How to Use Plants to Show a Healthier Home

As cities grow, we are seeing less and less natural plant life. Wouldn't it be nice to have a little nature in your home? Having houseplants in your home make for a healthier, happier, and more welcoming home. Home buyers want a natural feel to a home and adding plants does just that. You want to be sure to choose that right plants for your home. Obviously, you wouldn't put large tree like plants in a small condominium. Just to be clear, you want real plants in your home, not fake.

How to bring plant life into your home

Small plants

Small plants can be added to any room to make it feel fresh and alive. Imagine a small green clover plant on an entry table. How inviting! A great idea is to use the small succulent plants or cactuses. They are affordable and small enough for any room, like the bathroom. Leafy plants in the window bring life to the whole room.

Don't forget a fresh set of flowers is always welcoming when showing your home. Flowers don't just look great, they help the home smell great too.

Hanging plants

Plants that hang are eye-catching, especially if they have a beautiful rope swing. The flow of the leaves or vines capture the attention of the future home buyer and can help show the space of a room.

The newest trend in plants is air plants. They require very little care and water. However, they look amazing in little rock gardens hanging from your ceiling in a see-through glass teardrop. Air plants can also stem from or hang on your wall.

Large potted plants

Plants also improve air quality in the home. We spend most of our time indoors (unfortunately), might as well spend that time breathing clean air. These larger plants are going to give your home the best air quality. Large leaf plants look great in living rooms. They help brighten the room and give it the sense of nature you're looking for. Larger plants, like peace lilies, are also low maintenance and use very little light. Putting plants in large accent colored pots can accentuate a room.

There is such thing as too many plants in the home. Don't overdo it and make it feel like a rainforest. A plant or two per room will suffice. When you want to show your home, be sure to spruce it up by adding a few plants to bring your home to life!

For a list of great indoor plants click here

Staging Props For Under $20

Other than taking out the obvious personal features when staging a home, you can add props and decorations to help make the house look and feel inviting. Adding updated props to a room can get expensive but it doesn't have to be. You'd be surprised how much a little change can go a long way. Here are some ideas of what you can add to your home in the most inexpensive way.

Lights- Small table lamps can help brighten up the room. Not only will the lights enhance the look, but it can also bring about a certain comfort. Buyers want to see lit rooms not dungeons.

Pillows- Throw pillows on the couches or bed can make a huge difference. Bright colored pillows can make the room come to life. Imagine a plain boring couch in the living room and adding small teal pillows. The couch and the room instantly feels more welcoming and has better fung shui to the living room.

Towels-  Everyone likes the look and smell of freshly done laundry, especially towels. Clean, fresh towels in the bathroom make a small bathroom feel elegant. Staging the bathroom is just as important as the rest of the home.

Small mirrors- Did you know that most people enjoy looking at themselves in a mirror no matter what room they are in? By adding mirrors to smaller rooms, it can make a room feel larger. Small circular mirrors can add the modern feel to a small, plain, boring, square room.

Flower/ table arrangements- These can be anywhere from a small fake flower arrangement or a bowl of lemons on the kitchen table. They imply the feeling of fresh and clean. Fresh fruit and flowers not only make a room smell nice but helps give any room a pop of color.

Candles- This isn't just for looks. When showing a home you want to be sure that the house smells pleasant. Buy a few vanilla or other neutral scented candles to have the house smell welcoming.  

Home buyers are always looking at the little things too. They want to imagine their future home within your home. Purchasing the "Knick-knacks" gives the buyer ideas and sets the stage for their future home.

4 Tips to Staging The Garage

Next to having a large kitchen, the garage is one of the most looked at and important rooms in a home when considering buying a house. When you think about it, we use our garages for everything, not just storing our vehicles.  Staging the garage is essential to selling your home. So, how does one stage their garage? Here are a few tips on how to make your garage the selling point to your home.

1.      Organize

It's easy to throw all our unwanted stuff in the garage. However, put things in organized totes and bins and label them. This will also help you in the long run when you go to move. Be sure to have all tools and bikes put away. Optimize the space of the garage by hanging things on the walls or even the ceiling. Having a few shelves would help to store all the extra belongings. An organized garage will help the buyer imagine their future space.

2.      Add Lighting

A garage door opener light is not sufficient in a garage. Many people work in their garage on projects or cars. Add large lights to have an adequate light source for your future homebuyer to work in that space. If there is a window on one side, be sure that it's clean so the sun can light up the area. Don't forget to add a few extra outlets as well for those who might have many tools or accessories.

3.      Paint

After a while, garage floors can get dirty with oils and other debris. Adding a fresh coat of paint on the floor can make it feel more inviting and clean. It can also make the surface area look bigger with a brighter color on the floor. If the walls are not painted, go ahead and add a light primer coat to help it feel new again.

4.      Clean

Sweep, dust and get rid of any trash. Clean out the old Christmas decorations that are broken or unwanted. One of the most used doors is the one from the garage into the house. We don't think about it, but it can become pretty dirty; wipe down the handle and door. A clean garage will help the seller truly see its potential. If possible, try not to store your moving boxes in the garage. The future buyer wants to see the available space.

5 Features Millennial Homebuyers Want in Their Home

There's a new generation buying homes on the market. We call them millennials. People look for many different things in their home today than when these homes were built. Staging your home to the current audience is important to make it sell fast. Here are a few ideas of what you can do to your home to make it appeal to this upcoming home buying generation.

1. Open Spaces

Open spaces like kitchens or living rooms are ideal. The larger it feels, the more comfortable buyers are in the space.  It doesn't take too much time to knock down a wall or two in your home to make a living space feel larger. In many of the older homes of the 1960's, each room is very closed off which makes it feel small. You can update your home by knocking down a wall that may be hindering an excellent view of your living room from your kitchen. Can't knock down a wall? Try using smaller furniture or more mirrors to make a room feel larger when showing your home.

2. Energy efficient

What's great about this is that energy efficient things are becoming more affordable and popular. Start with the basics of getting an energy efficient washer, dryer or dishwasher. Updated appliance truly helps sell a home. Don't forget to change all your light bulbs to the energy efficient ones as well.

Adding solar panels can be a huge selling point for your home. Buyers want to save money on the expensive utilities such as electric.

3. Low maintenance

Many people today have very little time to keep up on large yards and gardening. You can make a backyard look gorgeous with some zero-scaping. Adding large rock areas or mulch is a great way to keep your backyard low maintenance.

Vacuuming and getting your carpets cleaned can be time-consuming and expensive. Hardwood or vinyl floors are another great low maintenance idea for a home. They are easy to keep clean and take care of.

4. Technology

"Alexa, can you add touchscreen thermostat to the list."

That's all you have to say in this world of technology. Adding small updates like a touchscreen thermostat makes your home feel like it's up to date with the times. Other things like electric fireplaces, security cameras, and home systems are great additions to help sell your home fast. Outlets with USB ports are easy to install and affordable to get. With phones and computers all having USB ports, it's important to millennials to have many places in the home to plug in their devices.

5. Simplicity

Wouldn't it be nice to have your future home look like it came from a magazine? The secret is to keep it simple. Millennials love to see clean and simple decor and colors. Neutral wall colors and white cabinets in the kitchen make a home feel fresh and clean. Simply move in ready is what buyers are looking for today.

How To Find The Best Home Stager For Your Listing

Key factors to look for in a home staging company

When wanting to sell your home, it's important to think about hiring a home stager to have the quickest sale with the highest value. We all want our home to sell for more than it's worth!  There's a lot to think about when it comes to hiring the right company to stage your home. Here are a few questions to ask and a few key factors you want to be sure to look for.

Are they certified or accredited?

While there is no four-year degree for a home stager, there are different programs of training that a good home stager is willing to go through. RESA, the real estate staging association, is something to consider and you may want to look for in certifications of your future home staging company. This training helps solidify that they are serious about their business. It's training to make sure that they have the "eye" to stage a room according to a large audience. This certification should not necessarily make the cost of your home staging company expensive but provide reassurance and ease to your mind.

What does their portfolio look like and is it what you're looking for?

Every home stager will have a portfolio. It should include before, and after pictures of several different rooms and homes, they have done in the past. These should be professional photographs with their company's label on them to be sure that it is their work. Unfortunately, it's very easy these days for people to steal photographs of other great staged homes, so be careful. Is their style what you are looking for? The stager may be too modern for your home or have an "old" way of staging. A great home stager will make a room suitable for a larger audience by taking away the things that make a room too personable. They will have a variety of accessories that you will be able to rent from to make a room look outstanding.

How long have they been in business?

Obviously, a lot of experience is preferred in this kind of business. The more years of experience, hopefully, the more homes they have helped sell to its greatest potential. Have they been doing this for a hobby or is there a business in their name? Be aware of people who are doing this as a hobby, for they may not be the best choice in staging your home. However, if they are new to the business, it may be beneficial because they have that "new eye" into the staging world. Don't rule out these people either.

How current are they with the real estate market?

You want your home to sell! How you stage your home will determine who you are selling to. You can't add expensive props to a home that only cost $180,000 to try to make it look $300,000. That would worsen the situation. A home stager will know how to stage the home according to area and value. He or she will make it look fabulous no matter the selling point of the home.

Conclusion

You want to feel confident in who is staging your home. Don't go with your neighbor who majored in interior design 30 years ago and is a coffee barista. The best home stager will work with you and your budget as well as only want best for you. Once you've found the home staging company of your choice, don't forget to write a review so others can experience their magical home touches.

Colors for 2018

New year, new home, new colors! Stay up to date with the most memorizing colors in your home. From the living rooms to the bedrooms, these futuristic colors will be sure to capture you and your guests' eyes. They are bolder then than the past "neutrals" we are all used to seeing. Freshen up your home with these colors that are trending in 2018.

1. Violet/ Ultra Violet

This color helps brighten just about any room! Purple isn't just for girls anymore! Kitchens look amazing in this unique color. The backdrop of the wall can make counters sign and appliances stand out! Who wouldn't want a fancy bright kitchen?

Imagine even your patio ultra-violet! If you have a concrete wall or some barrier, paint it violet! Add some white seating and colorful flower pots to make the color flow into nature.

2. Dark Grey/ Onyx/ black

Only a color this bold can make a home feel so contemporary and yet so welcoming. Offices, dining rooms, and bedrooms are best for this color!

Pair your dining room with some metallic furniture to make the room seem larger. Stage your table with silverware and metallic flower arrangements. Fancy fancy!

The best thing about a black color wall is that it's going to make all of your wall art "pop!" If you don't want to go overboard, just do one accent wall. For example, painting the wall behind your bed frame will help with making even your bedroom accents more alive!

3. Benjamin Moore, Black Beauty (2128-10)

The Shades of Blue. The best thing about different shades of blue is that you won't feel as if you need to change your whole house around. Blue can pair with almost any other color in your home. These two blues are great in living rooms.

4. Paint by Behr, Soul Search (T18-14).

Blues always give warmth and comfort to a home. -Open your shade and windows to make the room feel brighter, and this blue is sure to brighten your day. Don't forget to stage your home by adding an accent color with some cute throw pillows on the couch.

5. Paint by Behr, In the moment (T18-15)

The farmhouse look is still in! So, coloring your living room with a pale blue. Compliment this blue with white furniture and trim. Maybe you can add some distressed furniture with the same color. Add a "farmhouse" sign above a mirror for the official country farmhouse feeling.

6. Bold Red

You may be thinking, this is nothing new. However, think again! This red makes a statement and not just in your kitchen. What makes this color so unique is that it can go with almost any style and color of furniture: brown, black, white furniture, it doesn't matter!

7. Try Caliente (AF-290) by Benjamin Moore.

These colors are making home staging statements in 2018! The only thing to do now is to go to your nearest home store and pick up a gallon (or 3) of some of these exciting new colors.

Selling Your Home Faster With An Amazing Listing

Selling your home can be scary! You want it to sell fast and easy. However, it can be tough when your listing isn't attractive enough to buyers. If you truly want to sell your home, you're going to need to have staged photographs, descriptive words and some enticing features. But, not to worry, it's not as difficult as you may think.

1. Take Amazing Photographs

One of the first things buyers look at when shopping for a new home is the pictures. With no doubt that the photos of the exterior of the house will have them interested. They continue to click on your home. Now, you must make sure that not only do you have enough photos but also that each picture shows the highest potential for each staged room. Most people will hire a staging crew like Tampa Staging to set the stage for the most inviting photographs to help sell the home. The use of professional staging like ShowHomes Tampa; can make the home more inspiring, elegant and sell faster.

Note: Please do not use low-quality cell phone pictures.

2. Highlight the Greatest Features

What kind of upgrades have you done to the home? Maybe you've installed granite countertops or added a new spa Jacuzzi tub to the master bathroom. Your potential buyers want to know what makes the house unique. Be sure to include some of the homes best-selling features like the kitchen and bathroom.

Name brands are always a hit! If you have a top of the line, smart refrigerator, be sure to use its name! "Recently installed was an LG Signature series refrigerator with touch screen door." Most people will be looking at these name brand when they come to look at the home, but better yet they can know about it before!

Don't go overboard and keep it true. Make sure when you describe some features that they are amazing and not broken, cracked, or torn. There's nothing more disappointing than going into a home expecting to walk into a breathtaking sunroom, and seeing that the windows leak.

3. Words Words Words

Words are very important when trying to sell your home. Your audience should be captivated into wanting to read more about the house, so start off strong.

For example, saying "elegant" dining room or "luxurious" master bathroom will put the reader on high alert. These words help make the rooms stand out. However, there are a few words that you should avoid as well.

Words that stand out:

Beautiful

Impeccable

Luxurious

Words to avoid:

Clean (I'd hope so)

Best value

Must sell

4. Be Descriptive in Your Listing!

Remember to keep it short simple, and true. There's not a lot of room to go into detail about every room in the house, nor would you want to.  People want to know about their future home in the most captivating way. Personally, I want to be sold on the house before I even go to look at it!

If you truly believe your home will sell then write your listing from your heart. What do you love about your own home? How will others love it too?

Staging your Laundry Room

You finally decide to put your home up for sale and begin by making a checklist of home improvements. Making your list, you glance up at your laundry room door and with a deep sigh, and add it to the very bottom. It's just a laundry room, right!? It's not as important as the rest of the house, is it?

On the contrary, because the laundry room is the only room for laundry in the house, it is just as vital as the kitchen and bathrooms. Which means it needs just as much if not more attention than the rest.

The laundry room is a single location where shoes, dirty clothes, clean clothes, cleaning supplies, pet food, extra paper towels and coats find a place, either stacked, stuffed or propped up to store. Such a vast supply of extras for one single room don't you think?

Since, it is the only laundry room; you must give it the care it deserves.

To get started here are a few tips to help.

Non Essentials Clean Out

Clean the Clutter. Go through every stack, pile and corner of the room and clean out all the items that are not laundry room related.

List of Laundry room items:

Detergents

Bleach

Dryer sheets

Stain and odor removers

Ironing and Sewing Supplies

Cleaning Towels

Cleaning Supplies

Garbage Can and garbage liners

If your laundry room is by the backdoor, a nice coat hanger and shoe shelf will tidy things up.

Clean Things Up

Clean the surface of the washer and dryer from front to back then top to bottom. If your home is older and you have baseboard heating, give them a nice cleaning as well. Make sure you give your window attention with a nice curtain. Scrub, mop, and sweep. Nothing draws attention like a clean space.

Paint the Space

A fresh coat of paint goes a long way. Add a fresh coat with either the same color or a new color but make sure that it is calm and cool. A lot of time is spent in the laundry room, keep things neutral and relaxing.  

Add Some Shelves

You don't have to go crazy on the shelves. Simple wire shelves will do; they are easy to install and inexpensive. They come in all white and various sizes so it should be easy to match the space.

Use Some Baskets

There is no need to stock up on baskets if you already have a some. I would how every suggest you get a good set that matches and fits on the shelves properly. Just to store basic items out of view.

Hide the Essentials

All the items that you have deemed laundry room appropriate should now be put away and stored appropriately. Keep your laundry room clean with a place for everything and everything in its place.

Keep up with the Laundry Room

Cleaning is a job of itself but with great care you should be able to rally the troops to support you clean venture for the sale of your home. Keep up with your cycles and don't let things pile up on you. Your laundry room is the only room you, stage it for right and keep it clean.

The goal for home staging is to create an attractive or enjoyable experience for every home buyer by addressing each little detail with the utmost care by capturing each room's full potential. Some spaces are open and easy, but others might be more difficult especially when it comes to small rooms. For Showhomes Home Staging, the task could not be any more exciting, but for a homeowner, it presents a challenge. Lucky there a few things you can do to give your small bedroom a fresh look with a more significant appearance.

1. Choosing the Right Colors

When deciding the color of the room walls, you always hear that you must use a neutral color like white. Well, sometimes that is just too boring and bland. The idea behind white paint is it reflects the light better. Since white is a light color, scrolling down the palette in the light tones will do just the same. Take your pick because the array of colors is endless but remember keep your personal touches out of it.

2. Picking the Right Furniture

As with many homes, the small rooms always have a large bed. Do the space justice and select the appropriate size bed to show the room's full potential. Oversize beds crowd space, and anything smaller than a twin is impractical unless designated as toddlers room.

3. Get a Reflection

The use of mirrors adds depth to the room and different perspective. Placing a mirror above a desk or across from a window will visually expand the atmosphere. Small mirrors look great clustered together, and large mirrors look best alone.

4.Use your space wisely

Capitalize on the vertical space from the wall to the windows. Size the right curtains without crowding the space or touching floors. The use of open legged furniture allows for light to show you have nothing to hide. Vertical dressers or chest of drawers could complement your room with crowding space.  

5.Keep it Simple

Whatever room you prepare for showing, take great care and time to draw a full concept of design before you make your approach. Just keep things simple and comfortable. For other tips and ideas feel free to visit Showhomestampa.com for inspiration.

When staging your home, the bathroom may be overlooked in the aspect to be prepared for viewing. Staging bathrooms are just as important if not more than important than any other room throughout your home. Because the bathroom is the one single place where a person can relax with little interruption, it should resemble something to the effect of a private spa atmosphere with the luxurious hotel bathroom look. Here are a few things to take into account to make your bathroom ready for the sale.

1. Cleanliness

Cleanliness is one of the first details a person will notice when entering in any room. It can almost be felt in the air. A few seconds glance in the room is all a person needs to decide if they like it or not. The look, the feel, the smell are all held to account in a split second. So why not ensure the best experience for all the buyer senses.

The best way to capture the spa atmosphere is a deep scrubbing in all the hard to reach places from top to bottom. Tile grout, shower corners, bathtub edges, and sealed seams, there should be no surface untouched.

Ever noticed that your bathroom is darker almost like the light has a dimmer? It's not your bulb going out; it is most likely your light fixture cover full of dust and bugs. Over time small insects find the way into the cover while dust adheres to the outside surface. A quick cleaning should brighten things up.

The exhaust vent cover is another hot spot as well. Over time the vent cover will collect with dust and floating lent restricting the airflow which could allow for smells or moister to linger. Resulting bacteria growth.

Showers, tubs, sink faucets and handles have the natural, appealing shine that is expected in bathrooms. Polishing the chrome surfaces will bring new life to older faucets and drains.

2. Hide your Personals

Clear the surfaces of counters and ledges of products and undesirables. There is no need to embarrass the buyer or yourself by leaving your goods out for all to see.  Items like toothpaste, toothbrush, makeup, grooming appliances, lady items, man items and reading material should be stowed. Use your storage space in the bathroom the best you can to show that you're not afraid of your bathrooms potential.

3. Themed Bathrooms

When choosing your theme, mellow neutral tones are best to give the room a more open look. Establishing a theme in your bathroom will not only to keep you on track with decorating but also to provide the space with a unique wholesome appeal. Remember to keep your personal touches out and always keep it simple. There is no reason to clutter your clean bathroom with treasures and nick-nacks.

4. Decor

Adding a picture or two on the walls to fill space following the theme is a nice touch. The use of a soap dispenser near the sink with a matching towel, floor mats, shower curtain and small vegetation could complete your picture-perfect bathroom.

5. Consideration Replacing

If some items cannot be fixed, then it might be time to replace things with past trends. Towels hanger, toilet paper holder or leaking faucets are an easy fix with low costs. The small upgrades add the little details that are noticed.

Conclusion

The bathroom is usually the smallest space that displays the greatest amount of details. Taking the time to expose your bathrooms potential to the buyer is imperative. Even if the buyer often would just glance through the door, they are taking all the little details into account.  

Benefits of Being a Home Manager

There are many different benefits of being a home manager that few know. And several more advantages that will make you consider becoming one.

First, ask yourself who do you know that's a home manager? What are there jobs? How often do they travel? Do they get paid to home manage? And more importantly what is expected of them?

Well, these questions are what we are here to answer.

What do they do?

Home managers are individuals that occupy a vacant home that is on the market. Manages are usually trainer and hired by realtors or home staging companies. The idea is the manager lives in and gives each home a loved and lived-in atmosphere that helps shape the buyer's thoughts to imagine what if they live there.

During the showing and sales process, the home is rented at a reduces cost until sold. The manager is usually never expected to do home showing or be present for a showing, and there are never long-term commitments.

Travel and Relocation

Is there anywhere in America that you like to see before fully committing to a long lease or purchase? As a home manager, you can pick up and choose a destination. From the sandy beaches of Florida to the Northern Coast of Washington State the possibilities are endless. If you choose a city like Tampa, you love, who says you have to leave. There are always companies like Showhomes - Home Staging that offers locations and specialized training.

Experience an Area Before Purchasing

If you are deciding to move to a new area, you can find a home and make your move. It's as easy as that. Several locations offer furnishing in them that are usually staged from top to bottom; which makes for easy and light traveling.

Extravagant and Luxurious

Many of the realtors that are seeking home managers are offering gorgeous homes; ranging from a worth of millions to hundreds of the thousands. Some of which are beachfront properties, or are close to waterways and some with indoor pools and hot tubs.

Affordable Rental for Individuals and Families

Individuals and families can afford amazing homes through home managing.

From families keeping up with a lavish life to individuals looking to enjoy there single years, home managing is the position to have for a glimpse of the high life.

Conclusion

Becoming a home manager is an option for any person looking to experience a high living without the cost. The luxurious homes in America are being sold faster because of home staging and home managers. Is it time for you look into home managing?

What is a Home Manager

What comes to mind when you hear Home Manager? To some, the thought of a nanny or a butler is the first inclination, a person who cares for your home or family while away or daily working. While technically this is true depending on your cultural background or customs, however, for many others, home managing has taken a whole new meaning, especially in the real estate business.

How do you ask? Real estate enthusiasts, agents and liked minded individuals have figured out that there are particular steps and tricks to selling a home quicker. The first is to hire a home stager to organize and decorate the overall layout and atmosphere of the home. The stager displays the potential of each room in every house by setting the home as a stage for buyers.

The second is to hire a home manager to oversee the house while on the market until sold. The idea of a home manager is they will reside in and care for the home ensuring it is always ready to be shown to potential buyers. They create a-lived-in atmosphere that radiates love and appreciation. One great thing about a home manager is they are never present for any showings. Depending on the company a specific criterion is expected. Some home managers are required to provide extravagant furnishings while others like Showhomes - Home Staging in Tampa offer furnishings and training.

Home managers range from individuals to whole families who are often relocating to build a new home by seeking temporary housing. This allows them time to get to know the areas before purchasing. Cities around all of the United States from Tampa, Florida to California are seeking home managers for home care.  

If you are seeking a life change or looking to maintain a current level of lifestyle while maintaining flexibility with no long-term leasing requirements, then home managing is for you. There is no better way to travel and learn the great wonders of the luxurious living from designer quality home to designer quality home.