Refresh Your Home With These Spring Decorating Tips
A great way to refresh your home, whether you’re planning to sell or just want a change, redecorating a room or two may be just the thing you need. Better Homes and Garden has a fantastic list of spring decor ideas. I’ve highlighted some of them for you here.
1. Bright Spring Colors for the Living Room: Add pops of color to your main living area with bright vases, colorful pillows or fresh flowers.
2. Change it up with Wallpaper: Wallpaper doesn’t have to sing of your grandmother’s dated dining room. A fresh, airy pattern can lighten a room and a bold, bright statement wall can really accent your furniture or decor. Choose peel and stick options for easier removal.
3. Add Natural Centerpieces: Natural centerpieces in either flowers, ferns or a big leafy arrangement are often budget friendly and are great for nearly any decor.
4. Sheer Panels Add Dimension: Sheer Panels offer a bit of privacy, add texture and a splash of color. Curtains are also easy to change if you decide on another style or color later on.
5. Go All Out with Paint: If you really want to refresh a room, choose a new paint color. Go with an accent color that’s in your current decor, of choose a color you love. Talk with the associates in your local home improvement store for painting tips, best color options and paint types.
To check out all of Better Homes and Gardens spring decorating tips, click here. Maybe you need a little more help with some creative design ideas for your home. If you’re planning to sell your home in the near future, hiring a professional designer can save you time and frustration. I highly recommend Sue Pipal of Dragonfly Designs for your interior design needs.
For information about selling (or buying!) your home, please give me a call at 530-386-0302. I’ll be able to tell you what your home is worth and develop an efficient marketing plan that fits your needs.
What Do Home Buyers Really Want?
With home values on the rise, many homeowners may be considering selling their homes. In a timely study, NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) released what home buyers are most looking for in pre-existing homes.
- Energy Efficiency. Water saving features, Energy Star-rated appliances and windows. 9/10 home buyers prefer a home with energy efficient features over a home that might cost 2%-3% less.
- Organization and Storage. Laundry rooms, linen closets in the bathrooms, walk-in pantries and storage areas in the garage all get bonus points from many home buyers.
The top features most home buyers do not want include an elevator, only a shower stall and no tub in the master bath, and high density communities or golf course living.
Continue reading the NAHB article here.
Top Tips to finding the Best Buyer’s Agent
1. Check out their recommendations online. Do they have more recommendations than most other agents in their area. Get the names and numbers of their former Buyer Clients that you can call for a reference and a list of the properties they have sold as a Buyer’s Agent.
2. Confirm their local real estate experience. Make sure they are full-time, successful agents who know your marketplace with years of experience. Many agents are part-time and don’t have a full understanding of the current market. Ask them exactly what they will do for you and what you should expect from them. Make sure they fulfil your expectations. They should be a really good listener and a great negotiator.
3. How many clients do they work with? They may be a “turn and burn” agent who just wants to get the deal done! Your Realtor needs to be willing to ask questions, listen to your request, and help you to focus your search on homes and areas that are going to appeal to you. Some agents will show you EVERY home on the market. This is a waste of your time. They already should be clueing into your needs to make sure you are only seeing the best valued properties that meet your needs.
4. Do they have a blog that includes both local information and current market reports? This will be a quick way for you to bring yourself up to speed on the real estate market in that area.
5. Do they have a team of professionals that will help you along the way? They should have trusted Mortgage Brokers, Inspectors, Transaction Coordinators, Escrow Officers, and Contractors. Legally you can use whomever you want. However, most buyers don’t have a team of professionals that can help them along the way. As a Concierge Realtor, I will handle all the details so you can focus on the important decisions about buying your luxury home in the North Lake Tahoe area. Buying a home should be a dream not a nightmare. Make sure you pick the best agent for you.
For more information on how I serve my clients as a North Lake Tahoe Concierge Realtor, please click here.
Spa Days at Tahoe are Cheaper in the Fall. I’m taking advantage!
I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but during the fall, I could really use a pick me up with the short days and cold weather. Turns out many of our local business offers a discount just when could use a facial or a message. Only $30 for a Facial or $60 for a 1 hour message.
Clearwater Day Spa Message and Facial Specials
Staging Tips Selling your Tahoe Home
Selling Tahoe Real Estate is unique. Most of the homes I sell are 2nd home or vacation rental properties. Staging is an essential part of the selling process if you want to sell your home quickly and for the highest possible price. The longer a home sits on the market the lower it will sell for.
1. Make an Excellent First Impression. The outside must be clear of winter debris and pine needles. We often come upon a home that has pine needles and a dirty mat at the front door. It looks like no one cares about the property. Guess what.. The buyer won’t care either.
2. Have the Home Professionally Cleaned including the Windows. Many of the homes have sat for years. There are cobwebs and dirty windows. Not to mention that bathrooms of floors. Clean windows helps the buyer to enjoy the light and the beauty of Tahoe around your home.
3. Get rid of any clutter. Although it is important to have bears and elk and squirrels you don’t want the home covered with little nick knacks… they just get dusty. 
4. Make sure all the lights blubs work! You may need to bring in extra lighting. NO one likes a dark home!
5 . Ask me to come and evaluate your home. There is no charge for this. I can give you staging ideas. I can also bring in a professional stager, in my option a excellent investment. The Stager can usually stage your home for less than it will cost you to buy all the items you need. The home must look like a Tahoe Cabin, not a home in Arizona or Napa home. It must Scream MOUNTAIN HOME!!!!
