Waiting out the Storm

Since we're about to be hunkered down at home for the next two days, I'm glad I received my new House Beautiful Magazine....I'm ready for Sandy!  

We are all boarded up and prepared to leave once it becomes mandatory!

It will be a good few days to get caught up on some reading!  Stay Safe!!

Home Offices

Yesterday I blogged about design suggestions for a home office - Today we continue on the important facts of home office 

Stay organized

Having a heap of files and papers on your desk and counters doesn't make you look busy and important – it makes you look like a slob. So keep visible areas neat and tidy. In fact, it doesn't hurt to show off your organizational skills by using transparent cabinets and cubbies, display shelves, and even cord control accessories. Your client will pick up on the fact that you have your stuff together!!

Be different, but not too different

The last thing you want is your home office to resemble a drab mishmash junk.  So avoid burnt orange or lackluster blue carpet and go easy on harsh whites. Neutral colors are fine if they don’t look tired; blues, greens, and grays work well, too. If your business is more creative, then a few well-placed eye-catching hues might also be appropriate.

Be serious – and fun

It’s important to strike a balance between professionalism and relaxation in a home office. Obviously, you don’t want it to look garish or showy. But erring too far on the staid side is also unwise; after all, if you wanted to work in a real office, you wouldn't be working at home. So mix elements of seriousness and fun into your décor, and tilt the scale toward the appropriate end of the industry spectrum (for example, a graphic design studio might be bolder than an accountant’s office).

Enable privacy

In other words, make sure your home office has a door. If you’re setting up in a living room, you can install exterior sliding doors on tracks outside the room without having to rip our door frames and walls. It’s important that you be able to keep out unwanted intrusions from the rest of your home and/or the neighborhood.

Your Home Office

Now that summer is “officially over” it is time to concentrate on you (the small business owner) before the holidays are upon us.

Those who work from home, like me, spend countless hours working in their home office. Why oh why, therefore, are so many home offices dull, lifeless places that you wouldn't want to spend 10 minutes, let alone 10 hours a day. Your office should be an extension of you, a place of your own, where you create, where you feel inspired….

I would start out with color; if your office is adjacent to other rooms in the house it is very important that you have complimentary colors to the other rooms…. For an example… the grays are really hot right now ( I believe there are 50 shades)….If you're “living room was in the red family and your kitchen was in the green family and both were off of your office area…you would have a solid good choice with the color grey…you can always revert to a color wheel if you are having issues…but you must make sure the colors are the same saturation. If you are still not sure, you can always call Harmonizing Homes.

If you have the available space in your home office, I would recommend a couch…which would be proportionate to the office size. Pieces of your favorite art…painting, sculpture etc.  Layer’s your look by using rugs, throws, a chandelier, mirrors….music is a great addition to an office for some background noise.  I have included some great inspirations.. ( on right )I hope you enjoy!

STAGING ON A DIME

I started Harmonizing Homes ,LLC in October of 2009. Home staging in the last three years has been very challenging due various economic conditions. Interior Designs Redesign and Home Staging is a passion of mine….and I will not let go of my passion this time around. One of my most recent challenges was to stage a home with no budget (no money)… aka for family….. The home belongs to my brother –in-laws mother; who has moved out to live with her son in north Jersey. The 55+ communities are suffering from plugging prices! Estates/families would rather dump the homes cheaply, than applying a bit of sweat equity to make a difference. I hope you enjoy this photo journey of what a bit of planning and work can do. This project took place throughout this past summer. The goal was to be completed place on the market by the end of September… The first step: de-clutter, find out what mom really wanted and what she could live without.

The second step: drawing plans of where she was going to move to and what furniture and belongings she could take.

The third step: box all remaining items for future garage sale. Once the house was cleared you can now see what needed to be done. • Take down the wall paper in porch and kitchen • Take down the vertical blinds • Wash Windows • Clean and Shine Bathrooms • Hire a painter The Forth Step: Tackle the outside of the home! • Power wash the siding, patio, walk ways • Repaint entrance door • Trim bushes and mulch • Bring in some fresh mums and a pumpkins The Fifth Step: Let the staging begin….. • Removed oversized table in kitchen

• Changed up light bulbs and added clear globs in kitchen • Added an some up dated props • Set the dining room table

• Move the server to other wall and set as bar • Repaint faux stone wall one color • Added a small couch with a white sail cloth cotton slip cover; add some pillows • Filled decanters that were going in the garage sale with food colored water. • Set the bar

• Added a funky new mirror • A small table was placed in the corner with a few objects • White linens used on bedding and in bathroom

• Glass decanters found a thrift shop filled with cotton balls and mouth wash as a decorative addition to bathroom

• The porch was now a lounging reading room

The final step: Property was listed – The homeowner had an offer and contract within 5 days within her asking price…. Now wasn't that worth the little bit of effort…..Everyone wins….the community’s comparable rate is where it should be or it had increases – The homeowner receives a fair value for the home, the real-estate agent is motivated to sell the home….. I am happy because everyone can see that staging a home really does work!!

3 simple ways to help prepare your home for sale

In the current market, it is important to make sure t hat you do everything possible in order to make sure that your home is as appealing as possible for it to sell well. Many people are putting their houses on the market and you will find that your house is up against a lot of competition, in this case you need to find an edge over your competition in any way you can. There are many different ways in which you can increase the appeal of your house once it’s on the market and here we will look at accessories that increase the sell appeal of your home.

Increase the sell appeal of your home #1 Accessorize the garden The first thing that people will see when they are looking at potential new property is the exterior. It is vitally important to make sure that they gain a good impression when they see your house for the first time and are attracted to the curb appeal the house has to offer. I am on week two posting on www.facebook/harmonizehomes about ideas to steal to make your home market ready.. Adding some garden ornaments in tasteful colors is a great way to increase the esthetic appearance of your home. Adding a new garage door and making sure the windows are clean and attractive, possibly with exterior shutters, will also entice the buyers. Make sure the house is clean and well painted, also check for any broken garden furniture, this can bring down the value and appeal dramatically. Increase the sell appeal of your home #2 Have an excellent foundation When people come to view properties, they are not looking at all the additional furniture and decoration. What matters most is the basic foundations, which include the walls, the floors, carpets and windows. Make sure that these are all in excellent condition, as this will increase the value and appeal of the home immensely. Potential buyers will want to picture the house with their own furniture and style, this makes neutral tones and textures the most appropriate choices when selling your home. Increase the sell appeal of your home #3 Add the wow factor Even though the foundations are the most important aspect of the home for potential buyers, you still want to make sure that they get a sense of awe when they initially see the property. If you walk into a home and can immediately see yourself in it then you have far more inclination to buy it, right? You can add some luxurious throws and cushions, which add a homey, yet decadent appearance to the room. This can help to make the house feel more like a home and less like a building. De-clutter the space….You have heard that over and over…but it is the most important step…Soothing colors, attention to detail and a striking sense of style are all aspects that can increase the value and sell appeal of your home. If you are putting your property on the market and want to make sure that it sells in good time and for the right price, then this is a great way of making sure you blow away the competition Harmonize Homes can help you prepare your home for today's market....give us a call at 917-699-1262 We are located in Toms River, New Jersey...

6 Paint Colors That Attract Homebuyers

Whether you’re ready to list your home for sale or you’re just beginning the process, there’s one crucial step to consider: paint colors. The colors you put on the walls can help make your home easier or harder to sell, so it’s well worth considering repainting before you put your property on the market. But before you grab a roller, make sure you’re choosing colors that will help your home sell. Remember: the right colors will attract homebuyers. Colors that attract homebuyers #1

Ralph Lauren Cream Stone Not-so-boring neutrals If you’re looking for a sure bet for all ages and income brackets, you can’t go wrong with neutrals. A soft beige is an easy sell – it adds warmth to the walls and gives buyers a chance to imagine the potential of the room. If you’re still living in the home, off-white neutrals are easier to keep clean while you’re in the process of selling. Colors that attract homebuyers #2 Benjamin Moore Coastal Fog Shades of gray Gray is a fantastic alternative to beige for many reasons. A cool gray feels relaxing and soothing in a bedroom or bathroom. It’s a conservative but still chic color that appeals to many people, particularly older buyers, who may be seeking relaxation, rather than excitement, in their new home. Colors that attract homebuyers #3 Donald Kaufman Color Collection DKC-5 Wonderful whites Although white seems like a default color, it’s anything but. There are hundreds of shades of white to choose from, and they each have benefits. A bright white makes any space look larger, while a warm white is inviting and cozy. White is universally appealing, and works especially well with younger first-time homebuyers, since they’ll easily be able to repaint in their preferred color scheme after the purchase. Colors that attract homebuyers #4 Benjamin Moore Wedgewood Gray Beautiful Blue There’s a blue hue for everyone, but to expedite the sale, stick to lighter shades. Go light blue in the bedroom for a peaceful oasis feeling, or choose a more energetic (but still pale) blue for kids’ playrooms. Blue makes a great alternative to more neutral colors if you just can’t stomach the thought of living in a blank white or neutral home until it sells. Colors that attract home buyers #5 Benjamin Moore Golden Straw Warm bright If you’re dead set on using orange or yellow, make sure the tone is soft enough to maintain a neutral feeling. Many buyers balk at bright, since they take extra time and energy to repaint. Sunny hues work best in kitchens and other energetic spaces. Plus, warm tones are known to make people hungry – so confine your orange paint to the kitchen. Colors that attract homebuyers #6 Farrow and Ball String 8 Easy earth tones Earthy, rich colors like brown and green are best avoided when you’re trying to sell. However, depending on the neighborhood, lighter browns and greens could be appealing. Country homes do well with these rustic colors; just make sure you use them sparingly to avoid overwhelming potential buyers. Painting a home is one of many steps to selling a home, but it’s also one of the most important. The wrong paint color can turn off potential buyers, so put some thought into the decision. Good luck and happy painting! Visit us at www.harmonizehomes.com visit us at face book 917-699-1262