5 ways to make Buyers fall in love with your Home

I came across this great article in money magazine a short time ago and thought you all would find thisvery interesting. We all know the Real Estate market is challenging currently and selling your home in this market can be a task in itself. It’s most important to make your home stand above the rest, be priced right and location is key. I hope you find this article helpful if you are thinking of purchasing or selling your home.

It’s no secret, men and women are wired differently. But recent research shows that when it comes to features that motivate them to buy, the connection between the sexes isn’t a battle

 

 

America’s most lovable features

While there’s a small difference in what they love the most, our recent survey showed both men and women agree on which top features make them fall in love with a home.

When we asked first-time home buyers “which home amenity would make you, personally, fall in love with a home?,” here were the top answers

https://www.mominleggings.com/uuaxkq9og Amenities http://countocram.com/2024/03/07/aof70r8 All Respondents Men Women
Master Bathroom 70% 64% 75%
Walk-in Closet 63% 55% 72%
Gourmet Kitchen 56% 51% 62%
Outdoor Deck 55% 51% 58%
Wood Floors 50% 46% 53%
Pre-wired for entertainment   system (e.g., home theater, surround sound) 35% 42% 28%
Pool 27% 27% 26%
Hot Tub 24% 26% 22%
Other 15% 15% 15%

The big feature conflict:

  • Master Baths
  • Walk in Closets
  • Gourmet Kitchens

Favorites men love (more than women):

  • Pre-Wiring for Entertainment System
  • Pool
  • Hot tub

What the data means for agents

For buyer’s agents, be sure to send and highlight these key motivating features when selecting and showing homes to first-time buyers. For agents with listings, make sure you highlight these features in your listing description.

A Porch Is A Porch

        This house needed to be what I call “un-remodeled”. Years ago someone thought it would be a great idea to enclose the front porch…NOT! I think that a porch is a porch… and that thinking goes double if you live in the south! Just look at the curb appeal of this open front porch, and then look at the  picture of when it was enclosed!  I have never had so much fun subtracting heated square footage from a house! The hardest challenge of this improvement project was returning the interior brick back to its orignal color. When they enclosed it, they left the brick walls exposed on the inside room  and painted them white. I know your thinking I had the brick sandblasted, but I didn’t. I painted it with a like color matching the exterior brick. I used a paint sprayer and then a sponge with a slightly lighter color of the brick to match the existing brick. I of course had to build a corner support (column) and add a handrail.

Yes, these are drapes that you see hanging outside. Drapes on a porch create temporary privacy, intimacy and they just look great! Okay… a secret about the drapes… they are not drapes. I bought painters canvas drop cloths at Home Depot. They work great as they are made to be water-resistant and that helps to keep them from getting dirty and moldy. Besides they are cheaper than buying fabric at the fabric store. I think the pictures tells the whole story as to whether I did the right thing  on this “un-remodel” project… Stephen Spurling

 

Heart.

The heart has always been a symbol of love, courage, and devotion. Heart and Soul are two words often found together,

and for good reason. It is through the heart that the soul expresses itself. The heart is the organ that keeps us alive

physically, and it is the central source of our emotions and feelings. We know when someone is speaking from the heart, and

we know when our hearts have been touched. It has nothing to do with logic or being rational; knowing is a feeling. When we say

that someones heart is in the right place we know that regardless of the outward appearance of that person’s life, his or her intent

is soul felt and honest.

How is your heart feeling? Is it sad, happy, light or burdened? Is your heart in the right place? To know what is in our hearts

takes effort and time, for we must practice listening to the voice within. Don’t go to sleep at night with a sad heart; take time

to lighten your heart with the universe. Open your heart to the universe each night before you go to sleep, and it will bring joy

to your soul and wings to your ideas.

https://www.jamesramsden.com/2024/03/07/ht8wgkf My Heart is happy, light and full of love.

Angel Wisdom. Chabby Chaberek

Aprons by Deborah…

    This is a friend of mine that used her own creative abilities to start her own business. Deborah loves what she does, so she does it well . In Deborah’s own words…

I’ve always loved to create things whether it’s sewing, cooking, decorating or scrapbooking. While working on a Christmas present for my son I found a cute piece of fabric with cats on it.  I immediately thought of my friend Shirley and her cat. I knew I wanted to make an apron but didn’t have a definite pattern in mind.

At home I realized that the apron I wear the most is one that belonged to my great-grandmother. It is made from an old flour sack and the printing is still visible on the back side of the apron. I love it because of its history but also because it is comfortable. I can wear it for hours and even forget I have it on.

From there my small business was born. I love working with fun and bright fabrics, anything that makes me smile. A lot of my aprons are not just traditional “food” prints but anything from polka dots to paisley. I love creating something new so I keep experimenting with new ideas and am hoping to begin a line from recycled fabrics like vintage tablecloths. I have a few mother/daughter sets and some holiday theme aprons.

It’s not too late to place an order for Christmas. You can contact me via email at debm617@hotmail.com. Aprons are $16 each with $2 shipping and fabric samples can be viewed on my Facebook page using the following link.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1513817725437.2067583.1234242448&type=1&l=9aff27bce8

Color Concepts

https://www.goedkoopvliegen.nl/uncategorized/bsc5f9r     Color sets the tone and influences the mood. Some decorating styles are associated with  specific color palettes while others welcome the full spectrum. Color preference is a very personal thing…Use color to express yourself.

Tramadol Uk Order Color changes with the light. When you choose specific paint hues and textiles or wallpaper, look at samples in your space under different lighting conditions. Wood, stone and metal, of course, have color too. Surface plays a role as well. Reflective surfaces like glass or glazed tile make colors sparkle, and absorbent surfaces like wood, honed stone, or velvet soften their effect.

Volume affects intensity: The more there is of a color, the more intense it will appear. Use strong bright colors with intention, as accents to enliven discretely or in swathes to make a passionate statement. Carry a “single” color scheme throughout a small apartment or condominium to create a sense of openness and continuity that flows from one room to the next.

https://tankinz.com/dddjnui Painted color tricks: Moldings need not be painted a contrasting color. When architectural detail is elaborate, ( or moldings are in less-than-perfect condition, using one flat finish color on everything will result in a more elegant look. Paint the radiators to match the walls to make them less obtrusive. Use metallic paint to open up a long, dark hallway. Silvers and golds reflect the light and make the space brighter. A painted ceiling influences ambiance without interrupting the eye-pink for warmth, sky blue for openness, and midnight blue, silver or gold for drama. One intensely colored wall in an all white or neutral room will recede and add dimension to the space.

Accessory color tricks: Add colored lampshades; they can be custom-made from fabric or paper in almost any color imaginable. Use a colorful rug to enliven a drab or quiet room-it will ground the space and add depth and drama. Use a neutral rug to offset strong color elsewhere. Stretch a colorful quilt over an artist canvas frame and hang it on a wall to add an instant shot of color. Frame a print with a mat that matches one of the artworks dominant colors. Go for colorful slipcovers, they are not permanent, so you can change them to suit your change of seasons or a new mood. The possibilities are endless!!! Questions, feel free to comment and I will be happy to respond. “Chabby”

 

 

 

 

Ninni Zucchini Recipe

I was never a fan zucchini, but https://www.lcclub.co.uk/q7q5lfuk Ninni Zucchini is excellent! You ask what is ninni zucchini? It is a great easy recipe to add pizzaz to your zucchini! To see the video with step by step instructions just click on the link below. Here’s the basics:

Boiling  4 to 6 med size zucchini for about 5 minutes, just making them a little soft. Then cut them in half and clean (hull) out the seeds. In a bowl mix 1 cup of Dukes Mayonnaise , 1 cup of feta cheese, 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon of garlic salt, and a tablespoon of basil. Take this well mixed filling and put it into the hull of the zucchini. then add extra parmesan cheese to the top of each and sprinkle more basil on too. As for me, I also add a little more pepper here too.  Then put them in the oven on 350′ for about 20 minutes. In the last 3 or 4 minutes you can turn the oven on broil, but watch very carefully… this trick makes the parmesan cheese on the top brown nicely. Your friends will love your ninni zucchini, and you will love me for sharing it with you! It’s one of my favorites, and remember I never liked zucchini until I had it cooked this way. Stephen

Painting An Exterior Brick House

I have painted many brick homes. I usually find a reason to do this as there are very few brick homes that look good with natural brick. Let me explain myself. I usually renovate older homes and the brick that was used back then wasn’t as pretty as the brick used today. I also like the fresh clean look of painted brick. The home I am featuring in this blog was in terrible shape, the brick had many mortar cracks, and we all know that when you do a mortar patch it never matches the existing mortar, and stands out like a sore thumb! Well to be honest, I would have painted this home whether it need mortar repairs or not, the natural brick just wasn’t attractive.

A quick FYI about mortar cracks, they are ok if they run in a”stair step” fashion, of course they need to be filled (re-pointed) to keep moisture out. If the mortar cracks run horizontally then it is can be an indication of a shift in the foundation, a more serious fix, and a whole other conversation.

I will let you decide which is better, painted brick or not. I realize the “before” picture is not a fair comparison as it was taken before it was renovated. However ,you must admit the painted brick “after” picture really brings the home back to life! It is an updated 50’s ranch! Stephen   

Best Task Light for the Money.

 

I love finding uses for new products I happen upon as I work on various design projects. I will be bringing you

new products on a regular basis as I find them.

 

The Jansjo Lamp from IKEA is one hot item! I happend upon this fantastic lamp the other day as I was visiting my local IKEA.

They are very flexiable and are actually quite attractive. I had 3 dark areas on my countertops

in my kitchen and have utilized them as “undercounter lighting”. I also have a pair as task lights on either side

of my bed. They are really cool in a bookcase, or spotlight your liquor bottles with one on your bar.

They are available in the following colors. Black, White, Silver, Pink, Red. Now the best part, the Jansjo lamp

retails for $9.99. SUCH A DEAL. Style and Good Design does not have to cost a fortune!

As always, let us know how your projects are going as we love interacting with our readers. “Chabby”

Our logo!

To all of our readers, we have had great reviews. Thank you for your support! I wanted to take a minute to introduce our logo.  Of course the logo stands for southern smarts, but it was also created to imply SOS… SOS stands for “Save Our Ship/Sailors/State/Soul,  Support Our Students,  Sink or Swim,  Service Over Self,  Source of Strength”. Well… I like all of these  meanings, so this is why it is SOS!  The signal that we want to give our readers is… We are here to help. “Two heads are better than one” We are constantly updating our information and material, as we want you to keep coming back! If you have any great ideas you would like to share, lets us know! I am sure we all have good stories to tell and pictures to show. We will gladly feature your DIY project pictures and stories, as we all have something to learn. Thanks again for your support! Stephen Spurling

The Custom Potting Shed

This is the cutest potting shed that I built off site and attached  it to the house once it was complete. There are several great things about this potting shed. It can be attached anywhere on your house, and by doing this, you only have the cost of building 3 walls (the back wall is your existing house). You can make it any size you need, this particular shed was built on a decked patio in a small courtyard.( finished size was 2′ x 4′) The picture shows just how well it was incorporated into the existing townhouse. (paint color and making it conform to the existing architecture). Finally the real cute part of this custom job was a recycled door. I got this door from another job and had it in storage waiting for just the right project. I realize that most of you don’t have this option, but I can tell you that Habitat for Humanity resale stores have great old doors that are very reasonable. And as you can tell with this little shed, the door is the crown jewel! Plus recycling an old door is just a really good thing.( saves you money and it doesn’t end up in the landfill). I do think the plastic Rubbermaid storage shed will serve the same purpose , but won’t be as sturdy  or last as long and certainly doesn’t have the same “wow” factor of this little potting shed! So the next time you’re in the market for a potting shed, build one with character!  Stephen Spurling