Annie and Bob Pacieznik's Blog

Color my world and pay a premium!

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:41:32 -0500

Painting a room is the least expensive fix...Big bang for your buck...Huge change for cheap...okay already, we get it. Its not news to us that painting a room refreshes everything. Unfortunately, there are some potential obstacles to this easy home improvement job that can block even the best of us:(1) making a color choice; and/or (2) procrastination (understandable!). I have suffered from both indecision and sheer laziness to the point of absurdity in this realm of painting-"I want a neutral that complements my salmon,brown and taupe tile, but does not match exactly; and I want it to look modern, yet be true to the original mid century fixtures; and I do not want white or a shade of eggshell, but browns/taupes would be a bit much...." You can see the dilemma of expecting too much magic from a fresh coat of paint. Finally this past winter, I re-painted my bathroom the same shade of egg shell it has always been. Not what I had in mind, but 7 years of waiting for the color inspiration of a lifetime was just plain silly. I figure a fresh coat of the old color is an improvement, because who knows how many more years it will take me to be sure of the right color. Here is my advice, Just Do It (isn't that a catchy slogan).

Here are some color trends for the season/year...I am not endorsing them necessarily, especially not for staging a home for sale where wall color should be neutral and less personal, but here they are for you paint warriors-

shades of plum and mauve

goldish-yellow and oatmeal-neutral

shades of blue

Once the paint color has been chosen, please, don't scrimp on quality when buying paint...the more expensive paint covers better.

Annie and Bob Pacieznik...your Edina & Minneapolis neighborhood experts.

PACIEZNIK: "a name in real estate you might not be able to pronounce but can certainly trust"

Window treatment and cure

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:52:31 -0500

I love the word "treatment" for window coverings...like a prescription to make the window healthier, a cure, a fix. So what is the primary ailment of windows? Its dirt, dust, water marks, and/or an unsavory view. Window shades, blinds, curtains and draperies can indeed save a room from a less than ideal view, and they can mask the dirty window problem. My problem with window "treatments," however, is that they are often worse than the original ailment. They block light, can get way over-done, over-decorated, over-coordinated, and can be so-so-so fussy. I am a big fan of simple, simple and more simple. I would love all of my windows to sparkle with the sun shining through, completely naked of treatment. Unfortunately that is not always practical... for the sake of privacy, and temperature. (The summer's heat and the winter's cold can be an issue in untreated panes. )Even me, a purist and true minimalist has to admit that asthetically, sometimes the right window treatment makes a room feel RIGHT...it may balance the "weight" of a room, provide "support" for a floating ceiling, or finish the open "hole" a window may leave in a wall

Here are my suggestions: Simple drapes that can be drawn open and shut; neutral shades that go up and down, blinds that are wide enough to make cleaning possible. Try making a window appear larger by over-hanging the rod on either side of the window. During the daytime, open your curtains to the framing. Also, try changing up textures and colors on larger windows that might require more panels. sometimes darker on the outside and lighter on the inside gives a stage-like impression...

Stay away from multiple layers of heavy draperies (dusty, heavy, yucky), and also those mini-plastic blinds (also dust collectors).

Annie and Bob Pacieznik...your Edina & Minneapolis neighborhood experts.

PACIEZNIK: "a name in real estate you might not be able to pronounce but can certainly trust"

Don't Gross me out the door...

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:45:18 -0600

"A little bit of elbow grease goes such a long way," I always say. For all you home shoppers, home show-ers and home owners out there, there is nothing worse than coming in from the cold and wet, taking off your shoes (as we like to do here in the snowy Midwest), and feeling a greaz-y carpet, sticky linoleum or grubby tile floor permeating the protective layer of your socks. How about the hard and sticky dried up food bits, not to mention hair of all unmentionable varieties and rocks that we also feel when walking (usually on tip-toe) through the house. In such a case, I have decided not to go into a room or down the stairs due to this "gross me out the door" phenomena. Filth is a huge turn-off...and so easily avoidable.

In the grand scheme of things...clean sells better than dirty! Clean allows a potential buyer to take note of the important selling features, and not the disgusting smelling creatures...If you can't paint, repair or even clear the clutter...Clean your house, it's the least you can do in preparing a home for sale. It doesn't have to cost a cent, although you can hire the job out if cleaning isn't for you (a 1- time deep clean can run anywhere from $100-$500). Don't gross me out the door, literally. Don't distract me from the features of your home by scaring me with its dirt, dust and yuck. Clean it ! Especially the floors, bathrooms and kitchens...these need to sparkle!

Annie and Bob Pacieznik...your Edina & Minneapolis neighborhood experts.

PACIEZNIK: "a name in real estate you might not be able to pronounce but can certainly trust"

Keep it real...

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:30:57 -0600

Book shelves are often seen super-staged, in a way that I feel is a bit contrived. Instead of fake plants and fake books, please use real, live and authentic books, plants and art. Leave at least half of the shelves "open" to show room for more. In the open areas, a few decorative items are good. The key here is neatness (organize books by size) and balance (place some horizontally and others vertically.) The entire shelf should look functional and pleasing, not prop-like.

Annie and Bob Pacieznik...your Edina & Minneapolis neighborhood experts.

PACIEZNIK: "a name in real estate you might not be able to pronounce but can certainly trust"

Save a tree, stop delivery of phone books!

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:27:16 -0600

Save a tree. Stop delivery of telephone books!

You can do so by contacting the distributors and letting them know that you'd like to opt-out of the unwanted deliveries.

Even though the books are recyclable you can help the environment even more by stopping the deliveries altogether (Did you know that 85% of all phonebooks in Minnesota are thrown in the trash rather than recycled)...

I called all three of following distributors...the customer service departments were quick and friendly...now let's see if I ever get a phonebook again!

DEX 1-877-243-8339
YELLOWBOOK 1-800-929-3556
VERIZON YELLOW PAGES 1-800-888-8448

Annie and Bob Pacieznik...your Edina & Minneapolis neighborhood experts.

PACIEZNIK: "a name in real estate you might not be able to pronounce but can certainly trust"

Dont let lint burn you up

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:06:20 -0600

Here is a tip from I received via my sister-in-law...and it makes sense. I hope it saves a dryer or two.

"The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something, and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material. The hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets create a film over that mesh and that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't see the film, but it's there. That "film" is what makes your clothes soft and static free, nicely fragranced too. You know how dryer sheets feel waxy when you take them out of the box? Well, this film builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This film build-up is what can potentially burn out the dryer's heating unit and burn your house down. The best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months."

Home for the Holidays

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:47:28 -0600

Whether your home is on the market or not, decorating for the holidays can be overdone, overwhelming and overly complicated. It need not be. My ideas for keeping your home festive without too much effort, expense, or fluff:

If you add something to a room, take something away. This maintains a sense of open space for peace of mind as well as practical maneuverability. (Especially if you are showing your home during the holidays, maintain that sparsity that sells square footage.)

Stick with a simple decorating thread---pine cones and greens, berries and silver, brown and green, white candles, red accents, etc. Remember, not all the decorations need to come out every year.

Think textures... of shape, scent, shades of color, finishes (shiny, matte).

And always...keep it real! I like fresh pine, real candles, dry berries on twigs and fresh berries in water, growing herbs, clove scented oranges...

This year my love of pine cones is taking center stage. Over the years I have collected bags of pine cones from the big and sappy to the tiny and brown. I have cinnamon scented ones (great in a bathroom). I have a line of tiny, brown and frosty pine cones on my mantel. I have a lone pine cone, a group of three, a pine cone and a simple candle, a textured green wreath and ornamental pot accented with huge pine cones...you get the idea.

Annie and Bob Pacieznik...your Edina & Minneapolis neighborhood experts.

PACIEZNIK: "a name in real estate you might not be able to pronounce but can certainly trust"

Winter Greens-More than spruce in your pots

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:51:17 -0600

Its hard to believe that Monday of this week was over 75 degrees, and now on Friday we have snow falling and sticking to the trees. Only in Minnesota! I guess that puts an end to the fall leaf project, which is never ending until the snow blankets the lawn!!! I think that I have it in me to blow and mulch one more time before retiring inside for the winter. Which brings me to another subject I often visit---those front step pots. My mums and pumpkins are ready for the compost bin. With this morning's snow, I am ready to dive into the winter greenery, berries, and sticks. I like a lot of texture in my greens: spruce, fir, cedar, boxwood, pine. I also like contrasting twigs:white birch, redwood dogwood, yellow curly willow. Berries are great for color accents, however come January they are usually squashed into my welcome mat...citron, red, deep purple,...some years greens and twigs are just enough.

Annie and Bob Pacieznik...your Edina & Minneapolis neighborhood experts.

PACIEZNIK: "a name in real estate you might not be able to pronounce but can certainly trust"

Dont get backed into a corner or up against a wall...

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:45:28 -0500

I just wanted to share the simplest of staging "rules." Never line up the furniture around the perimeter of the room, pushed right up to the wall. It would seem that this would be the best way to maximize space, especially in smaller rooms, BUT it is not! Always leave a little room between the furniture and the wall. Just that little shadow of space allows the feeling of ample room and breathing space, instead of congested and backed against the wall. Following this same line of thought, even in a tight bedroom, there should always be room on both sides of the bed for that feeling of ease and peace.

Annie and Bob Pacieznik...your Edina & Minneapolis neighborhood experts.

PACIEZNIK: "a name in real estate you might not be able to pronounce but can certainly trust"

Country Living: 2012 Blue Sage Ln E Chanhassen For Sale by the Pacieznik's

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:43:48 -0500

A Chanhassen Beauty

Best location in the neighborhood.
Private, serene end-unit views.

2012 Blue Sage Ln E
Chanhassen, Minnesota

Watch Awesome VIDEO

Additional Photos

Located in Chanhassen's high demand neighborhood, Walnut Grove, this end unit is a standout. The home is in one of the best spots in the complex as the views are private, serene and expansive. Only blocks from downtown Chanhassen the home's expansive vistas give you the feeling of being out in the country. If you're looking for the conveniences of maintenance free living but with south east views that are private and beautiful, then this home is for you.

The professionally chosen color scheme is modern and tasteful. The rooms feel vibrant and alive. The kitchen and dining rooms have real hardwood floors and the front entry is beautifully tiled. The gas fireplace is cozy and inviting. The south east facing home brings in lots of natural light along with spectacular views. The main floor is as functional as it is lovely. The pantry, bountiful kitchen cabinets and plentiful countertops will make the chef happy. The main floor half bath is great for guests and company. If you're looking for a home that is move-in ready and will have visitors saying 'wow' then welcome home!

Upstairs you'll find rooms that are large and versatile. The massive loft is great as an office, family room, tv room or even another place for guests to stay. The master bedroom is huge. The walkthrough closet connects with the beautiful master bath. The separate whirlpool-type tub and shower, double sink are complimented by elegant decor. Both bedrooms have ample closet space and gorgeous window views. Also found on this level is the laundry washer and dryer...convenient and handy. The home is large, spacious and airy, yet the decor gives the rooms a cozy and homey feel. This home is a gem.

The home is located in wonderful Walnut Grove. This fantastic neighborhood is near Chanhassen destinations such as Lake Ann Park & Beaches, miles of walking/biking trails, the Arboretum, LIFETIME Fitness, Chanhassen business such as Target, Office Max, Cub Foods, and Byerly's. Chipotle, Buffalo Wild Wings, Axels, Houlihans are only a few of the many great restaurants near the home. Being located near Hwy 5 & 41 will provide you with more than a few options for commuting. A great home in a great location.

NO Association Dues: 645 Roundhouse St Shakopee FOR SALE by the Pacieznik's

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:36:43 -0500

Shakopee 3 Bath Townhome
Seller will pay association dues for 1 YEAR !!!!

$149,999

645 Roundhouse Street
Shakopee, Minnesota

2BR 3 BATH 2 CAR GARAGE

Call 1-888-775-4545 x 110046
for recorded info or text messaged info/photos

This home features...

Awesome Neighborhood…Convenient Location
Sliding glass door walks out onto great patio...
Enjoy a morning cup of coffee, a cookout on the weekend or Grow your own potted garden.
Main floor is open with high ceilings.
Kitchen is roomy with lots of counters and cabinets.
Three bathrooms, 2 are full, are great
for your company or a roommate.

LOCATION: walking distance to shops and restaurants

Virtual Tour
Additional Photos
NEW...Web Commercial !!!

Best spot in the neighborhood: 3756 Vermilion Ct S Eagan for sale by the Pacieznik's

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:20:26 -0500

Eagan Townhome
Private, sunny and beautifully clean

3756 Vermilion Court South
Eagan, Minnesota

2BR 2BATH 2 CAR GARAGE

Call 1-888-775-4545 x 110045
for recorded info or text messaged info/photos

VIRTUAL TOUR

Additional Photos

Private end unit with wooded vista
Open, Airy and Sunny best describes this lovely Eagan townhome situated adjacent to the beauty and privacy of woods. Look out any window and see the splendor that is nature. Your very private patio, just through the dining room's sliding glass doors, is ideal for dining, reading or listening to the birdsongs.

The heart of this home...the kitchen
The open floor plan allows this ample kitchen to be a part of its living areas... an informal breakfast bar and formal dining room are connected to the kitchen, which allows the cook to stay connected with the rest of the home. So whether its quiet cozy dining or modern entertaining, this townhome's living spaces are versatile and inviting...Enjoy an evening by the gas fireplace or a dinner party on the patio... Welcome home.

Everything you need with all the touches you want
Large master suite with modern bath and walk-in closet. Loft area perfect for home office, or for a movie. Paned windows overlooking the serenity of the trees. Modern color palatte throughout to complement any decor.

Eagan...just minutes from everywhere you want to be
Eagan is conveniently located with freeways easily accessible to both Minneapolis and St. Paul. Light rail and the airport are just minutes away. For those that are looking to enjoy nature, an extensive trail system is found throughout Eagan and the South Metro. With the Minnesota River and Fort Snelling State Park only a short distance away you can enjoy the spledor of our great outdoors like never before.

A Richfield Find: 6501 Newton Ave S For Sale by the Pacieznik's

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:11:31 -0500

A Richfield Find

$209,900

6501 Newton Ave S
Richfield, Minnesota

Watch Awesome VIDEO

Additional Photos

A Richfield Find. Everything about this 1940s home says welcome… Snuggled amongst mature trees, a perfectly manicured lawn, expertly trimmed shrubs, and flower beds for your annuals and perennials, this immaculate house is a dream. From its quaint brick and shuttered face, to its white picket fence, this home beckons you in to enjoy its comfort, warmth and hominess. It’s a perfect place to call home.

Every Sunny Detail. No detail has been missed in this sunny and charming kitchen. Every inch has been lovingly cared for and restored. The cabinets have been stripped and re-finished to reveal their original beauty. New appliances, modern fixtures, fresh paint, new flooring, beautifully paned windows and a sliding door to the deck and back patio make this kitchen the sunny heart of this cozy home.

Charming and Modern. From the moment you walk up the sidewalk and are ushered through its front door, you will feel the warmth of this <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Richfield story and one-quarter. Gleaming hardwood floors, fresh paint throughout and good old fashioned care make this Richfield beauty such a fabulous find. This home hosts two main floor bedrooms, ample closets, finished basement, cedar closet, high ceilings, abundant windows and updated bathrooms. Combining the charm of the ‘40s with the updated conveniences of today, this house says HOME.

An Equity Builder. In addition to being an immaculately cared for home: Newer appliances (stove refrigerator, washer and dryer) and mechanicals (furnace and humidifier), garage and concrete driveway, roof (tear-off), siding, window & sliding door, fresh paint and new carpet & flooring. This home also has plenty of room for expansion and equity building. The attic is ready to be finished as a master suite, an office or even a guest room. The basement, too has room enough to grow. A great investment! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The following list is only some of the many updates found throughout the home:

1997 New garage and driveway

1997 New roof on house (tear off)

1998 New washer and dryer

2000 New siding on house

2001 New basement carpet

2003 Refinished kitchen cabinets

2004 New furnace with attached humidifier

2004 Air ducts cleaned

2004 New patio door

2004 Trees trimmed

2005 Basement floor drain and main house drain cleaned

2005 New bathroom fixtures

2006 New kitchen light fixtures

2006 New flooring in kitchen and dining room

2006 New stove and refrigerator

2007 New window in dinning room

Moving in and making it mine...the opposite of staging

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:20:51 -0500

As a realtor representing both buyers and sellers, I see the sale/purchase of a home from both sides of the transaction.

On the Seller side, we talk about staging, de-cluttering, de-personalizing, cleaning, repairing, cosmetic painting, floor fixing, neutralizing and appealing to many while offending no one.

On the flip side of that sale is the home buyer who has just purchased a home. Ideally the home is in good repair. Chances are what made the property marketable makes a home feel a bit like an insane asylum...sterile, unobtrusive, devoid of any strong statement, color or homey feeling. In a sense, moving in and re-decorating is the opposite process from staging. Making a house a home is about all about the personal, the embellishment, the unique ambiance that appeals to your own family. De-neutralize the color scheme, frame those family photos, and if you like it use it.

Sometimes staging and decorating get co-mingled in the case of the allure and perhaps over-use of "pottery barn" colors, furniture...in homes both on and off the market...When making a house your own, trust yourself. When staging a home for sale, trust the experts.

Annie and Bob Pacieznik...your Edina & Minneapolis neighborhood experts.

PACIEZNIK: "a name in real estate you might not be able to pronounce but can certainly trust"

Stinkin' Washer and Mildewy Towels

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:43:20 -0500

This is both a word a warning and a fix for the already afflicted...

If you are in the market to buy a new washer I highly recommend avoiding the HE (high efficiency) front loaders. Despite how sharp and hip they appear, beware of foul odors, mold and mildew, detergent build up and towels that smell.

If you already own a front loading washing machine and the mildewy towels that accompany them, I have a solution. (I previously tried everything, with no luck. I painstakingly washed out the machine with bleach and Q-tips, I washed my towels with baking soda, with bleach and hung them out for days in the sunshine. I bought new towels only to have them smelling mildewy after washing.) There is a product out there called SmellyWasher available at http://www.smellywasher.com/. It does the job by cleaning out the washer, and by cleaning the towels as well...This makes me happy!

Annie and Bob Pacieznik...your Edina & Minneapolis neighborhood experts.

PACIEZNIK: "a name in real estate you might not be able to pronounce but can certainly trust"

Staging doesnt always mean furnishing...how about painting and cleaning

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:54:23 -0500

Staging has become such a buzz word in today's real estate market. The word is thrown around a lot, but at the end of the day, what does it really mean? I look at staging almost literally...when you "set the stage" for a theatrical production, you are setting the tone, conjuring emotions and suggesting a place in which something happens. Similarly with staging, we are setting the scene...hopefully a clean, well-cared for, updated, easy to live in and visually pleasing home. This staging does not necessarily mean completely furnishing (in the case of a vacant home), nor does it mean interior designing (a lived in home). A good stager knows that there are degrees of staging...and every home/owner/situation calls for differing degrees of staging depending on time/money/and return on investment. I like to break staging into two parts:

(1) condition:

Repair, repaint, and replace all the permanent features of the home. This includes walls, fireplaces, light fixtures, windows, banisters, carpet, pavers...the list is yours.

Clean, clean clean until it shines. This includes a deep cleaning of windows, grout, porcelain...especially bathrooms and kitchens

Remove "stuff." Think tasteful hotel...just a hint of home, nothing too personal, too loud or too soft, too pink or black...this is all that clutter that makes a home yours. Remove what makes the home yours so that someone else can mentally move in...

(2) Feature: Once these condition items are done, a seller can consider traffic flow with furniture arrangements that maximize square footage(that is what we are selling); accents that move the buyers eye from feature to feature; furniture to give a sense of scale (yes, my dining set will fit); and little "stages" that suggest a homey scene...

Sellers are in the drivers seat here...they can choose to do none, some or all of the suggested staging...weigh the pros and cons and work out what you want and what you can do...Happy Home Staging!

Annie and Bob Pacieznik...your Edina & Minneapolis neighborhood experts.

PACIEZNIK: "a name in real estate you might not be able to pronounce but can certainly trust"

Watch this funny video on how to pronounce our name.

Cutting Coleus, brown and green, the power of three

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:42:40 -0500

Nothing says fresh and pretty like a vase and greenery...I like herb cuttings, coleus cuttings, and anything else from my backyard that will root and stay green for weeks into months. As much as I love fresh flower arrangements, they are not practical nor cost effective when it comes to home staging. On the other hand, I have found that my coleus clippings root right away and can last into December. This keeps my mantles and tables green and fresh with little upkeep!

Also note, the very simple arrangements. I love the color of amber-brown glass, it complements the greens of nature so nicely. I have a collection of these vases in different sizes and shapes. I use them throughout my home, with or without greenery, in groups of three most often.

Not Crabby over crab grass...

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:49:23 -0500

One component of home staging is cultivating curb appeal. Fresh paint, a bright front door, pots of color and green are especially showcased by a neat, trim and hopefully green lawn. That can be a bit of a chore when there hasn't been but a drop of rain in...forever. It seems that hot and dry conditions are just right for the proliferation of crab grass, that indestructible, green, crabby little weed that cannot be mowed,and will overtake many a lawn before Labor Day. My husband and I are trying an experiment with our crabby little patch of grass. We are being very green (of that I am proud) and hand-pulling the crab and quack grass, stem by stem. We plan to over seed this fall and hope that next year we will not see our crabby friends. So, if you drive by and notice two adults splayed out on the lawn for hours at a time, behaving much like snow monkeys, painstakingly removing insect-vermin from fur, it is just our green effort to maintain our lawn. And, despite the ant bites, blisters and dirt beneath our fingernails, we are not too crabby about our 10 plus hours spent weeding.

How our garden grows...August Abundance

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:40:06 -0500

I wanted to share my excitement at my family's little patch of heaven in our own backyard. We feel very green (thumb-ish) and proud of the bounty of our crop this summer. The success of our garden is due in large part to keeping the furry critters from the backyard free lunch program of years past...My husband built the screens, and later the fence with the screens on top, to protect our salad fixins as long as we could. So far, I have yet to see any squirrels or rabbits in the garden...we did however trap a chipmunk in our garage that scared the living daylights out of me...and we have already harvested our first crop of spinach and mesclun lettuce! Our corn needs to be tassled, we eat a few delightful cucumbers everyday, and our vines are heavy with large, still green tomoatoes. Our pumpkins, and sunflowers are coming along. Our herbs are just now becoming large enough to use, finally. I just wanted to pass this sequence of photos along to show the transformation from humble beginning to the abundant present...

Bobby Scissorhands?

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:03:55 -0500

This is the time of year when the grass stops growing and the weeds begin to rage, when your neat little vegetable plot becomes a veritable jungle of greenery that needs to be tamed, and everything looks a bit overdone and under kept. Mowing, weeding, harvesting and watering sometimes need the added boost of a day in the yard. I suggest an August afternoon of edging and hand pruning to bring order back to your yard.

We recently spent the afternoon trimming some large shrubs in our front yard, and the difference in the overall appearance of our lot is noticeable. We shaped the tops and the overgrown undergrowth of both evergreen and shrubbery so that both the foundation and the shutters are now vi sable. My husband used a hand pruner and the result is more organic than sculpted. I am so pleased by the easy neatness of the job. I am no longer distracted by the chaos of greenery, instead I can see the lovely house and its complimentary landscaping.

I am a Believer

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:02:14 -0500

I am not superstitious, nor do I have my fortune read, but I do believe in Karma, optimism and help in many forms. For instance, feng shui makes a lot of sense to me. It feels right, it looks right, it flows. I try to use its principles as much as I reasonably can both at my own home, and in a client's home. (There are some great little "Feng Shui for Idiots" books out there that give a general and practical application of feng shui for the home.) There are colors, furniture arrangements and materials that really make a difference in the feel of a space. I highly recommend looking into feng shui design principles if you aren't already familiar with them.

Along that same line, over the course of my life I have grown/nurtured lucky bamboo and most recently an Asian "money tree" or good fortune tree. It is lovely to look at, simple and like a miniature palm with a twisted trunk. Mine has sprouted two new fronds, which brings me great pleasure that my fortune is growing. I love the idea of this tree and have used it for client gifts. Similarly, we have given the figurine St. Joseph the Home Seller to some of our sellers. Of course we must be sensitive to our clients' beliefs, but under the right circumstances, this makes a welcome gift.

So, all this talk of positive energy, good fortune and helpful saints is only meant to inspire in an easy fun-spirited way...help your clients to become believers in their own good fortune, their positive futures and the help of others.

A timely return phonecall would have made me feel welcome

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:47:24 -0500

Just a quip about common courtesy and decency, something we all deserve whether dealing with family, friends, neighbors, business colleagues, clients or strangers for that matter. I most recently had the ill fortune of being phonecall/email ignored in a business matter. I began to get a bit hot about it, as my client wanted a simple answer to a simple question that could only be answered by the Management Company. I would have appreciated a return call to say that they could not answer our question. Instead I got nothing. (Who was it that said ignorance is bliss?)This is great reminder about one of the basic tenets of humanity...we all want to be listened to and heard...So keep it in mind at home, in your neighborhood and on the job...Welcome someone's message by returning the call or email, it might make someone's day!

So, while you are listening...Heres some off the cuff showing advice for you sellers out there to help those buyers feel welcomed home...

Bake the bread, but put the dirty breadmaker away for your showing.

Please, a little furniture goes a long way in a vacant home to tell potential buyers what will fit where, and indicate the potential use of a room. Remember "Scale and Purpose."

Clean your bathroom sink...

Take down the wedding photos...

Turn on the lights and open the shades...

Warn people if there is an animal on the premises...

Turn off the burglar alarm...

Don't leave dirty clothes on the well-made bed...

Just some real life things I saw this weekend that turned me (and my clients) off!

Mimick Nature in color palate

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:04:53 -0500

What I have discovered in the way of universal, neutral, and lovely in the way of color is that what pleases my eye mimicks what I see in nature...Brown and green, in many shades and textures make a perfect backdrop for a few punches of color, my all time favorite being red. Orange, and deep plum also work beautifully as "pops" with this "natural" palate.

Its hard work...why we do what we do

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:50:48 -0500

In this slower market, sellers must endure the marketing of their home for longer periods of time, which is not especially convenient, I know. The added responsibility of maintaining a show ready home and yard is a lot. We are all busy with life, and sometimes it can be overwhelming to fit everything in. Sometimes I need a reminder about what and why staging is and does (that is a verb, folks, staging does sell homes more quickly)! Here it is:

Staging is de-personalizing a space to make a property offend the least, appeal to the greatest and feature the square footage of a home. By removing the personal and the excess, by treating the walls and floors as neutral backdrops, and by re-arranging the furniture to increase traffic flow, highlight the home's features and provide hints as to potential use for each room, Staging gets the home ready for SALE. Incorporated in staging are the elements of organization, refreshment and design. A pop of color, artwork, a bowl of fruit...these are pleasing without being "decorating."

Its a lot of work to ready a home for sale and still more work to maintain that show-ready house, especially in today's market where properties may take longer to sell. Initially, sellers may be very enthusiastic about their "jobs" but as time goes on, it is inconvenient to constantly clean and straighten, stage and leave. That sparkling show-ready home my not shine quite as bright 30-60 days into the listing. What may help is a reminder that you only get one chance to make that first impression. For whatever reason, most buyers cannot look past the details to see the potential of your home. You as a seller must highlight the details for the buyers. This means that your personal dirt and clutter that accumulate daily must not distract that buyer from the beauty and space that is your home. Ideally, never show your home in a less than great condition. This showing could be your last!!

Rule Breaker is the Charm

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:26:37 -0500

I have said it before and I am saying it again (and most likely again, and then, again after a bit): Rules, though helpful, are meant to be broken. I can think of very few "rules" that always, always hold true...most rules are great guidelines to help us more smoothly navigate a potentially chaotic and overwhelming area. There are almost always exceptions to rules, cases where the square peg just doesn't fit, and times when there is more to the story than black and white. To be more specific, lets talk about staging's Paramount Rules of de-clutter and de-personalize...I am a firm believer in the tenets of both. Less is more, keep it simple, and take the seller out of the home are excellent rules of thumb when marketing a home. Sometimes, however, a home is so uniquely situated, so exquisitely designed, so authentic in era and "feel" that to remove the abundance that fills the nooks and crannies would be a selling and staging mistake...

A picture is worth a thousand words...look and see the charm of these rooms...yet, so many broken rules...In this case, the rule breaker is the charm!