WHAT IS A HOME MANAGER?

A Showhomes Home Manager is a person or family with beautiful home furnishings who lives in a vacant home for sale. In exchange for keeping it clean and letting Realtors show the home, Home Managers get dramatically reduced monthly fees, far below the market rate.

Home Managers are professionals who are:

- Relocating

- Building a New Home

- Seeking Temporary Housing

- Going Through Family Changes Such As Divorce

- An Individual or Family Looking To Reduce Expenses

- An Individual or Family Looking to Maintain Their Currently Level of Living or Lifestyle

- Looking To Get Familiar With An Area Before Purchasing

- Looking For Flexibility As There Are No Long Term Lease Requirements

WHY stage?

Competition. With 9 out of 10 buyers previewing or finding their homes online, presentation has never been more important. Staging your homes gives you a competitive edge over your competition. It also reduces low ball offers that buyers associate with vacant properties.

"Price Gets you Interest, Staging Gets you Offers." (Gary Keller, Keller Williams)

Owner Occupied Homes

Known for our success in staging vacant homes, we also help sellers with owner occupied homes. Whether it's a home on the market for sale or a new home, we can provide staging expertise to showcase your home. For occupied homes on the market for sale, we can re-design and re-purpose the existing furniture and decor of the home, and using your furnishings, create a "model home" look that buyers respond to. Staging enhances the presentation of your home and makes it more competitive in the market place, helping to capture a faster sale at a premium price (vs. a non-staged home). A professional stager can also provide useful information and often resources to help with packing, moving, de-cluttering and organizing, making your move easier and preparing the home for staging. Staged homes sell faster and for premium prices, bringing a greater net gain to the table for sellers.

Paint

While that favorite shade of purple was perfect for you, it may be a turn-off for that potential buyer. With a Showhomes Update we can provide the perfect changes with our Exclusive Color Palettes which are on-trend neutrals that will not distract from the outstanding features of your home and will provide mass appeal. Your Showhomes staging professional will help select the perfect palette for the look and feel that will place your home above the competition of similar homes for sale.

Home Managers are professionals who are:

- Relocating

- Building a New Home

- Seeking Temporary Housing

- Going Through Family Changes Such As Divorce

- An Individual or Family Looking To Reduce Expenses

- An Individual or Family Looking to Maintain Their Currently Level of Living or Lifestyle

- Looking To Get Familiar With An Area Before Purchasing

- Looking For Flexibility As There Are No Long Term Lease Requirements

WHY SHOWHOMES?

Showhomes is America's Leader in the Home Staging Industry. With over 30 years of experience, and a network from coast to coast, the Showhomes network has helped sell over 30,000 homes worth over $10 billion. We're proud to have partnered with many local and national real estate brands such as Keller Williams, Coldwell Banker, Berkshire Hathaway, Re/Max, Century 21 and more. We've successfully helped thousands of realtors, homeowners, investors, banks and builders market and showcase their listings for a faster sale and higher price. Our service speaks for itself. Our results pay for the service.

NEW HOMES

But we don't just do homes for sale, we're happy to help you with your new home too! If you're craving a new look, hungry for some new ideas or inkling to have a "makeover" of your own, we can help. Showhomes staging experts can design, re-design and provide DIY information or a full service "makeover", transforming your home in as little as 1 day. Showhomes is the leader in decorating and staging; we can help you create the home you'll fall in love with which suits your lifestyle and personal preferences.

REPLACE OLD CARPET

Worn or dated carpeting is the #1 turn-off for home buyers. The thoughts of selecting, purchasing and dealing with installation will have a potential buyer quickly check the home off their list. With a general 3 to 1 return on investment, fresh and new carpeting can be the key to a faster home sale. Coordinating with our Exclusive Showhomes Color Palettes, our light neutral warm and cool tones of carpeting will not only be pleasing to your budget but will give your home a true designer look. All home sellers want multiple offers and a quick, profitable sale. A Showhomes Update can be the answer to what you've been dreading. From palette selections through job completion and installations, we not only provide staging design but bring in qualified contractors to quickly and painlessly prepare your home for sale. The value Showhomes brings and the return on investment is why Showhomes is the nation's leader in Home Staging and Design.

PRIVACY POLICY

This Showhomes Franchise Corporation Privacy Policy (this or the "Privacy Policy") explains our practices, defines our users' ("you" or "your") privacy options and describes how your information is collected and used by Showhomes Franchise Corporation ("we," "us," "our," or "Showhomes").

By using the Showhomes website or any of our features or resources you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

We reserve the right to modify this policy from time to time and will mark new versions with a corresponding effective date. We recommend you visit the Showhomes website to review any changes in our practices.

This Privacy Policy governs your use of the Showhomes® website at www.showhomes.com, www.showhomesfranchise.com ("Sites").

Our Sites may contain links to other websites. These links are not endorsements of any products or services on such websites. These websites may have privacy policies different than our Privacy Policy.

What Information is Collected?
We may collect personal information from you on our Sites or through any other digital or personal communication with you. Information collected by us is voluntarily provided by you and may include information such as your name, email address, and physical address. Our Sites may also collect general information about your technology interface or preferences (such as the type of browser used or the files requested).

The information we may collect includes, but may not be limited to:

• Your contact information, such as your first name, last name, phone number, and email address, to allow us to respond to submitted inquiries;
• For potential franchisees, your contact and financial information, such as your first name, last name, email address, physical address, cash/liquid capital to invest, and net worth, to allow Showhomes to respond to submitted inquiries;
• Information regarding your browser and other technical specifications required to use our Sites;
• Computer data or files, often called "cookies," which may be sent by your web browser and stored on an individual computer to allow our server to "recognize" you through the navigation of the Sites;
• Computer data files, often called "web beacons" that are collected from emails or links on third-party sites that allow our server to evaluate the popularity of those links or the information contained in emails or on third-party sites; and
• Your IP address to measure our website traffic and to help provide a more personalized experience.

Children Under the Age of 13
Our Sites are not designed for children and we do not knowingly collect information from any person we know is under the age of 13.

How is User Information Used and Shared?
We collect information about you in order to provide you with services and also collect information that is necessary for our Sites to work properly. We use personal information about our users for a variety of purposes related to our business, including but not limited to:

• Allowing you to receive information from us regarding Showhomes services;
• Adding information from social media platforms to our Sites where you discuss our services or use a hashtag related to our services;
• Sharing information with our local franchisees regarding your request to become a Home Manager or other request on the site;
• Tracking information about your visits to our Sites to allow us to provide better service;
• Sending or initiating direct marketing programs, such as newsletters or information about new products or services we (or any of our affiliated companies) are offering;
• Contacting you regarding an inquiry on our Sites that you have initiated; and
• Providing information about your usage or preferences to our third-party vendors and providers.

We may share information, in the aggregate, regarding your online browsing preferences to evaluate our services or allow third parties with whom we work to better serve our users. We will not share personally identifiable information in these instances, other than described in this Privacy Policy. We may, however, share personally identifiable information with franchisees or our local business partners regarding inquires you have made for a specific Showhomes® market. All financial information submitted in connection with a franchise inquiry will be kept confidential and will not be shared with third-party vendors.

We may provide user information to third-party service providers or vendors for purposes of, including without limitation, initiating direct marketing programs on our behalf, data tracking, maintenance or development of our Sites, development of online services or customer service, or other contracted promotional opportunities provided to our users. We will not share your information with third parties to directly market their products to you. We may share this information with any subsidiaries, licensees, suppliers, distributors, affiliates, assigns, successors, or other related entities and their respective owners. We may also share your personal information in connection with law enforcement requests or in response to investigations, subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims or as otherwise required by law.

Business Transfers
We may also disclose your information to a third party as part of the reorganization or a sale of the assets of Showhomes, or its subsidiaries, divisions or franchisees. Any third party to which Showhomes transfers or sells the Sites or related assets will have the right to continue to use the personal and other information that you provide to us.

Behavioral Advertising
We may also use third-party vendors, such as Google Analytics, to advertise to our users online. These third-party vendors may display Showhomes advertisements on other websites based on your internet usage. More specifically, these vendors use first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytic cookie) and third-party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) together to inform, optimize, and serve ads based on your past visits to the Site or another site affiliated with Showhomes. Any information that these third parties collect via cookies is not linked to any personally identifiable information (name, address, email address, or phone number) we collect or you provide on the website. You can opt-out of Google Analytics for Display Advertising by using Google's Ads Settings.

How is User Information Protected?
We maintain administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for all user information collected on our Sites.

How Can Users Limit Information Collected?
By providing information to us or browsing our or our franchisees' Sites, you are consenting to our use of your data as outlined in this Privacy Policy.

While we work hard to use and disclose our users' personal information only for the purposes identified above, you can choose not to provide personal information or limit the personal information obtained by us as follows:

• You may have your contact information removed from our marketing lists that are used to inform users of new or relevant products, services, and special offers by clicking on the unsubscribe link in any communication received from us or by emailing us at [ADD EMAIL ADDRESS]; and
• You may limit the collection of "cookies" from your Site usage through your browser settings. However, this may disable our ability to provide you with the most relevant information regarding the Sites.

Your California Privacy Rights
California Civil Code Section § 1798.83 permits users of our Sites that are California residents to request certain information regarding our disclosure of personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, please contact us via the Sites.

Contacting Us
For additional information pertaining to our Privacy Policy, please contact:

Showhomes Franchise Corp
2110 Blair Blvd
Nashville, TN 37212

What Today's Buyers Look for in a House

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Showhomes of Santa Fe Prepares Homes for Market

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Showhomes SF home staging firm wins three awards

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Bedding Style Ideas

There are many ways to add a unique style to your bedroom with the right selection of bedding. When home staging in Santa Fe the combinations are plentiful and can create not only a mood enhancing setting, but can turn the bedroom into a visual treat to the eyes. Here are a few ideas to get you inspired to take a new look at the bedding style you are currently using:

 

1 - Matching The Furniture

 

To achieve a neat and contemporary look, try to mimic the lines of furniture already in the bedroom. Keep your choices restricted to no more than two contrasting pattern designs and possibly a single solid color. For example, pinstripe bedding can be partnered with solid pillows and a different pattern on the duvet.

 

2 - Keep Your Cool

 

Working with a single color palette is a great idea if you decide to use various cool colors in a combination. Home staging in Santa Fe with this method produces a relaxing mood when soft blue and white are matched with accents of plum and even black.

 

3 - Break The Pattern

 

Sometimes using a dynamic pattern print is the best way to pull design into a bedroom that is otherwise dull and dreary. Possibilities come from bright colors such as orange with blue accents and patterns including non-traditional circle and dot designs.

 

4 - Groovy, Man!

 

The psychedelic inspired color combinations and patterns of the 1970s can bring a great deal of life to a bedroom. This kind of retro bedding design is best accented with layers of pillows which also becomes part of the palette and help to reinforce the overall color scheme.

 

5 - Pillow Fight

 

Speaking of pillows, they can be the main foundation of a color scheme when home staging in Santa Fe. Layers of them can draw color from the headboard down to the floor and it can be accomplished with various tones, patterns and designs. Tossing in some solid colors add to the overall visual impact by offsetting everything else.

 

Give Showhomes A Call

 

Add personality to your bedroom with bedding that speaks louder and says more than you can about the setting. When home staging in Santa Fe the experts at Showhomes can provide you with the professional advice you need to make the bedroom stand out. With a powerful look your bedroom will bring you added value when preparing your property to be listed on the market. Call Showhomes today for assistance.

Picking A Color For Your Bathroom

Do you have any idea how much time you spend in the bathroom? When it comes to home staging in Santa Fe the bathroom is one space that does not get neglected. It's because of how often we use the bathroom that the proper color choice can create a room that is pleasant and bright making it a welcome space. For some inspiration on how to get rid of the dull, boring look of your bathroom and injecting some life, check out these practical color tips:

 

1 - Go Green

 

Green is the color of life outside of the home and figures prominently when plants and trees are used to add to any kind of room. In the case of home staging in Santa Fe a splash of green in a bathroom brings a natural, eco-friendly feel to the setting.

 

2 - Black Out

 

Black in a bathroom is considered bold. In fact, with this as the primary color of your bathroom from countertop to tile to walls, ceiling and floor, you can use white as a trim or accent color to bring everything together.

 

3 - The Purple Blues

 

Pastel colors in blues and purples are returning to bathrooms. It is a perfect choice for creating a spa-like atmosphere and the calming effect that blues generally have on us makes it a good choice for the bathroom. Need to relax in a tub of hot water? Surround yourself with blue on the walls and tiles and you will feel stress pouring off of you.

 

4 - Not So Mellow Yellow

 

Nothing brightens a bathroom more than the light that comes from golden yellow tones. The brighter the room, the more lively you will feel and will want to launch into your day with renewed energy.

 

5 - Olympic Fever

 

Metal colors including gold, silver and bronze are making bathrooms look spectacular when used on more than just the fixtures. Offsetting these shades with complementary colors produce a royal effect without the expense and are a favorite home staging in Santa Fe option.

 

Contact ShowHomes in Santa Fe

 

The home staging in Santa Fe experts at ShowHomes can provide you with professional advice when it comes to adding new color to your bathroom. This is especially true if you are preparing to put your home on the market. Give ShowHomes a call today to see how they can help.

Bathroom Tiles to Make Your Home More Appealing for Home Staging in Santa Fe

Shower Types to Consider when Home Staging in Santa Fe

Bathroom Shower Types In Santa Fe

The shower is often the focal point of any well designed bathroom and when home staging in Santa Fe there are several options available. They range from seamless and sectional where combinations, different surface materials and contemporary styling can turn the shower into one must-have feature for both function and appearance.

Here are a few suggestions to consider when home staging in Santa Fe:

1 - The Easy Entrance Shower

Typically the average shower, if it is not part of a tub/shower combination, has a six inch curb that must be stepped over as you enter the shower stall. For easier access, especially for family members with mobility issues, consider a 4-inch threshold or a curb less style. The latter is ideal to address users in a wheelchair or for a funky new spin on the shower design.

2 - The Combo Space Saver

Smaller bathrooms that lack a lot of extra space are the perfect place for a tub/shower combo. This gives you the best of two bathing options in the same footprint of a regular sized bathtub. These are extremely common and can be configured to fit anywhere in the bathroom floor plan and are usually on an outside wall. This allows the option of windows for natural light.

3 - The Outside Shower

Let's face it, if you live in Santa Fe you very likely have a large outdoor living area that extends from your home. One way to keep the bathroom from getting too crowded with fixtures is to have an outdoor shower stall. We're not talking about the one next to the pool, either. There are many materials than can be used to create a stunning, and private, outdoor shower.

4 - The Seated Shower

Although designed primarily for those with mobility issues or have difficulty standing for periods of time, an enclosed seated shower takes up little space and provides a safe and comfortable alternative. Designs vary but usually they include a curb less or low threshold, molded seating and close up completely to prevent falls and spills.

Home Staging Shower Types In Santa Fe

The finishing touch to any shower is the extras including colors, shelving, grab bars, handheld shower heads and much more. Whatever your plans are for home staging in Santa Fe, Showhomes can be of service. They can help you put the right look on your shower enhancing the value of your home prior to listing. Contact Showhomes Santa Fe today for details.

Bedroom Lighting Ideas for Home Staging in Santa Fe

Bedroom Lighting Ideas Santa Fe

When it comes to bedroom lighting, home staging in Santa Fe can become a challenge. However, with these helpful tips you will be able to create the look of elegance in a bedroom just by using different lighting features.

The First Steps

Before selecting lights for the bedroom you need to do some homework. This includes considering the size of the room and the placement of furniture. The outlet locations in the bedroom will also provide you with design options.

As bedrooms have lower ceilings, scale is important. This means that lighting fixtures that are on shorter bodies are the best choice followed by flush-mounted fixtures. Keep in mind that you will be lighting the bedroom primarily for reading and dressing purposes.

The way you use your bedroom in Santa Fe will have an effect on lighting. A computer desk or sewing machine will require direct lighting while a reading corner will only need softer options. This also means lamp shades should not be used as they can darken a bedroom.

The Next Steps

When home staging in Santa Fe with bedroom lighting, location is the main factor. This means lighting should not be installed on the ceiling but is more effective when at eye level and softer in tone. This also provides better coverage reaching into corners of a room.

Plus, do not leave all the lighting work to a single source. Multiple lighting sources allow you to create layers of light for different tasks within the room. When home staging in Santa Fe, this is a general rule of thumb.

In addition to creating various layers of light with more than one light source, mood enhancing is vital and dimmers are the best for this. Soft or colored light bulbs can assist with setting a mood and high tech lighting controls give you complete control over what lights are on and how bright.

The Final Steps

Now that you have taken care of bedroom lighting, what about the areas attached to the room? If you have a walk-in closet or small storage closet they also need light to function their best. Closet lights come in different styles but fluorescent are best for brightness and cost effectiveness.

Let Showhomes Light Up Your Bedroom

For more information on home staging in Santa Fe, contact Showhomes. Our lighting professionals will be able to assist you in creating the perfect bedroom setting with light fixtures and features that will enhance the room – making your home increase in value. Call Showhomes today for assistance before you list your home for sale.

Home Office Desks Styles in Santa Fe

Home staging in Santa Fe also extends to your home office. With the current trend of outsourcing to remote workers and an increase in the number of home-based businesses, entrepreneurs need an efficient space to run their business inside their home. Usually it starts with a tabletop in a corner of a room and eventually spreads out to the point that a spare bedroom becomes an office. With this in mind, here are a few great home office desk ideas.

1 – Wooden Desks

Considered a classic, there is nothing better than a traditional wooden desk. For a simple, uncomplicated home office one of these combined with a wheeled desk chair is all you need. If you have a window you can put the desk in front of, you are set to get to business with a view. Drawers in a wooden desk tend to be deep which provides plenty of storage.

2 – Computer Desks

These are more contemporary in styling and lightweight allowing for placement wherever needed. Like wooden desks a computer desk will have deep drawers to hold a lot of files, paper and accessories as well as have a tabletop designed for a computer work station. All you need to add is a task light such as a long neck lamp that can be bent into position for maximum lighting.

3 – L-Shaped Desks

Using an L-shaped desk in your Santa Fe home office makes good sense if you need a lot of desk space without taking up a lot of office space. The benefits to an L-shaped desk are that everything is within arm’s reach and there will be a lot of drawer space for storage. The desk top provides room for a computer on one side and still space to work away from the computer. Table lamps and an overhead light would be best for full illumination of the home office desk.

4 – Different Material Desks

If wood is not your choice for a traditional office desk when home staging in Santa Fe, there are many other options. Depending on the size and volume of work your home office will be used for, you may want to look at marble for the desk top or stainless steel. Both make bold statements and lend themselves to setting the foundation for the rest of the design of the home office. The other side of the coin is a glass top desk which gives off a stylish vibe or an all acrylic desk which makes the desk virtually disappear into the workspace.

5 – Different Color Desks

A great way to liven up your home office workspace in Santa Fe is by using a brightly colored desk. Just about any color will do from yellow and orange to blue and green. When you add a colored desk to your office it brings an air of enthusiasm and makes the workspace cheerful. This is especially true if you entertain clients in your home office.

Contact ShowHomes in Santa Fe Today

Home staging in Santa Fe extends to your home office and the furniture used in that workspace. For advice on current and classic trends for home office desks, contact ShowHomes in Santa Fe today. Let our experience transform your home office into the best functioning workspace it can be.

Staging the Bathroom in Santa Fe - 4 Quick Tips

Bathroom Staging In Santa Fe

Before you start your bathroom updating in Santa Fe renovation you will need to go over your required materials list. There will be a few items that may need to be pre-ordered and that’s okay. The last thing you will want to do with a bathroom makeover is get started and have to stop for days waiting for a fixture to arrive. With part of your bathroom ‘under construction’ this can be a rather noticeable inconvenience so it is best to be prepared before you start any kind of work.

Four Best Bathroom Staging in Santa Fe Tips

You could spend thousands and thousands of dollars with a bathroom renovation but you don’t have to. There are a number of easy, affordable ways to add a touch of class or pizzazz to your bathroom without breaking the bank. They include the following:

1 – Check Out The Curves

Did you know that you can actually add space to your shower without rebuilding the stall? All you need to do is spend a few bucks, under $30, on a curved shower curtain rod. Oddly enough this will increase the size of the showering space and give the area a bit of an interesting feature that does not come with a regular straight rod.

2 – Run For The Border

A few bathroom tiles and a touch of creativity will add some interesting accents to your bathroom updating in Santa Fe. All you need is tiles with a contrasting color or unusual texture or pattern in order to make this simple renovation come to life. Use the tiles, or parts of them, along a border or within the shower stall to give some interesting visual twists to the existing area. It’s an inexpensive makeover that will bring attention to the shower.

3 – Flick of The Switch

Have you ever noticed that the average hardware store lighting department is almost as big as the paint department? There is a good reason for this and it has everything to do with putting some new bright lights in your bathroom – or any room in your house for that matter. Experiment with new, unusual, odd and funky combinations of lights and fixtures to add character to your bathroom renovation. Just remember to keep in mind you will want to have specific task lighting locations to keep everyone who uses the bathroom happy.

4 – When In Doubt, Be The Wall

Bathroom makeovers are successful when they convert what was there into something new and eye catching. One great way to create eye candy as part of the bathroom staging in Santa Fe project you are working on is to do something about the wall treatment. This simply means a new paint job, textured wall paper or other new surface treatment. When considering this renovation it is always a good idea to go as far away from what color(s) are already in use to create a stunning, new and fresh look.

And Another Thing…

Even the good do-it-yourselfers will sometimes pass on tackling a bathroom makeover job. It’s never a bad idea to turn to an expert on a project that may be just out of your tolerance level. That’s where Showhomes can help. Bathroom updating in Santa Fe projects are nothing new to them. If you are not sure you can pull it off, give the crew at Showhomes a call.

 

Home Updating in Santa Fe - Tips & Tricks

Renovations - Home Updating in Santa Fe

The value of your home is determined by the fluctuations in the real estate market. While this is a factor that is out of your control, one way to increase the value of your home and property is with renovations. Home updating in Santa Fe through various renovations is a fluctuation that you can actually have control over. In other words, there are small fixes you can tackle that are low in overall cost but produce the most return in value.

Selling or Staying?

Before you start working on any kind of renovations to your home you must first determine what you are trying to achieve. For example, if you are considering putting your Santa Fe property on the market, you will want to look at renovations that are more cosmetic in nature. These kinds of updates essentially make your home more attractive to potential buyers. These projects can range in size from simple painting to a complete replacement of lighting fixtures, doors or appliances.

If your motivation for home updating in Santa Fe is to make your home more livable or functional while you are living in it, the projects will be more structural in nature and will be larger in scale. These projects can include the addition of more rooms, yard landscaping, an outdoor water feature like a pool or fountain and countless other home improvements.

Room Renovations – The Top Two

There are two rooms in your home that will produce the best return on investment when increasing the value of your property. They are the kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen is a magnet to new buyers and the average rule of thumb is to spend no more than 5-percent of your home’s total value on this upgrade. Kitchen projects that are perfect for home updating in Santa Fe include replacing the countertops, cabinets, hardware and light fixtures. Additional kitchen renovations to consider are the replacement of the sink and backsplashes. A kitchen with these improvements will add value to your home the moment the job is complete. New appliances, the addition of more natural light, a breakfast nook, and a cooking/preparing island are all nice improvements that increase the value of your home.

The second best room to focus attention on when home updating in Santa Fe is the bathroom. This is a space where you can spend less than 3-percent of your home’s total value and see a huge return. Look at renovations in the bathroom as a way to replace signs of use which means projects can include such things as new lighting and fixtures, a new sink, tub and accessories. A replacement shower will also enhance the look and function of the bathroom. Added natural light sources, a new coat of paint and new flooring can add up to a nice increase in the value of your home.

Other Projects for Home Updating in Santa Fe

Increasing the value of your home, regardless of whether you intend to sell or keep it, is not just restricted to work on the interior of just two rooms. Additional improvements that have an effect on the value of your investment include flooring, windows, landscaping and painting/staining. Hardwood floors are not only popular, they are practical. As this kind of flooring is much easier to keep clean than carpeting, it is a good renovation choice.

Home Updating in Santa Fe - Windows

Replacing windows as part of your home updating in Santa Fe is wise because utility costs are directly impacted by this renovation project. By replacing existing windows with an energy efficient alternative, energy bills will be reduced which not only increases the value of your property, it reduces the operating costs of keeping your home.

Home Updating in Santa Fe - Landscaping

Nothing brings more ‘curb appeal’ to your home than landscaping and painting/staining. Landscaping covers a whole spectrum of improvements for home updating in Santa Fe including a new lawn, or no lawn – known as xeriscaping – where rocks and gravel replace grass and shrubbery. The addition of a garden, deck or patio or increasing the size of them to improve the quality of your outdoor living space all work to increase your home’s value.

Home Updating in Santa Fe – Paint and Stain

The finishing touches come from painting or staining of everything from the ground to roof, fencing, decks and all other surfaces that could use a new, fresh look. In fact, most real estate agents will tell you that if you plan on only one renovation project to help add value to your home and are on a tight budget, paint or stain is your best bet. It makes everything look new or will assist in erasing the aged look of wood and other surfaces.

Final Thoughts on Home Updating in Santa Fe

Although any of the renovation projects discussed here will add value to your home investment, the real estate market will still control how much that will be. Adding value to your home is always a good idea as it will make your home more attractive to you, visitors and – if you are selling – potential buyers. Considering the market will be the determining factor, it is good to know that you can nudge the selling price up a little just by doing some home updating in Santa Fe on your own. For a better idea on what improvements would be best for your specific home, contact Showhomes for further information.

Bedroom Lighting In Santa Fe

Bedroom lighting in your Santa Fe home is a serious matter. As the typical bedroom is also used for relaxing, dressing and reading chances are that it is not properly lit for these additional tasks and functions. This is why it is important to use different layers of lighting in the bedroom to accomplish these activities.

1 – From The Ceiling Down

Bedroom lighting in Santa Fe requires a form of overhead ambient lighting. However, that main light can be in a ceiling fan, which adds more function or a chandelier to add a striking visual focal point to the bedroom. Other good choices for overhead lighting include a large or drum pendant or a semi-flush mount light.

What you have to keep in mind with the overhead layer of lighting in your bedroom is that the fixture has to produce a soft glow that is soothing. It also has to provide good quality illumination for the entire room. To keep the amount of lighting under control and to assist with mood setting, be sure to have a dimmer switch.

2 – Task Lighting

In your Santa Fe bedroom you will require bedside lighting for such things as reading and dressing. Table lamps are a typical choice but wall lamps are an even more effective way of providing task lighting as many are designed with goosenecks or swing arms to better direct illumination where it is needed.

Wall lamps also eliminate the risk of tripping on cords. Sconces that are mounted directly to walls are another great choice for additional lighting in a bedroom. They can be used to brighten up vanities, dressing tables and reading desks. They also are available in various designs which make them an excellent decorative feature.

3 – Accent Lighting

The final layer of bedroom lighting to consider in your Santa Fe home is used to accentuate any special features in the space. This can be a picture light to bring attention to art work, track lighting for features along a wall or under cabinet lighting for effect or to display an additional special piece in the bedroom.

For More On Bedroom Lighting, Call Us

Contact Showhomes in Santa Fe today for assistance with making your bedroom stand out with the three different layers of lighting discussed here.

How to Upgrade Your Patio or Deck in Santa Fe

When home staging in Santa Fe one of the areas you must not forget is the outdoor living space. There are many ways to expand your living space outside the four walls that make up your home. The most popular choices for this are the extra room that can be created by a patio or deck. But which do you choose?

Patio or Deck

The size of your home and the amount of property around your home will help to determine whether or not your best fit would be a patio or deck. Patios are great choices for smaller yards as they take up less space but provide extra outdoor living space. Decks, on the other hand, are constructed on a raised surface to provide additional floor space from the home.

Covered or Uncovered

Before you begin your deck or patio upgrading in Santa Fe you must determine which of the two main styles you are considering for your home. The two choices for patio/deck upgrading in Santa Fe are covered or uncovered with many different styles to choose from under either choice. Each has advantages and disadvantages, related specifically to the location and space being used.

Patio Materials and Ideas

Home staging in Santa Fe with a patio is easier with the right design. The fact that they are outdoors and often uncovered, a strong and durable material is needed. Brick, stone and cement are all common choices. Stone can be cut into different sizes and shapes as are pavers. Patterns that the shapes create allow for a lot of creativity. They also come in many different colors.

Wood is another popular choice for patio upgrading in Santa Fe. The wood used should be treated so that is does not get damaged by the elements. Various stains and paints are made just for patios and decks which would provide a touch of flare to your project. If you decide to keep your patio open, large umbrellas or covers can be used when entertaining and stored away when not.

Deck Materials and Ideas

Decks are typically constructed from wood, plastic or synthetic materials. The type of material and space available will determine size and style. A veranda style is a deck that is covered and runs along the side of a house. These can wrap around two or more sides of a house. There are large decks that extend out from one wall of a house and connect to smaller, multi-level decks.

Your deck upgrading in Santa Fe could be even a deck that is attached to a gazebo allowing for a lot of extra space for enjoying yourself or for entertaining many people. A portion of a deck may also feature a screened in porch that can be accessed by an adjoining deck. A deck can come off of the master bedroom and be a private little extension of that portion of the home.

Decks and Patios Have Value When Home Staging in Santa Fe

Never underestimate the value of a deck or patio upgrading in Santa Fe. Not only do they enhance your lifestyle and level of enjoyment at home, they enhance the value of your property. The one thing to keep in mind about patios and decks is that since they are outdoor features, they require a certain amount of maintenance to keep them looking their best.

In fact, this should be the first thing to consider before starting a patio or deck project – will you be able to properly maintain one? For assistance in choosing the right design and materials for your home, climate and property size, turn to an expert. Contact Showhomes for all your home staging in Santa Fe requirements.

 

4 Tips for Staging Your Living Room in Santa Fe

Living Room Staging in Santa Fe

 The living room is central to the function of any family home. This is why living room staging is so crucial – the one room where most everyone gathers either individually or as a group to relax and unwind is typically the living room. It can be host to groups being entertained or the quiet place for soft music and a good book while curled up next to the fireplace.

 This is why staging the living room can be such a challenge. The goal is to produce a warm and inviting atmosphere which translates into leaving the right impression when an open house is being hosted at your home. You are trying to give potential buyers a sneak peek into the room that holds the rest of the house together with enough mystery that they can see themselves using it. Here are our top tips to help with living room staging in Santa Fe:

 1 – Change The Flooring

 Even if you don’t have the budget to do a complete floor makeover, changing the living room flooring will do a lot with the impression it will make. Home staging the living room with a new floor, or one that looks new, will be attractive to new buyers. If you can replace the existing floor, a new hardwood treatment will do wonders with offers.

 New hardwood flooring is not always the answer, either. But something that looks new is. If the existing floor is wood a new sanding will give it a fresh look. If the living room has carpet, remove it to reveal wood underneath. Even if the floor is a vinyl covering a power washing and vigorous scrubbing can make it look new and expensive.

 2 – Create The Right Mood

 The imagination can do a lot of interesting things and when you are living room staging this is one item that can work in your favor. This can be assisted by small touches such as a vase of freshly cut flowers on a table and a plate of fresh made goodies. These extras work to present a warm, homey feel to the living room and home.

 It also presents some of the familiar ‘home scents’ into the picture which can trigger happy memories for more than one potential buyer. The balance here is to not overpower the room with powerful air fresheners or too many scented candles. The message you want to send is inviting and not one that appears to be you trying to hide unpleasant smells.

 3 – Reduce Your Personal Stamp

 When staging the living room it will require that all of your personal effects are removed and stored away from the area. The reason is that you have put a lot of effort into putting your personal stamp in the room and as such, it says everything about you and not a potential buyer. This means records, books, magazines, photos and DVDs should be removed.

 In order to make a living room more attractive to a buyer, you have to give them a clean enough palette to let their imagination go to work. With your family photos on display, this prevents a visitor to your space from imagining their touches in the room. You may have the best record collection but you don’t want that to prevent a buyer from seeing the room as potentially theirs.

 4 – Update the Furniture

 When living room staging in Santa Fe one of the key components is the furniture. The wrong combination in the wrong size or style can send the wrong message and lose an offer or two. It is also important to keep things in perspective. If the furniture is too big it makes the living room appear small and may also hide key features.

 If a change of furniture is in your budget it is wise to choose neutral tones and contemporary styling. The items you choose need not be expensive but they need to look as if they are. Words to keep in mind when looking for new furniture for living room staging should be nice, new, inviting and attractive. Stay away from trendy and opt for comfort.

 Last Words on Home Staging the Living Room

 Because the living room can have a significant personal connection to home owners, it is important to remove all signs of yours when selling your home. Potential buyers need to have an attractive but not distractive living room to envision as their own. This is where Showhomes can help by assisting you with the staging of the living room in your home.