According to the National Association of Home Builders the Median size of new homes in the U.S. has fell from 2277 sq ft to 2135 sq ft in 2009. 

The Buyer's are looking for a more modest Home but, they are also looking for nice touches as in Granite countertops, Quality Faucets and Stainless appliances.  Buyer's are look for a home that fit's their style. And the single story home still remains to be popular.

Buyers are looking for a functional home that may include a pantry or lot's of cabinet space and Work Islands in the kitchens.  Mud Rooms with Lockers (Often called Cubbies) are becoming more popular because, they have a Shelves to organize your shoes, hats, your coat and bag storage. Homes run more efficiently when everything has a place and custom lockers offer function, enhance pride in ownership with beauty and organization for the mud room or garage.

We are seeing more requests for Front or side porches and Covered Decks as outdoor living space has grown in popularity to many. 

Making a house "Green" is becoming more popular and one of the Hottest trends is Energy effiency.

• Effective Insulation Systems
• High-Performance Windows
• Tight Construction and Ducts
• Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment
• ENERGY STAR Qualified Lighting and Appliances

Making a home healthier by using healthier materials during th construction process and HBAC systmes with top notch filteratons systems and the use of low VOC materials are two that are sure to be popular in 2011. 

What features are popular in your area?

We all know by now we should de-clutter to make rooms appear larger but who wants to pack away that treasured antique furniture that dear ole grandmother gave you?

It might be time to try some decorating tips that will help you make rooms look larger and use your space wiser.

1.Go Vertical

Extend cabinets, wall units and bookshelves to the ceiling; especially the kitchen cabinets.

2.Go Lighter

Paint walls light or use pale colors which make the rooms look wider.

3.Go Brighter

Use recessed lighting, inexpensive wall sconces and standard tube-like skylights instead of table or floor lamps; light closer to the ceilings also widens a room.

4.Add a Splash of Wow! Don't Be Boring

Adding bold accents with varying patterns, prints and colors can deflect thoughts that a space is small. This is an area which you'll want to experiment. And separating the walls of a small room into blocks of color can also add visual depth.

5.Utilize Wall Space

Place hooks and magnetic strips on walls in the kitchen and elsewhere and use them to hang pots, pans and other objects to off tables and counters. This emphasizes focus from smaller units to the walls.

6.Size Matters

Measure your space and furniture before any purchase. Couches designed to hug walls are a great way to open up a room, and armless couches and chairs can create the illusion of space. Floor cushions are a good alternative to create seating without adding more furniture and can be easily stored when not in use.

7.Watch Your Angles

Furniture that sticks out at the wrong angle in a small room can draw the eye and make it appear even smaller.

8.Make a Small Bathroom Appear Larger

Small bathroom design can be made to look larger with a few fast easy decorating tips. Enhance small bathroom space using pale, cool colors that reflect light; whites, pastels, and neutral colors to make the bathroom appear larger than it really is.

9.Small Dining Rooms

The easiest way to create more space in a small dining room is to downsize the table. A small dining room table, or one with removable leaves that can be stored away when not in use, will go a long way in making the room look more open and spacious.

10.Decorating for a Small Living/Family Room

It is one of the most frequently used rooms in the house, especially for purposes of entertaining and relaxing, so decorating a small living room to be warm and inviting yet still appear spacious is very important. Sometimes the most effective way to increase usable space is to simply reorganize the furniture. Get as many items off the floor as possible by repositioning them on shelves if possible.

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Since it has been short while that we had a tragedy hit our Real Estate world in Des Moines, Iowa I wanted to remind to Be safe and don't forget it wasn't so long ago that we Lost a young agent that was murdered while working her open house at what most people would consider as a "Safe" neighborhood.  We are still deeply saddened by her loss and she is be missed by many.  Even though I hadn't mean't  her I felt some connection when her since this tragedy happenws so close to home.  As REALTORS® this has opened up our eyes to what is safe and not so safe.  Many reactions have been described as anger, fear and tears but, this tragedy has made many of us more aware.  So now I am on a mission..... A mission to find what idea's and comments from agent's on what they do to make what they do Safe or at least as safe as it can be.  I think fear is a normal reaction but, shouldn't we move away from the fear and move on to doing what we can to be safer?  So Tell me your idea's and thoughts and see if we can make this a safer profession after all this could happen anywhere.  I posted this within weeks of this tragedy but, wanted to post this again as a reminder not to forget to work safe and smart and don't ever let your guard down.  If you have thoughts or even Idea's that are working to make a REALTOR Work Safer and Smarter Please respond to my blog.  Stay Safe and here are a few Idea's I have found along the way.

Some of the things we will be doing:

•1.                Never have a first-time meeting with a potential client alone.  Conduct all first-time meetings in the office or other public location.

•2.                Do not have the people ride with you to a property; have them follow you in their vehicle.

•3.                Require identification at the front door of all open houses and upon first meeting with a client.

•4.                Park in the street, so you cannot be blocked in.

•5.                Always tell someone where you are going, with whom, and when you should return.  Let that person know when you are done with the appointment or if it is extended beyond the expected time.  If possible, have the client with you when you relay this information and introduce him or her.

•6.                Make a photo copy of the person's driver's license.

•7.                Maintain a visitors log at all open houses and insist all visitors sign in.

•8.                Be familiar with the property and plan escape routes.

•9.                Don't go into confined spaces when showing property, stay at the door way.

•10.             When showing properties, for the peace of mind of the seller, always leave your business card.

We strongly encourage and recommend our sales associates do the following to protect themselves:

•1.                Make sure your phone is fully charged before showings and open houses.

•2.                When showing a home and at open houses, have your phone in your hand at all times with 911 on speed dial.

•3.                When holding an open house, let the neighbors know and ask them to be aware of anything out of the ordinary.

•4.                Leave your handbag locked in your trunk.

•5.                Try to make all showing appointments during daylight hours, unless you know the client well.

•6.                Avoid provocative photos in your marketing.

•7.                When you are uncomfortable, take a buddy with you.

•8.                When possible, use a web cam on your lap top to record the entry.

•9.                At open houses, greet the visitor at the door, tell them about the house, allow them to go through the house alone, meet them at the door to answer any questions and say good-bye.  If you are uncomfortable, this will allow you an opportunity to take a photo of their car and/or license plate.

These are some great idea's for safety do you have any to add? 

Let me know.

Have a safe weekend.

The ideal home means different things to different people; but the most appealing home always will possess a clear and clean sense of style. Yet many of us allow our personal style to get in the way and that can interfere with selling your home.  A few fixes can help you sell your home quicker.

Clutter Control

Every room of the house should be organized so that potential buyers can easily walk through. It can be a headache and an extra burden but think about placing items in storage, especially out-of-season items.

Take a walk around your kitchen and ask yourself, what do you really need? Start by storing bulky appliances that you rarely use. They quickly take up lots of counter space that you want to render useful to buyers.

The bedroom should reveal an oasis however it often becomes a repository for heaps of clothing and portable tech gadgets. Everything has a place so if it doesn't fit or it's in the wrong room, move it or lose it.

What's in a Room

Did you know the number two reason people select a particular house is because of kitchen space? Eight out of ten home buyers who walk through a house remember what the kitchen looks like and what its benefits verses faults were. This leads to the question -- what is the most significant part of the kitchen? Choices include floors, appliances, lighting, but the part that stands out the most are the kitchen cabinets. It is the most dominant aspect of the kitchen, and the easiest way to create a "wow" factor. Everyone remembers the kitchen cabinets; it could be because of the color or stain, the design of the cabinet, or mostly because of the clean feel that a new kitchen cabinet provides.

Does Your Front Door say "Welcome"?

And finally, Curb Appeal really sells the house.  Exterior features for new or existing homes will make your house say "welcome" when you return after work or when guests come to call.

Think of your home's façade, lighting, landscaping, and exterior elevation to name a few; these items can easily customize a home when everyone else on the block seems a bit standard.

Give your home a different feel and stand out from the crowd.

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The realtor called and they have someone who is really interested in your home. They want to see it this afternoon. So you get the house ready, and you clean up the bathroom and kitchen, and you see a few people pull up into your driveway.

These must be the people who are interested in the home. But wait, where are they going? Are these just strangers making a U-turn in my driveway, or did my front yard just scare them off? No, they were your potential buyers.

When you're selling a home, it's true that staging the inside of your home for interested buyers is important. However, first impressions are even more important. That's why you should pay close attention to sprucing up your front yard. You won't have a chance to make another first impression.

Any real estate agent will tell you when you sell a home, curb appeal and landscaping is key; it can attract the eye of a buyer, or send them back to the internet to continue their search. With so many homes available, there are plenty of homes with impressive yards.

Keep your front yard, and your porch neat, clean and tidy. Here are some easy ways to get your front yard up to speed:

1) Edge your flower beds, and your grass. By fixing many little things, you can improve the overall look of your home.
2) Mow your lawn and remove all the leaves.
3) Prune your overgrown shrubs and trees.
4) Use a weed killer like Roundup to kill the weeds growing through the cracks in your driveway.
6) Mulch is inexpensive. If you need to add mulch to your gardens or around trees, do it. It always looks messy when there are an enormous amount of weeds popping up around mulch that looks 10 years old. The color of the new mulch will also revitalize your yard.
8) Put a $50 bag of fertilizer on your yard. Scott's with weed and crabgrass control comes highly recommended. It won't take long to turn a healthy green color.

Don't leave your yard looking disorderly. Never assume that even if you're selling your house at a bargain price, that the new owners will want to tackle the task.
 
When the time comes to sell your home, you should always start with your front yard, and work your way in. As one realtor told me, "When your front yard catches their eye, they're always intrigued by what's inside."  Get them in the door to see what else you have to offer in amentities.

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======================================================================= Many homeowners think that selling their home alone without the help of a real estate agent will help save them money in the end. The fact of the matter is that selling your home on your own isn't easy work. In fact, you may actually lose a substantial amount of money when you try to swell your pockets you aren't formerly trained in the business of real estate. A Realtor can not only save you money, they can save you time and stress so that you can make the transition from one house to the other as smoothly as possible. Putting Your Home on the Market Did you think you could erect a “for sale by owner” sign and everything else would be smooth sailing? While this is a start, there is a lot more to it. Many homeowners learn about multiple listing services, which is basically an index of homes that are on the market and then pay about a few hundred dollars to have their home listed. When calls don't start flooding in inquiring about the home many sellers wonder what the problem is. The problem is that it takes more than a listing to get Realtors to visit your home with their clients. Realtors are loyal to other Realtors--that's just the way it works. Also, when you work with a Realtor he or she may be able to network with others to be sure that your home is getting as much exposure as possible, all for the price of the sales commission. A Realtor will also have other avenues to explore with listing your home on the Internet and locally. The Value of Your Home Sellers lose money when they attempt to sell their home on their own because they don’t know the true market value. A Realtor knows all of the current market values and trends and can help you get the most for your home no matter what the market situation is. Reputation The majority of people in the market for a home go with a Realtor; in fact 80% of buyers work with a Realtor because the Realtor has a good reputation and they need help maneuvering the real estate market. If you put a sign in your yard, in the newspaper, or on bulletin boards in various areas buyers have no idea who they are dealing with. Though a buyer may be able to get a good deal on a home that is for sale by owner, they are leery of working with someone that they don't know and may or may not have real estate experience. Final Thought As you can see, there are many reasons to work with a real estate agent instead of trying to sell your home on your own. While a Realtor may take as much as 7% of the selling price, this is peanuts for all of the work and stress that they are saving you from. Just think; the legal paper work, home inspections, showing your home, and marketing with other Realtors to sell your home as quickly as possible for a reasonable price is what a Realtor does and simply stated what you cannot accomplish.

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DowMany people are responding to our economic downfall by spending less money  by  downsizing in every which way they can.  Less has really become More; in fact, Less is the new trend.

 Cutting back on your spending can easily leave you feeling deprived if you view it in a negative light. But focusing on the fact that you can't afford the lifestyle right now will only lead to a worse quality of life. The question is what are you willing to change in your life to achieve your goals?

 Shifting your focus away from what you wish you had though, frees you to take a closer look at what you actually do have right now.  It is then that you can discover hidden treasures in your situation. Could it be that living with less money could lead to more satisfaction? That is  what our family has found. Downsizing our lifestyle has led to a richer life than we ever could have experienced if we had spent lots of money.

Here are some ways you can downsize your lifestyle to upgrade your life:

Move to a less expensive home. Freedom from the pressures of a large mortgage payment is priceless. The monthly mortgage payment is generally the largest single expense a consumer can face. It routinely accounts for 30% or more of your gross income. A small home also means less space to have to clean, lower utility bills and property taxes, and fewer repairs to handle. How many of your resources are tied up in your house? If you make the right move, you might be able to trade in your house and use the profit from the sale to purchase your next home in cash.

 Eat out less. But the benefits of eating at home aren't just financial. when you make your own meals you can control what ingredients go into them and prepare food in healthier ways than you would typically find at restaurants. If restaurant meals are breaking your budget, try eating all your meals at home for a certain period of time and see how much money you have saved.

Eliminate extras. Unnecessary indulgences like manicures, fancy coffee shop drinks, and high tech gadgets that do what you can do yourself can waste a lot of your hard-earned money.  When you let go of them, you learn how to separate what you truly need from what you merely want.

And finally, change the way you think about life and money.

Think about these mind set changes: if it cost money then do not buy it. Find it for free or do without. Ask yourself, do I really need it and can I really live without it?

Remember, life is not over when you eliminate a few material possessions.

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