Top Tips to Increase Curb Appeal Through Your Outdoor Patio by Courtney Soinski
Increasing your home’s curb appeal does not have to be difficult or stressful.
Check out these top tips to increase curb appeal through your outdoor patio.
1. Outdoor Materials
4. Outdoor Kitchen
Before you begin redecorating your outdoor patio, you should figure out what material is best for you, as it can affect the overall style and feel of your house. The style you bring to the outdoors should reflect the style of your house’s interior space. If you’re not sure what material to use, concrete works well with most spaces.
An outdoor kitchen with a grill and eating area can make your outdoor patio an ideal spot for the social homebuyer and also increases your home’s curb appeal.
2. Covered or Uncovered Space You should decide whether you want shade or let the sun shine into your outdoor patio. If you want some shade, you can add a trellis, awning, pergola or arbor for a distinguished outdoor look.
5. Furniture Dining al fresco is easy with simple patio furniture for your outdoor space, and it also creates a comfortable feel. Be sure that you use furniture and materials that are waterproof so that nothing on your outdoor patio gets damaged.
By taking advantage of these top tips, you can easily create a great
3. Outdoor Fire Pits
outdoor space that looks just as
Adding a fire pit or fireplace to your outdoor patio is a great addition to a home that experiences cooler nights. It also adds a comforting and warm feel for the home’s residents and their guests to enjoy.
good as your indoor living room. This is a huge benefit for buyers seeking a home with the best outdoor curb appeal.
Interior Home Design in the Lap of Luxury
1. Haute Headboards Utilizing luxurious fabric and fine details on your bed’s headboard will set it apart from all the rest. Whether it’s a specialized construction or custom upholstery, your headboard adds the finishing touch in the bedroom by bringing all design elements together.
by Courtney Soinski
2. Serene Window Seat Adding or sprucing up the window seat in your home is a great way to add some elegance. Remember to keep it simple by sticking with shades of ivory or various monochromatic hues. You can also drape curtains framed by crown molding for a dramatic effect.
3. Sophisticated Storage
Designing your home for lavish living may not be as hard as you think. In fact, by the end of this article, you’ll be able to turn a boring living room or bedroom into a luxury retreat.
When it comes to storing your belongings, the most important thing to remember is to keep them hidden. If you don’t have enough closet space, a nice piece of furniture like an armoire or dresser will do the trick.
4. Luxurious Lighting Whether you have pretty sconces in the bedroom, contemporary pendant fixtures in the living room, or a glamorous chandelier in the dining room, these lovely accents will brighten up your home in the most luxurious way.
There are so many expert design ideas out there, so it’s easy to become overwhelmed. To make it easier on you, the homeowner, we have compiled a list of our favorite ideas and projects to turn your home into the lap of luxury.
5. Fabulous Flooring
Here are some top expert decorating ideas for your next home project.
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Although accents do hold high importance in decorating the most luxurious home, don’t forget about what’s under your feet. From all types of hardwood like Eucalyptus and Koa Hardwood, to tile flooring and area rugs, there are many options for you to choose from. Which one is right for your home’s style?
Interior Home Design in the Lap of Luxury
1. Haute Headboards Utilizing luxurious fabric and fine details on your bed’s headboard will set it apart from all the rest. Whether it’s a specialized construction or custom upholstery, your headboard adds the finishing touch in the bedroom by bringing all design elements together.
by Courtney Soinski
2. Serene Window Seat Adding or sprucing up the window seat in your home is a great way to add some elegance. Remember to keep it simple by sticking with shades of ivory or various monochromatic hues. You can also drape curtains framed by crown molding for a dramatic effect.
3. Sophisticated Storage
Designing your home for lavish living may not be as hard as you think. In fact, by the end of this article, you’ll be able to turn a boring living room or bedroom into a luxury retreat.
When it comes to storing your belongings, the most important thing to remember is to keep them hidden. If you don’t have enough closet space, a nice piece of furniture like an armoire or dresser will do the trick.
4. Luxurious Lighting Whether you have pretty sconces in the bedroom, contemporary pendant fixtures in the living room, or a glamorous chandelier in the dining room, these lovely accents will brighten up your home in the most luxurious way.
There are so many expert design ideas out there, so it’s easy to become overwhelmed. To make it easier on you, the homeowner, we have compiled a list of our favorite ideas and projects to turn your home into the lap of luxury.
5. Fabulous Flooring
Here are some top expert decorating ideas for your next home project.
>>>
Although accents do hold high importance in decorating the most luxurious home, don’t forget about what’s under your feet. From all types of hardwood like Eucalyptus and Koa Hardwood, to tile flooring and area rugs, there are many options for you to choose from. Which one is right for your home’s style?
Selling? 5 Marketing Tips from Top Agents by Courtney Soinski
1. Good photography In many instances, buyers see photos of your home before they see your home, and the best photos will drive both interest and traffic to your house.
2. Don’t rely on the web to sell your home Lots of people shop on the web for homes, and there are lots of homes on the web. Stats say that 65 million shop for homes in the U.S. every month. However, only 5 million homes are sold in the U.S. every year. It’s a very crowded space, and your home should be on as many sites as possible. However, it shouldn’t be the only tactic you use to sell your home.
3. Make sure your agent includes mobile technology in your marketing plan Today, we rely on our phones to look up everything, including real estate. Your home should have a marketing plan that includes
mobile tools as a significant element. For example, your home should have a yard sign with a text code on it so that potential buyers driving by can look it up on their phone right away.
4. Market your home offline – locally. Good agents know where potential buyers of your home live, work, shop and play. They use local real estate publications, targeted direct mail, brochures, and other tools to interrupt the day of the local homebuyer.
5. Keep your home looking good Part of the marketing plan for your home is in your court. This includes how potential buyers perceive it when they walk through the door. Living in a home and keeping it ready to show is a challenge, but it will pay off when buyers find your home more attractive than others they may be considering.
Put simply, don’t wait around for homebuyers to find you. Get out there and find them through advertising – both online and offline.
Let’s Get Creative with DIY Home Hacks! by Courtney Soinski New home projects and maintaining your home can be tough. That’s why we’ve come up with some fun shortcuts you can do yourself in no time!
1. Door knobs for towel hangers Although unconventional, doorknobs make great towel hangers in the bathroom. They look stylish, too!
2. Use an old laundry basket to paint walls with polka dots Think again before you throw out that broken laundry basket! You can use it to easily paint perfect polka dots on your walls for some extra flair.
3. Lint-free window cleaning with newspaper Say goodbye to lint remnants left on your windows after cleaning them. Newspaper does the trick!
4. Bread Tie Power Cord Labels Keep your cords organized by labeling them with bread clips!
5. Use a candle on drawers for easier gliding It’s time to fix that sticky drawer! Rub a cheap votive candle on a drawer glide to help smooth operation and reduce wear.
Creative Home Design with Flea Market Finds
Recently, as I was flea market shopping for some cool antiques to decorate my apartment, I unexpectedly got inspired. There are tons of different things you can do with all those random items found at flea markets. In fact, your local flea market may have more hidden gems than you think. With
by Courtney Soinski
Second-hand chair
the right bargain and a little elbow grease, you can turn your flea market finds into beautiful, eye-catching home décor. Or, as I like to call it, “shabby chic.” Here are my favorite home decorating ideas as you embark on your next flea market adventure . . .
Drawers
Next time you go to a flea market, look for second-hand chairs that are calling your name. They’re super cheap and very easy to make over. Once you get home, just grab some fabric and a staple gun for a stylish piece of décor!
If you discover random drawers without the dresser, you can use that bargain to create extra storage in your bedroom. Just attach casters to the bottoms of the drawers for awesome and functional underbed storage units.
Textile Art Dresser with missing drawers Use your imagination when shopping for old furniture at flea markets or thrift stores. Even if a dresser is missing its drawers, the shelves are still fully functional. Give the dresser a new coat of paint and you’re good to go!
You’ll come across all sorts of scarves, textiles and fabrics at flea markets. Just find an assortment of different patterns and colors. Then, place them in frames for unique and creative wall art!
Crate Nightstand You may think that old wooden crates from the flea market seem useless and belong in the trash, but don’t make judgments too quickly! You can easily turn two wooden crates into a rustic and quirky nightstand.
Old Lamps Turn old flea market lamps into candlesticks to decorate your living or dining room. You’ll give your home a “shabby chic” look that is sure to impress new homebuyers.
Creative Home Design with Flea Market Finds
Recently, as I was flea market shopping for some cool antiques to decorate my apartment, I unexpectedly got inspired. There are tons of different things you can do with all those random items found at flea markets. In fact, your local flea market may have more hidden gems than you think. With
by Courtney Soinski
Second-hand chair
the right bargain and a little elbow grease, you can turn your flea market finds into beautiful, eye-catching home décor. Or, as I like to call it, “shabby chic.” Here are my favorite home decorating ideas as you embark on your next flea market adventure . . .
Drawers
Next time you go to a flea market, look for second-hand chairs that are calling your name. They’re super cheap and very easy to make over. Once you get home, just grab some fabric and a staple gun for a stylish piece of décor!
If you discover random drawers without the dresser, you can use that bargain to create extra storage in your bedroom. Just attach casters to the bottoms of the drawers for awesome and functional underbed storage units.
Textile Art Dresser with missing drawers Use your imagination when shopping for old furniture at flea markets or thrift stores. Even if a dresser is missing its drawers, the shelves are still fully functional. Give the dresser a new coat of paint and you’re good to go!
You’ll come across all sorts of scarves, textiles and fabrics at flea markets. Just find an assortment of different patterns and colors. Then, place them in frames for unique and creative wall art!
Crate Nightstand You may think that old wooden crates from the flea market seem useless and belong in the trash, but don’t make judgments too quickly! You can easily turn two wooden crates into a rustic and quirky nightstand.
Old Lamps Turn old flea market lamps into candlesticks to decorate your living or dining room. You’ll give your home a “shabby chic” look that is sure to impress new homebuyers.
Be Smart about Marketing a Smart Home by Courtney Soinski Are you selling a smart home? When marketing this type of residence, it’s important that you focus less on every tiny detail and focus more on the home’s features that will attract a larger audience. How do you know which features are most appealing to homebuyers? Believe it or not, the most popular features are not the newest and most technologically advanced. Rather, they are basic necessities like security, heating, cooling, and lighting.
1. Smart Security This is absolutely one of the most popular smart home features among consumers. For homeowners who travel a lot or want to monitor their home while they’re away, this is a great feature that is in high demand. It makes residents feel safe and secure. Also, if you forgot to lock the doors or set the alarm before leaving the house, this smart technology can take care of that, too.
2. Smart Lighting and Temperature Control With this smart feature, homeowners can now pull the plug on high-energy bills. Whether you forgot to adjust the temperature before going out of town, or if you left the lights on before leaving for work, smart homes allow its residents remote access to all these controls. The Nest Thermostat, for example, programs itself based on the homeowner’s specific preferences and can easily be controlled from a smart phone or tablet.
3. Smart Home Emergency Alerts This popular feature in smart homes will send warnings of emergencies like fire, burglary and carbon monoxide poisoning, which gives you more time to react and keep your loved ones safe. All in real-time, you will be notified the instant an alarm goes off, whether it be the security alarm or smoke detector. You can even view live feed from your smart phone, showing exactly where in your home that the alarm was set off. By marketing smart homes smartly, you will have an easier time selling your home to the right buyer. Always remember to market what is most important to homeowners, not every bell and whistle that comes with the property. Be a smart seller!