or may not be complimentary. Enjoy your space, Rena

Determine the style for the space

Resist the urge to jump right in. Begin by asking yourself a few questions about the space. What will I do in the space?How do I want to feel in the space?Who else will use the space on a regular basis? If necessary, ask other members of the family the same questions. The answers to these queries will help to decide if the space is to be decorated formally or casually, for instance. Of course, there are other styles to be considered.

The style chosen will determine many of the subsequent decisions such as the type of furniture placed in the room, the fabric chosen, as well as the type of window treatment that is installed, to name a few. For example, the casual style typically has simple details, textured elements and lots of horizontal lines. The furniture tends to be large in scale and upholstered or slip covered. Whereas the formal style is inspired by period homes with elaborate architectural features and special attention is placed on symmetry and lines.

Enjoy your space, ReDecorating by Rena