Have you begun to set up our outdoor living spaces in preparation for the summer months? Here in the northeast, summer seems to fly by so quickly that we tend to start planning much sooner than we can actually use our outdoor space so that by the time the weather warms up, we can enjoy every minute of the season.
One of the latest trends for outdoor spaces is creating a vertical garden. For those of us with small backyards (or no backyards if you're living in an apartment), this is the perfect solution if you like to care for living greenery and have limited space. As is the case inside the home, when you don't have horizontal space to work with, go vertical. Below shows several varieties of vertical gardens. Businesses have used them as a design element to create interest and to visually soften hard surfaces such as marble, tile, concrete, etc. Better Homes & Gardens recently posted a do-it-yourself project to create a small-scale vertical garden that they call a "living picture." I'd love to see photos if you try it!
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Do you know the difference between decorating and staging? Some folks use the two terms interchangeably, but they do have different meanings. Decorating is typically done in a house that you plan to live in. Staging is done in a house that you plan to sell. The acts of decorating and staging are done for very different reasons, therefore they are very different in nature. When decorating a home (and I also like to call it "styling" a home), personal items like pictures, artwork, furnishings, and even the color on the walls are added. Items, colors and fabrics that resonate with the homeowner are chosen. The purpose is to make the homeowners feel comfortable in their own space by surrounding them with the things they love. This is what makes a house a home. When staging a house, rather than add items, items are typically edited out of the space. The purpose is very different and we want rooms, closets, cabinets and countertops to appear as large and spacious as possible. While staging, we have historically chosen more neutral colors, patterns and items that do not favor any particular taste or style. The "hotel room" or "model home" look has been our goal in hopes of attracting the widest audience. Any profile of the homeowner should not be visible. The home has now become just a house. That being said, there is a trend that is happening now that is moving toward stronger colors on the walls and a more targeted marketing approach to staging. Appealing to a specific group of buyers rather than a generic audience is something that makes marketing sense. That doesn't mean that we throw fuschia on the walls and use leopard and zebra print furniture, but we push the envelope a bit more when it comes to appeal while keeping the target buyer in mind. After all, we do want buyers to feel at home when they walk through a home for sale. There is a big difference between decorating/styling for living and staging for sale, but the gap has become a tiny bit smaller with the targeted marketing approach to staging. Depending upon what your goal is, just remember what I say... LIVE in your HOME, but SELL your HOUSE. In any housing market, especially a competitive one like we're seeing now, home staging is an important tool in preparing a home for sale. Over the last five years, the amount of homeowners that use staging to more effectively market their homes for sale has grown over 100%! We still have a long way to go in educating consumers about the reality and benefits of staging, but it seems that we're on our way. In my experience, I've found that there are some questions and misconceptions about staging that may be holding back sellers and even Realtors from taking advantage of the services of a professional home stager to help to market a property. Here are some things I've come across: 1. What exactly is staging anyway? Home staging is a marketing tool that is designed to show a property in its best possible light, accentuating the positives, exuding a clean, well-maintained, comfortable setting to the widest audience possible. Think model home or hotel room. 2. I've cleaned and de-cluttered, so it's all ready for the market. That's a great start and it is part of the staging process. But it's only the beginning. It is difficult to be objective about our own home. What may be lovely or comfortable to us may not be as buyer-friendly as we think. We stagers work to de-personalize the home while keeping in mind the target buyer in order to subtlely appeal to that group through an emotional connection. 3. Staging is expensive. I understand that sellers do not want to spend lots of money on a house they're going to leave. Staging in and of itself is not expensive. Most home stagers charge a flat fee for their service, which typically includes a service package of a number of hours. If committing to a hands-on staging package seems to be too much, even a staging consultation would provide lots of information and suggestions on updates or repairs that would bring a high return on investment (ROI). HomeGain, a leader in the real estate industry, listed the Top 10 D-I-Y Home Improvements for Sellers and the ROI for each (see chart, inset). Home staging is #3 on the list, only to be topped by lightening/brightening and cleaning and de-cluttering the home. The way I think of it, with the competition in the industry, it becomes a HUGE benefit to dress up your house and ensure that it is clean, well-maintained, aethetically pleasing and offers emotional connections to buyers. If a home doesn't "speak" to a buyer, they will just move on to the next property--and there are plenty of others to see! You wouldn't go to a job interview unshowered and in old, wrinkled clothing, would you? A house should be dressed to impress as well. It is essentially being interviewed by buyers. Click here for more information on FHD home staging. For anyone who has taken a marketing class, you may remember the marketing mix from Marketing 101–product, place, price, promotion. This mix of key marketing elements applies to selling any product or service, and is no different when selling a home. In any environment, especially a buyer's market, we must pay close attention to each of these crucial elements. The product (the house itself) must be in tip-top shape, inside and out. Caring for the home and presenting it in the best possible light will send a message to buyers that the home is in move-in condition and has been well-maintained. The smallest details will make all the different and present a very positive first impression and increase its perceived value. Home staging is a great way to do this and to create an emotional connection that is so important in order to attract and engage buyers. Place - In many cases, this would be retail stores, online markets and other distribution channels in which a product can be bought. In the case of selling a home, place refers to the availability of the home to be seen. Through caravans, open houses and showings, brokers and buyers are made aware that a home is for sale and allows them to "kick the tires," if you will. Price - We all know how crucial pricing is and we all want to sell our homes for the highest possible price. It is time to remember that it doesn't matter what you owe or how much money you have put into your home, you must price it according to its market value. By attending to all details, the home will be perceived as having a higher value and, if priced correctly, be seen as a great deal. If priced too high, buyers will move on to the next property in order to get a better deal. Promotion - This would include all of the channels in which the sale of the home is communicated. Most importantly, it would include online marketing. More than 90% of buyers are first searching for homes online. You want your photographs to be bright, in-focus and attractive. By caring for the home BEFORE photos are taken, you are able to present a gorgeous product to the public. This is the first impression the vast majority of buyers will have, and you do not want them to pass it by without another thought. First impressions stick! Promotion would also include yard signs, print ads, notices through the real estate office, newsletters, e-mail, and social media outlets, and any other vehicle that allows the word to spread that you have a great home for sale. When the marketing mix works together, it produces results. And in this case it would mean a sale. I'm baaaaack! I took a little hiatus from my blog while I was busy preparing some presentations in the last couple of months. And now it's spring! I always feel more energetic and motivated at this time of year. It's like I break free from the chrysalis of winter and begin to spread my wings. With the warmer weather and longer days, I start to plan spring/summer projects, get out to more networking events, get back into a groove at the gym, and am generally in a much better mood. Aside from it being allergy season, this could be my favorite season of the year. It's also exciting to me to see all of the new, colorful seasonal home décor in the stores. Tangerine is the color of 2012. Check out these beautiful ways to incorporate this vibrant color into your décor this spring/summer. Not only tangerine, but all deep gemstone colors are trending right now. Pair them with a softer tan or gray and they really pop! What a gorgeous look! If you're a little wary of bringing such bold color into your space, there's no need to paint an entire wall with it. Test it out with some smaller accessories. Remember to use the color in three places throughout the space to evenly incorporate it and allow your eyes to scan the room and find interest. By using a new or bolder color in small doses, it gives your room some pizzazz and is easier and less costly to change out when you're ready to move on. Customer service and problem resolution can make or break a company. The products or services can be great, but if something goes wrong and it isn't cared for properly, it could mean no more business from you, and possibly lots of negative word of mouth. I recently had an experience where I was in need of a repair on my garage door that wouldn't open. My car was trapped inside my garage and I needed someone quickly. Without having a contact, I searched online for a local company. With no prior knowledge of the company, I made a phone call and was told that they had a job in the area and could be at my house in less than an hour. Great! I was happy so far. Two men came to my house within the timeframe I was given and not only repaired the broken door, but also did a few things that needed to/should have been done throughout the years. They even serviced my other door "...since we're already here for a service call." These guys were not only nice, but since they had to charge me for a service call anyway, they checked out the doors from top to bottom for me. They even explained to me the regular maintenance that I should do to ensure proper operation in the future. I paid the guys and they were on their way within 45 minutes of arriving at my house. My garage door was working like a charm and I was thrilled not to be trapped at home all day. That night something happened. When I turned on my outside lights (attached to my garage), the circuit breaker tripped. Uh oh! It HAD to have something to do with the garage door work today. And it did. Upon further inspection, we found that they had unknowingly put a nail through the wire for the lights when reinforcing a bracket for the door spring. UGH! I immediately dreaded making the phone call the next day to explain the issue, anticipating either never receiving a call back, some story about how it wasn't their fault, or any myriad scenarios for shoddy work being dismissed by a service giver. Sadly, that must be what I'm used to because that's what I expected. I made the call and was pleasantly surprised. When I explained the situation, they made plans to come out and remedy the problem. What? No argument? No defensive conversation or accusation that I may have done something wrong or that it wasn't a result of their work? No making me explain over and over what happened? The owner hired an electrician to come to the house that week and repair the damage. Situation resolved. I tend to believe that it's problem resolution that makes a good company. Good service or products are expected. But when something goes wrong, how a company cares for you in order to make things right will probably determine whether you will call upon them again. I would call these guys back... and refer them to my friends. We all like to make changes to our homes to keep things looking fresh and updated. Many times our budgets will not allow major changes, so we try and find ways to make smaller updates that make a difference.
Here are 10 things that you can do to give your house some no-cost/low-cost changes that will make a huge impact. 1. Paint. A gallon of paint is probably the least expensive way to make the biggest impact. If your new color works within your existing color scheme, you won't have to buy any new accessories or furnishings (unless you want to!). "Like" FHD's Facebook page (@functionaldesigns) and follow my posts that began earlier this week. I've begun a color series that will include understanding terminology and how to successfully pair colors. 2. Furniture arrangement. This no-cost option is what redesign is all about. I LOVE LOVE LOVE arranging furniture! Coming up with a new seating arrangement or interesting ways to use pieces from different parts of your home makes things more interesting. Call me anytime for help with this! :-) 3. Color scheme. I tend to use only a few colors when decorating my home. Keeping your color scheme primarily the same throughout allows you to move accessories from room to room to switch things up a bit. That doesn't mean that the walls of every room have to be the same color or that the furniture has to be all the same finish or fabric. It just means that the colors you choose for pieces in each room stay within the same palette. 4. Accent pillows and throws. Buying a couple of different sets of accent pillows and throws to change out for seasons (or whenever the mood strikes) is much less expensive than buying all new bed linens or a new couch. My advice when buying the largest or most expensive pieces for a room is to keep it simple. For example, buying a solid brown sofa versus one with a colorful or busy pattern will serve a couple of purposes. You will be less likely to grow tired of it as you might with a pattern, and it will be easy to create different looks and get creative using only pillows, throws or other accent pieces. 5. Slipcovers. In the case that you already have that busy couch, or you just want or need a new one, slipcovers are a great way to fake it. Not exactly cheap, but certainly not as expensive as a new piece of furniture, good quality slipcovers are an easy way to create a new look. 6. Rugs. Unless you spend big bucks on imported rugs, this could be another low-cost option for you to change the look in your room. There are plenty of stores that carry affordable rugs. If you have rugs in several different rooms, try swapping them out. (Another benefit to keeping a similar color scheme throughout your house.) 7. Artwork and accessories. Artwork and accessories don't always have to be paintings and vases. If you have a great collection of costume jewelry, try crafting up a shadow box full of items to display in your bedroom. Do you have small children who love to draw? Get a couple of your favorite works of art and frame them for your family room. Pull out a beautiful bowl or pitcher that you hardly use and display it. Get creative. 8. Flowers. Nothing brightens up a room like fresh flowers. If you're lucky enough to have a green thumb and a floral garden, bring some of that beauty inside. If not, even grocery stores sell inexpensive bouquets that you can treat yourself to each week. 9. Lighting. Lighting is one of the most important elements in design and decorating. There are different types of lighting used for different purposes, but there's nothing like natural light. Open up the blinds or shades and let the light in! During those darker months of the year, you may want to add some extra sources of light to be sure you're not lacking. Check your lightbulbs as well. At all times, be sure you're using the best type of bulb and appropriate wattage for the light source and its purpose. 10. Window treatments. This may not be an option for rooms with installed roman shades, or a very practical option for those windows adorned with mega-expensive custom drapes, but changing out sheers or panels doesn't have to be a break-the-bank activity. If you know your way around a sewing machine, making your own window treatments may be a fun activity. Simple valances may be fine for certain rooms, like bathrooms. Or sheers may work in rooms where privacy is not an issue. Enter to win the FHD Frosty Facelift Contest. See details on our Contest page. As my first blog post for the year, it's 10am and I'm sitting in bed in my pajamas with my cat at my feet. It may sound pretty lazy, but I've already been up for 4 hours, made breakfast and lunch, shipped off the kids to school, picked up coffee (yes, I went through the drive-through in my pjs), updated my website, finished up some paperwork and read through a presentation I am about to give today. Ok, I also checked Facebook to see what everyone is up to on this sunny winter day.
I'm very excited about the possibilities for 2012. After about a year or so in business, I feel as though I have begun to make a name for myself in the community and I've made some new friends and connections that I 'm really looking forward to working with this year. I have so many ideas and (I believe because of my marketing background) I'm having as much fun marketing my business as when I actually work on a project. But it's not always fun. Building a business is a lot of work, and with a full-time job (that I thankfully still have), it's sometimes a challenge. Some days I feel as if all of the balls I have in the air will come crashing down, but I have a husband and family who are a great help with the kids and a wonderful boss (and lots of vacation time) that allow me to take care of business–both personal and professional–when I need it. As I say all the time, I absolutely LOVE this business. I love helping people with their homes. I love to help to create a space that makes them happy, whether it's to live in or sell. I love to solve a problem and relieve some stress for them. I guess what I offer is decorating therapy. Hmmm... maybe I've just coined a new phrase. Whatever you call it, I love it. And I hope you find time to do what you love to do. Happy New Year! Enter to win the FHD Frosty Facelift Contest. See details on our Contest page. Ribbon candy is one of those things that brings back childhood memories of the holidays for me. My grandmother always had ribbon candy out during this season. Using a glass apothecary jar filled with colorful candy ribbons makes a simple but festive display. There are so many ways to decorate your entrance for the seasons. Here are some wonderful and creative ideas that scream winter and holidays.
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