Is Your Home Ready to Shoot?

We know how much is involved when getting your home ready to sell: the painting, cleaning, organizing, and maintenance tasks can seem endless. Once you're ready to put your home on the market, it will be professionally photographed for the MLS and social media. You'll be advised on how to stage each room and what changes should be made to make each room look its best.

When your photo shoot has been scheduled, walk through your home before the photographer arrives. You may even want to ask a friend to walk through it with you. Look at it with a fresh set of eyes and ask yourself, "Do I want potentially thousands of people to see my home looking like this?" These images will not only be on the MLS, but also on listing sites like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com--you want them to look as good as possible. You may want to look through home decorating magazines for ideas on how to make your bed look beautiful, your bathroom spa like, and your patio one to envy. 

The photo shoot will typically take an hour or two and will cover the entire interior and exterior of your property, except the inside of the garage (unless it has an amazing workbench or other upgrades) and the basement if it is unfinished. Do not be surprised if furniture and/or accessories have been moved for the sake of a better picture; that said, do not expect the photographer to do all of the heavy lifting and rearranging for you!

Here's a checklist to help you prepare:

Inside

• Clean, vacuum, and dust every room. Remove soap scum, scuffs, scratches, and fingerprints from as many surfaces as possible. Clean air vents. Have carpets shampooed and wood floors buffed, if necessary.
• We love pets, but not in the pictures! Keep them on a leash, in your arms, in the garage, or otherwise out of sight.
• Clear off the counters in kitchen. Store sponges, dish towels, and soap under the sink. Minimize small appliances except for the coffee maker, where you may want to set out a pair of mugs. Fresh flowers always look pretty in photos, as does a nicely set table or a large bowl of fruit.
• Remove photos, notes, drawings, sports schedules, calendars, magnets, menus, and papers from the refrigerator. When was the last time you saw it this empty?
• Turn on all interior lights including under-cabinet lights, lamps, and recessed fixtures. Consider purchasing daylight bulbs if your light bulbs have a yellow cast to them.
• Simplify rooms like the study or playroom that may be heavily furnished. Conversely, rearrange furniture to better fill sparse rooms. Make sure each room has a specific purpose so as not to confuse potential buyers.
• Make all the beds and tidy bedrooms. Put clothes hampers in the closet and store toys in bins and baskets.
• Add fluffy towels to the bathrooms and remove all tub toys, shampoo bottles, bathroom wipes, hair dryers, toothbrushes, and other personal items from the vanity and shower/tub. Put the toilet brush in the garage or under the sink. Close the toilet lid.
• Open the curtains and blinds in all rooms.
• Be selective with your accessories and knick knacks. Remove the wall of wedding and family photos and replace it with a gallery that combines art, maybe a decorative clock, and a few photos. 
• Minimize religious art and political messages.
• Put trash cans in a closet.
• Turn off your computer.
• Let us  know if your home contains valuable art or family heirlooms. We can make sure it is not included or is edited to be unrecognizable.

Outside

• Put your garbage cans, recycling bins, and yard waste in the garage.
• Store all gardening tools.
• Mow and edge the yard. Remove all weeds, dead branches, and spent flowers. Add fresh mulch where necessary.
• Add color to empty spaces with potted annuals or container gardens. Keep seasonal displays minimal and tasteful.
• Sweep the walks, driveway, and front porch.
• Turn on any outdoor features such as fountains or waterfalls. 
• Remove all vehicles from the driveway and do not park directly in front of the house. Close the garage doors.
• Wipe down the patio furniture and open the patio umbrella if you have one. 
• View your home straight on from the street. Can you see the front door? Make sure hedges and tree branches are pruned to make the front door look inviting.

According to Realtor.org, nine out of 10 home buyers rely on the internet as one of their primary research sources, and 52% turn to the web as the first step in their home search.  The pictures of your home are important, and we want to make sure that your home shines in them.

Mark Your Calendar: 2014 BIA Parade of Homes

Do you have an interest in architecture or home décor? Attend the 2014 BIA Parade of Homes! Each year, different builders come together to construct a total of 12 state-of-the-art homes within a new development. This year, the Parade takes place in Trail’s End, located in Liberty Township in southern Delaware County.

The Parade of Homes will run from July 19^th to August 3^rd from 12-9PM Monday-Saturday and 12-6PM on Sundays. Admission is $15, and children 12 and under are free! You can buy tickets online or at the gate. AAA members are eligible for a $3 discount for each party member upon showing their AAA card at the box office. Note: parking is an additional $2 in cash.

The BIA Foundation Home is built by 3 Pillar Homes; other builders include Romanelli & Hughes Building Company, Bob Webb Homes, and Truberry Custom Homes, among others. Houses range in value from $679,000 to $1,195,000. Click here for details on the full list of homes and builders featured this year (shown below).

Make Your Rental More Like Home

It's very common to rent an apartment or home before buying, but this doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style and decor. Here's how you can personalize your rental and make it feel more like home:


Replace mini-blinds with fabric, woven shades, or curtains. You can even sell them to the next tenant.

Paint. Many landlords don't mind painting, but may require you to paint the unit back to its previous color (commonly white) when you move out. Better yet, some will let you keep the color so long as it is approved by the new tenants. 

Upgrade light fixtures. Select modern light fixtures to give your rental a classier look. Keep the old fixtures so that you can replace them when you eventually move out.

Use the space above kitchen cabinets. Consider placing baskets above kitchen cabinets to keep extra items, such as dish soap and paper towels. This will serve both as storage and decor.

Embrace adhesive paper. If there is an eyesore in your rental, for example a rusty fridge door, you can cover it with adhesive paper that is stylish yet easy to remove when it's time to move out.

Ask your landlord. While these tasks require landlord approval, there is room for negotiation. For example, you could offer to split the cost of new kitchen appliances. This adds value to the rental and will make it nicer to live in. Finally, some landlords have policies in which upgrades made to the apartment are permitted so long as they stay. In other words, you can add curtain rods so long as they remain with the unit in the future.

If you're feeling exrta artistic...

Remove kitchen cabinet doors, and paint the back of the cabinets an accent color. This will give the illusion of depth, and will also make the space more cozy. If you're hesitant to make such a big change, try it along one wall. You can also use a spray adhesive to attach decorative paper to the back of bookcases in order to make them more interesting.


For more more tips on how to decorate a rental, click here.

How to Make the Most of Small Spaces

Fundamentals. If you're building a small home, or get a say in its design, there's a few tricks that can help you get the most out of your space. Diagonal flooring makes rooms appear wider, while compact spiral staircases save floor space. Bay windows provide for additional light and square footage.

Function. Furniture should have storagge. Getting (and keeping) things off the floor is key to keeping a room from looking cluttered. Make sure that you use all the space you have. If you have a kitchen table but always eat at the island, remove the table. If you need one room to serve multiple purposes, separate the room by using rugs, bookcases, and so forth to define a specific space. "Hidden" features are also nice. Instead of having a DVD player and cable box sit on top of a piece of furniture, try to build it in so that it is not constantly on display. Try to buy multipurpose furniture. For example, a coffee table with tops that hinge upward can create an informal dining area in your family room while allowing you to store things in the table's hallow core. The staircase on the right contains dresser drawers.

Light. Extend curtain rods beyond window frames, collecting as much natural light as possible. Alternatively, you could forgo draperies in favor of shades. In a family or living room, consider buying tall floor lamps to make the ceilings look higher and to maximize floor space by eliminating the need for end tables.

Furniture. Round tables are most practical for small spaces because the hard corners of square and rectangular tables take up much needed space. Furniture should be tall so as to draw the eye upward. For example, cabinets and built-ins should extend all the way to the ceiling.  Finally, buy furniture that fits your space. a narrow family room may look great with an L-shaped sectional that backs up against two walls and thus makes the most of your corner space.

Paint. Generally, lighter colors make rooms feel bigger. Acentuate light, bright rooms by contrasting them with darker entryways and door and window trim. This will make rooms "pop." Paint crown molding the same color as the ceiling to make it appear more expansive.


Decor. Use mirrors, especially when opposite one another. Mirrors help gather light and make a space appear larger. Use big art, as scaled to your furniture. The length of a painting ought to reflect the length of your sofa. Small clusters of art can make a room look crowded and cluttered. Art placed higher on the walls can help make a ceiling look higher.


To watch one family's process of maximizing the space in their New York City apparent, click here.

The Latest Home Decor Trends

Colors

This year, home decorators have made it known that color is not simply for art hanging on the wall. Mint Green is the color of the summer. And it's not just reflected in clothing and jewelry: furniture and home accessories also come in this fresh color. Silver has been the metal of choice for years, but now yellow metals--gold and brass--are in. Gold accents with softer finishes (rather than full-on shine) and antique brass finishes have made their way into kitchens, bathrooms, lighting fixtures and more. Also making a comeback is wallpaper. Despite it's bad reputation, wallpaper comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and styles. If you're weary about using wallpaper, consider covering an accent wall, or a small space such as an entryway, rather than an entire room. Painted front doors freshen up a home's exterior, and painted furniture is also trendy. Dated pieces found at flea markets or secondhand shops can be transformed by a coat of paint and new hardware. This DYI project is great for creative people who like a good deal. Watercolors are also popular, not just on art, but also on fabrics and accessories. This, too, you could try yourself, by picking up watercolor paint at a craft store and applying it to lamp shades and fabrics. For more DYI projects, click here.

Materials
Exposed brick often gives a home character and style. Now, raw wood and rope are becoming just as popular. Wood is compatible with many different styles (cottage, vintage, contemporary, etc). You can find raw wood pieces at architectural salvage stores and flea markets. You can also buy new items that are meant to look distressed. Repurpose wooden objects you already own but don't often use--that latter in your garage would make a great bookshelf! Barn doors enable people to close off rooms separated by a large doorway. Simple track hardware can be found at a farm supply store. The resulting sliding door will be both practical and stylish. Like raw wood, rope also lends itself well to a variety of styles--from nautical to industrial. It provides a natural, earthly feel to any room. Woven chairs and baskets can be found at many stores, and wadded rope used as book ends or door stops are also available.

Decor
Curvy and colorful gourd lamps look great on side tables and nightstands. Statement installed light fixtures are also trendy ways to brighten up a room. Lighting show rooms and home centers showcase stylish fixtures in various styles, such as industrial. Block Prints are noted for their global appear and exotic flare. They are becomming more common (and thus affordable!) in mass produced products. Nailhead trim continues to be popular. It adds sophistication and timelessness to a piece of furniture. Lattice or trellis prints (most commonly a color pattern on a white background or the inverse) make great window treatments and throw pillows. You can also stencil patterns onto a wall, or use wallpaper.

Watch the video below for a demonstration on how to paint, sand, and distress furniture: