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Staging for the Holidays
How to balance the right amount of holiday cheer in your for-sale home
By Barbara Ballinger CTW FEATURES
Many wait all year to spruce up their homes for the holiday period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Out come wreaths, poinsettias, trees with heirloom decorations, antique menorahs, pinecone centerpieces, hand towels with cute reindeers, and rows of candles with seasonal smells. The list goes on and on… But so does the potential clutter that may conceal beautiful doorways, window frames, banisters and even a room’s gracious square footage and natural light. At holiday time, it’s important for homeowners who have listed their houses to show restraint, no matter how important their family traditions are. And now there’s another reason. “The economic times make it prudent not to go overboard. People are retreating to a more simplistic lifestyle and looking for ways to do more with less. Going overboard when selling sends the wrong message,” says Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate in Parsippany, N.J. If you’re not sure, how much is too much – or too little, since you don’t want to seem like a Scrooge – walk the middle ground between showing some holiday spirit. Just not too much. The good news, according to Julie Dana, a professional stager and co-author
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of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Staging Your Home to Sell (Alpha, 2007), is that most potential buyers who look during the holidays are serious rather than voyeurs. “They wouldn’t be looking at this busy time if they weren’t. There also aren’t as many houses on the market, since many owners take theirs off since they’re busy,” Dana says. The following tips should help when decorating this holiday season: Make Photos Season-Neutral Holiday decorations limit photos’ impact both before and after the season, says Dana. It also tells how long the house has been on the market, another no-no, she says. “If you must take photos while the house is decorated, take the time to slide the tree out of the room or crop the image so it doesn’t include holiday displays,” she says. Give Decorations a Limited Lifespan Dana suggests putting up the decorations only the last two weeks of December. Having them up at all makes buyers feel that they’re intruding on your personal family time, but they’ll understand when the décor is on display right around Christmas or Hanukkah. Keep Decorations Minimal Never use anything plastic or vinyl – and especially never put out blown-up lawn ornaments, says Dana. Even outside, go with simple twinkling white lights rather than anything cascading or garish,
adds designer Leslie G. Parraguirre of Colours Inc. in Las Vegas. The best decorations are natural, such as real pine cones and poinsettia plants. But even keep these to a minimum, she says. Color should also be minimized, with gold, silver, platinum and white being the best universal choices, says Parraguirre. The worst offenders are cute characters on everything from wreaths to hand towels and china. The reason? They distract lookers from focusing on the home’s décor. The same goes for any religious
symbols, she says. One menorah is fine but not a collection of 16. Set Out the Right Tree For homeowners who can’t bear to celebrate without a tree, choose one when listing your home that’s tall and skinny rather than wide and full, since it will take up less floor space and allow the area to appear larger and brighter. Also consider a few fresh cut greens for aromatics, says Parraguirre.
Play It Safe Because the holidays often mean snow and ice in certain parts of the country, be sure decorations don’t include ice- and snow-covered paths and driveways. Indoors, be sure you have a place where buyers can remove boots or shoes. And since it gets dark much earlier, be sure you turn on a sufficient number of outdoor lights – though not so many that your house resembles an airport runway. © CTW Features
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Hot Remodeling Projects for the Coming Year Many homeowners want to stay put and enjoy their current homes more by remodeling… judiciously
By Barbara Ballinger CTW FEATURES
With so much concern about the economy, many homeowners are skittish about moving and also wary about spending remodeling dollars, out of fear that they’ll never recoup them. Yet, what better time than now to enjoy one’s home, especially when funds are spent prudently? We asked Bill Carter, CR, CKBR, owner of William Carter Co., a design/build remodeling firm in Sacramento, Calif., for his advice on what he considers to be the safest but also most popular remodeling projects to undertake now. Here is what Carter, who became president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry this month had to say: Bathrooms Bathrooms, especially master baths, are generating great interest. Many homeowners have already remodeled their kitchens and many of the fixtures or tiles and countertops in their bathrooms have worn out due to hard daily use, says Carter. His suggestions for worthwhile improvements in the room are a window or larger window; a larger shower without a tub if the room is relatively small but a larger shower and tub combination if the
room is bigger; a quick-flushing toilet that consumes less water, which some states require; and a solid-surface vanity countertop for easy cleaning. Family Room/Great Room Because more people are staying home, they want a big comfortable room where everyone can congregate, preferably one that’s open and adjacent to the kitchen. “This is the room where homeowners want to put a big-screen TV and maybe a small table for playing cards or doing homework,” Carter says. The room should have good light, some storage and, preferable a wood rather than carpeted or tiled floor. Kitchen While homeowners still want to remodel their kitchens (and do so nicely), many are cutting back on some of the bells and whistles if their budgets don’t permit. They may do without a built-in coffee center, pot filler spout or warming drawer, Carter says. Some are also looking closely at how they can trim their appliance package and do without a second dishwasher or wall oven, for instance. If the budget needs to be pared to a much greater degree, Carter advises going with the best you can afford in cabinets and countertops since you want
these to last rather than have to replace them soon again. Outdoor Living Center There’s a range of possibilities – and prices – when it comes to outfitting your backyard, from a simple roof over a bench with a barbecue to an elaborate pergola with full kitchen with barbecue, side burners, under-counter refrigerator, freezer, sink with hot water, wine cooler and fireplace or fire pit, Carter says. And for those whose budgets are even bigger, they might want to install a hookup for audio and an outdoor TV, he says. The
Remodel by Kessler Construction Services, Cincinnati, East Central Contractor of the Year award winner in the Residential Kitchen $ 0,000 to $ 0,000 category. Image courtesy National Association of the Remodeling Industry
good news is that future homeowners are likely to favor any outdoor improvements since homeowners like the idea of “staycationing.” – vacationing at home. “The quality of improving your life at home is worth making other sacrifices for,” Carter says. Breezeway and Garage Attaching a garage to the house makes sense to avoid trekking outdoors, particularly in climates with inclement weather. If the garage already is
connected, Carter says another popular improvement is to fix up the garage with an epoxy or painted floor, cabinets or other organizational systems and better lighting. Some homeowners are even turning their garage into a livable space with an area for a workshop, exercise corner, home office or man’s cave. Energy-Efficient Improvements Increasing energy costs and a cold winter in many parts of the country have made more homeowners value improving
the energy efficiency of their house and its various systems and architectural elements. Among the surest ways are to be sure windows, doors, attics and roofs are sealed tightly and that HVAC systems are working at their maximum efficiency both in winter and summer. “Before you work on the cosmetics of your home, be sure the infrastructure is in good shape,” Carter says. Green Remodeling Another concern that has captured See Remodeling, page 26
Remodel by Jackson Design & Remodeling, San Diego, Southwest Contractor of the Year award winner in the Residential Interior $100,000+ category. Image courtesy National Association of the Remodeling Industry
Remodeling, continued from page 25
homeowners’ interest in recent years and months is making choices that look good but also are environmentally prudent, whether the component is made from a renewable resource like bamboo or the finish from a no- or low-VOC paint or
manufactured or processed locally rather than halfway around the globe. NARI is working to encourage green remodeling by offering contractors and other homerelated professionals courses in sustainable remodeling, as well as a green-remodeling certification, known as CGP. “We’re
trying to make consumers and contractors aware of what they can do to help,” says Carter. © CTW Features
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Fireplaces: The Hot New Amenity And heat, surprisingly, has little to do with it By Barbara Ballinger CTW FEATURES
Fireplaces have become a must-have feature in more homes today, and not just in family or living rooms in houses located in cold climates. Buyers are seeking houses with indoor fireplaces in kitchens, master bedrooms and bathrooms, and outdoor versions constructed on screened porches, terraces and decks near cooking stations and alongside swimming pools. Half of all U.S. households have at least one fireplace or freestanding stove, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. And fireplaces rank among the top three features desired by new homeowners,
after porches and upgraded kitchens, according to the National Association of Home Builders. The fireplaces increased popularity often has little to do with the structures original purpose in this countrys earliest homes. In those, they actually were needed to provide warmth. Now, with quality HVAC systems more commonplace, they’ve become a decorating focal point, often pushing
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aside the big-screen TV or at least sharing top billing. And sometimes those rooms are in warm-weather locations. Theyre for looks and the feelings they generate such as nostalgia and romance, says architect Jane Gitlin, author of Fire Places: A Practical Design Guide to Fireplaces and Stoves Indoors and Out (The Taunton Press, 2006). Trisha Gregory, marketing director for fireplace manufacturer Hearth and Home Technologies, Lakeville, Minn., says that a growing number of homeowners are placing them in spa bathrooms and kitchens. But choosing what type of fireplace to include has become more challenging because of increased choices models in sleek materials like black granite; artistic creations without mantels; small portrait gas fireplaces; and EPA-certified wood-burning fireplaces with glass doors that can warm a room while not sending all the heat up a chimney. Besides fireplace manufacturers, other companies have rushed in with smart products. Jarden Home Brands, Muncie, Ind., produces greenfirelogs. The newest item from their Pine Mountain brand are clean-burning, all-natural logs made from renewable resources; they create 85 percent less carbon monoxide than traditional firewood while reducing chimney buildup by 76 percent, according to the company’s Web site. If a fireplace is a new concept to you,
ponder these possibilities before you forge ahead: Going Beyond Wood The first big decision you need to make is whether to select a woodburning, gas or electric fireplace. Woodburning fireplaces require more planning, says Gitlin. You have to have a supply of logs, a sturdy chimney, be willing to light a fire and keep it going, put it out when done and clean up ashes afterward, she says. But they offer great charm and romance. It’s a smell and sight that’s hard to duplicate. For those not passionate about the wood-burning aroma or the process of stoking a fire but want a good approximation, a gas fireplace that can be switched on and off is a smart choice, Gitlin says. Many new models eliminate the need for perimeter-wall installation (for ventilation purposes), and they’ve also duplicated the classic wood-burning look better thanks in part to more-realistic logs. Another option is an electric fireplace, which started as a trend in England, migrated to Canada and was then adopted in the U.S., according to Mark Asofsky, founder of Twin-Star International Inc., Delray Beach, Fla., a manufacturer of electric fireplaces. Its ClassicFlame design, for instance, requires no venting, gas line, wood logs, cleanup or permit. The only maintenance is to occasionally replace a 60-watt light bulb, Asofsky says. Pellet stoves, developed after the 70s energy crisis, use organic waste products, such as sawdust, and are exempt from EPA requirements for emissions, says Gitlin.
Decide on Design Relate the design to the style and materials in your house, as well as your lifestyle. A sleek, modern gas fireplace or one surrounded with glass mosaic tiles may fit better in a contemporary home, while a Victorian-style fireplace may look more appropriate in a traditional house. Certain materials are more popular in certain areas of the country, says Gina Ott, director of store design for Hearth and Home Technologies. For instance, pre-cast stone, which can be painted, has more appeal in the West while ledgestone and fieldstone are preferred in the Midwest, she says. Try Outside An important trend reflects homeowners increased interest in spending time outdoors. Fireplaces generating buzz are those constructed adjacent to interior fireplaces so that the chimney houses both flues, freestanding fireplaces on terraces or by pools, campstyle firepits, pizza ovens and portable fireplaces. On one screened porch, Gitlin’s architecture firm, Westport, Conn.-based
Huelster Design in Westport, Conn., built a fireplace that’s the outdoor version of a smoking room. Screens rise up and cigars can be enjoyed while viewing a flatscreen TV, she says. A New Way to Woo Fireplaces also are being used by multiunit dwellings and new developments to attract new buyers. The Mezzo condo in Atlanta offers units with terraces with outdoor gas fireplaces. The Chateaux, a community of about 200 homes in Asheville, N.C., has condos with gas stone fireplaces inside and outside to take advantage of the area’s scenic terrain and cooler mountain temperatures. Many buyers expect them in this price range from $500,000 to $1.2 million, says Ken Jackson, one of the development’s partners.
Flickering Prices Know that prices vary often determined by the size of the fireplace, its materials and bells and whistles. A fireplace with wood mantel may start at $3,500 and go up to $15,000, if customized; a stone design may start at $8,000 and climb to $20,000, Ott says. A nice, small electric fireplace made of painted fiberboard may cost $300, and a larger solid wood design could run $700. © CTW Features
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