New Law Likely Will Lead to Higher Prices for Furniture
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
Those kitchen cabinets may soon get pricier.
A new law recently signed by President Obama limits the amount of formaldehyde used in U.S. products. Formaldehyde can be found in the glue that holds wood together, often used in furniture, cabinets, and inexpensive wood products.
While the new law will make furniture greener — and safer to your health — some furniture-makers will likely need to increase the cost of their products as they explore an alternative to using formaldehyde. Some industry experts predict that furniture pricetags may increase anywhere from 5-15 percent on items that currently contain the formaldehyde-based glue.
In high doses, formaldehyde can be dangerous to your health. Health experts have linked it to respiratory problems and even cancer.
The health dangers of formaldehyde gained widespread attention after trailers for victims of Hurricane Katrina were banned when some victims experienced respiratory problems from the formaldehyde used in the trailers’ walls, cabinets, and ceilings, according to a recent article in USA Today (Furniture to be Greener, But Pricier by Jayne O’Donnell).
It could be at least three years before all products sold in the United States must meet the new guidelines, which limits formaldehyde emissions to 0.09 parts per million or less. In California, which paved the way for the federal law, furniture stores must comply sooner — Dec. 31, 2011.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/Ej_ZBURlwsM/
5 Ways to Pair Function and Comfort
By Barbara Ballinger, Architecture Coach columnist
Functionality is still a key driver when home owners spend thousands of dollars to build and remodel kitchens and bathrooms. But high performance shouldn’t exclude comfort — and fun. These products, which were highlighted at the 2010 annual National Kitchen & Bath Association show in Chicago, mesh function and comfort:
1. Warmly Yours adds the right amount of warmth just where it’s needed to make bathing, shaving, or applying make-up easier and more delightful, with radiant floor mats, towel warmers, and defoggable mirrors. Outdoors, sensors can detect wetness and cold to warm surfaces, whether a driveway, front walk, or patio.
2. Known for its dish drawers, Fisher & Paykel introduced an all-in-one “CoolDrawer” that makes gathering in the kitchen more enjoyable. The undercounter, variable-temperature drawer can be programmed to chill or freeze foods and store wine.
3. Glass works well as a countertop surface since it’s fashioned from recycled content, is low maintenance, nonporous, durable, and can be molded into curves or angles. But it also can be an artistic, fun surface to work on. ThinkGlass’ control panel allows the glass to change colors while also being illuminated.
4. Bathing hasn’t been just about getting clean since ancient times, but today’s tubs keep upping the ante on how relaxing the experience it can be. Kohler’s “Fountainhead VibrAcoustic” design features vibration, recorded sound tracks–though home owners can add their own music choices, chromatherapy, and different colors for the tub itself. Maax’s “Eterne” tub offers similar pleasures with aromatherapy, chromatherapy, a quiet pump, and optional back massage heater.
5. With new standards required to make showering more water efficient, Moen’s “Envi” rainhead satisfies the need; its 100 nozzles also make the experience more soothing. The head can also be adjusted so fewer nozzles provide a more concentrated spray.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/VbzgPLyVdF0/
Small Is ‘In’, Formal Spaces ‘Out’
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
The sagging economy is influencing home design as more home owners favor smaller indoor and outdoor spaces that are often cheaper to maintain. Forget the formal spaces that are rarely used. Home owners nowadays don’t want to waste space and want to use every square inch of their home.
Home sizes and lots continue to decrease as preferences grow for low maintenance property improvements, according to the American Institute of Architects Home Design Trends Survey for the first quarter of 2010.
“We continue to move away from the McMansion chapter of residential design, with more demand for practicality throughout the home,” AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker said in a public statement about the survey results. “There has been a drop off in the popularity of upscale property enhancements such as formal landscaping, decorative water features, tennis courts, and gazebos.”
Instead, slightly more home owners than in 2009 say they want open space layouts, informal spaces, a finished basement or attic, and a single-floor plan, according to the survey.
Large, expansive homes, once on top of many home owners’ wish-lists, are being replaced with a preference for more flexible, open and informal layouts that are more conducive for families, Baker said.
But how can you ensure that small space doesn’t feel too cramped? I recently spoke with Jennie Norris, president of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, who had several tips on how you can Make Small Spaces Bigger. Read some of her tips to get ideas.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/bNZEhbAr6hk/
Small Is ‘In’, Formal Spaces ‘Out’
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
The sagging economy is influencing home design as more home owners favor smaller indoor and outdoor spaces that are often cheaper to maintain. Forget the formal spaces that are rarely used. Home owners nowadays don’t want to waste space and want to use every square inch of their home.
Home sizes and lots continue to decrease as preferences grow for low maintenance property improvements, according to the American Institute of Architects Home Design Trends Survey for the first quarter of 2010.
“We continue to move away from the McMansion chapter of residential design, with more demand for practicality throughout the home,” AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker said in a public statement about the survey results. “There has been a drop off in the popularity of upscale property enhancements such as formal landscaping, decorative water features, tennis courts, and gazebos.”
Instead, slightly more home owners than in 2009 say they want open space layouts, informal spaces, a finished basement or attic, and a single-floor plan, according to the survey.
Large, expansive homes, once on top of many home owners’ wish-lists, are being replaced with a preference for more flexible, open and informal layouts that are more conducive for families, Baker said.
But how can you ensure that small space doesn’t feel too cramped? I recently spoke with Jennie Norris, president of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, who had several tips on how you can Make Small Spaces Bigger. Read some of her tips to get ideas.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/bNZEhbAr6hk/
Color Combo Trends: Try Yellow and Gray to Brighten a Room
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
Photo Credit: Elaine Williamson
Add calmness to any room with an eye-catching color combo: yellow and gray, says designer Elaine Williamson with Elaine Williamson Designs.
“It’s so peaceful and calming –it’s just a really good combination,” says Williamson, adding that white added in can exude even more sophistication.
Need some ideas on how to mix in the color combo?
- Use gray as a base color on upholstered furniture, such as furniture with espresso-stained wood.
- Try a yellow throw pillow on a gray sofa.
Do you have a favorite color combo? Tell us what your favorite color combos are when designing a room and send a photo of it to Melissa Tracey at mtracey@realtors.org. Please include your name and contact information.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/wFPQlslibTY/
Help Sellers Get More Bang for Their Kitchen Remodel Buck
By G. M. Filisko, contributing writer, HouseLogic
A do-over in the kitchen will bowl over buyers—and sellers will recoup most of the cost when they sell. A mid-range kitchen remodel brings an average 72 percent return on investment, while an upscale kitchen re-do returns an average of 63 percent of the money invested, according to Remodeling Magazine’s most recent annual Cost vs. Value Report.
You can help sellers maximize the return on a kitchen remodel with tips now available in the July “Smart Kitchen Solutions” article package at the REALTOR® Content Resource. Here’s just a taste:
1. Keep the same footprint. No matter the size and scope of your planned kitchen, you can save major expense by not rearranging walls and locating any new plumbing fixtures near existing plumbing pipes. Not only will you save on demolition and reconstruction, you’ll greatly reduce the amount of dust and debris your project generates.
2. Focus on durability. “People are putting more emphasis on functionality and durability in the kitchen,” says Molly Erin McCabe, owner of A Kitchen That Works design firm in Bainbridge Island, Wash. That may mean resisting bargain prices and focusing on products that combine low-maintenance with long warranty periods.
“Solid-surface countertops [Corian, Silestone] are a perfect example,” adds McCabe. “They may cost a little more, but they’re going to look as good in 10 years as they did the day they were installed.” If you’re not planning to stay in your house that long, products with substantial warranties can also become a selling point.
For even more ways sellers can beef up the amount of money they recoup from a kitchen remodel, check out the July “Smart Kitchen Solutions” article package at the REALTOR® Content Resource. If sellers’ kitchen is already sizzling hot, the package also includes tips on green kitchen remodels, smart options for kitchen flooring, tips for saving energy in the kitchen, and budget-smart remodeling.
The REALTOR® Content Resource, the new tool brought to you by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, is an exclusive NAR member benefit that entitles you to download free homeownership content in your consumer website, blog, or e-newsletter. HouseLogic is the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’® no-topic-left-uncovered consumer website geared to helping homeowners make smart decisions to maintain, protect, and increase the value of their home.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/E8z3zgcMxws/
Flying the Flag Proudly and Properly
By Erica Christoffer, Multimedia Web Producer, REALTOR® Magazine
Happy Independence Day! This weekend, many of your sellers will raise the flag outside their homes in celebration of the day our nation was formed. Of course, many of you will also be displaying the American flag outside your homes and businesses. But before the Stars and Strips go up, check out these tips from the Veterans of Foreign Wars on flag etiquette:
If the flag is flown on the same staff as other flags: The U.S. flag should be at peak, above any other flag.
If the flag is grouped with other flags: The U.S. flag goes to its own right, the observer’s left. Flags of other nations are flown at same height.
When marching with the flag: The U.S. flag should be to marcher’s right, the observer’s left.
When the flag is flown over a street: Union (stars) face north or east depending on the direction of the street.
Time of day to display the flag: Traditional guidelines call for displaying the flag in public only from sunrise to sunset. However, the flag may be displayed at all times if it’s illuminated during darkness.
When the flag hangs at a public event: It should appear to the audience on the left, the speaker’s right.
Flag no-nos: Never display the flag with the union down, except as a signal of distress. The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, floor, water, etc.
Ready to put the flag away? Follow the directions of this animation to learn how to properly fold the U.S. flag:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/8xQxNX8OF2k/
Do You Need a License to Design?
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
Should interior designers be licensed? The question is being debated among a Pennsylvania House panel on whether to require interior designers to get licensed in the state.
Nevada, Florida, and Louisiana currently are the only states that require such a license.
The Pennsylvania bill, if passed, would require interior designers to hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an approved program, have two years of professional experience, and pass the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam or an equivalent test.
The license requirement would apply to interior designers who work closely with architects and would not apply to those who work as decorators or kitchen and bath remodelers. Stagers who are prepping a home for sale, therefore, would not be mandated to be licensed.
However, “those not in the ‘elite’ category could be referred to as unregulated and therefore considered as unprofessional, demoting us in the eyes of the public,” Nancy LeRoy, president of Special Spaces in Mechanicsburg, told The Patriot-News about her concerns regarding the proposed bill (Read: Interior Designers Clash Over Licensing).
On the other hand, Gavriella Fiedler, president of Interior Dimensions in Harrisburg, told The Patriot-News she was in favor of the licensing requirement for interior designers. “Without a license, anyone who has a good flair for putting colors and furniture arrangements together can call themselves a designer,” Fiedler told The Patriot-News. “I shouldn’t have to compete for the same small piece of the pie in the same geographic area with someone who hasn’t had any formal training.”
What do you think? Do you think more states should adopt a license requirement for the interior design field? And do you think such bills should go even further? For example, several great training and certification programs exist for the home staging business. Should stagers be mandated too?
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/LWx3qsL5kjo/
Bonus Rooms and Man Caves: Make Something Out of Nothing
By Charlene Storozuk, Dezigner Digz
Staging a Man Cave – BEFORE
As you know, in real estate every square foot counts (especially when it can be turned into liveable space). That’s just what we did on this project. This vacant attic had great bones and a lot of potential for many uses such as an additional bedroom or a home office.
Since this home already had four bedrooms and a fifth bedroom staged as a home office, I chose to go with something a little less conventional for this room. In fact, this was a first for me.
I decided to turn the attic into a “man cave.” The room’s shape and the fact that the home owner was not finishing the walls with drywall, leant itself to the feel of a cave.
The living room in this home had orange broadloom, which we had previously ripped up to expose the hardwood underneath. We decided to take that broadloom upstairs and lay it down in our newly created man cave.
Yes, it was orange, but somehow it seemed to work up there and gave the room a more finished look (especially since drywall was lacking).
To brighten up the space, the overhead light bulb was replaced with fluorescent lighting. Also, an old patio table was set up complete with playing cards to replicate a poker table.
Old benches were also brought upstairs to create an additional seating area. In the garage, we found old fishing rods, golf clubs, and pub posters, which were used to accessorize the space.
This was the last room that we staged. After it was completed, we were informed that a young single man in his 20’s was on his way over shortly to look at the property.
Man Cave – AFTER
For that one showing only, we brought in a large plastic pail and placed it right next to the poker table and tossed in a few empty beer and whiskey bottles for good measure. After all, staging is all about selling a lifestyle, so we tried to hit the mark on this specific targeted audience. Of course, we removed the pail afterwards.
So what was the outcome? He loved it. In fact, he ended up buying the house! Who knows, maybe the man cave sealed the deal for him.
If there’s an empty room in your listing that you aren’t sure what to do with, remember that potential buyers may question how to best use that space as well. So point them in the right direction by providing ideas on how to make it an additional, functional space.
If you can do that, you’ve just given them more bang for their buck. On top of that, if you can offer them a visual; in this case, empty bottles and fishing rods, you just might reel in a buyer.
Charlene Storozuk
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Charlene Storozuk is the owner of Dezigner Digz, a professional home staging and interior decorating company based in Burlington, Ontario. Her work is featured in the book FabJob Guide To Become A Home Stager, 2009 edition. She serves as regional vice-president, Canada for the Real Estate Staging Association and is a past recipient of the North American Leadership Award for her work as founder and president of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth RESA Chapter.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/Ov39qblEIpw/
Knock, Knock. Who’s There? A New Door
By G. M. Filisko, contributing writer, HouseLogic
Sellers who replace their front door may get a full return on their investment or even turn a profit from the increase in their home’s value, according to Remodeling Magazine’s most recent annual Cost vs. Value Report. A new door will also boost their home’s curb appeal—and may even be eligible for a tax credit to boot.
Help sellers sift through their front-door options—steel, fiberglass, or wood—with tips now available in the June “Exterior Upgrades” package of articles at the REALTOR® Content Resource. Here are some of the pros and cons of steel doors:
1. If you’re looking to save money, a steel door may be a good choice, particularly if you have the skills to hang it yourself. A simple, unadorned steel door can sell for as little as $150 (not including hardware, lock set, paint, or labor) and typically runs as much as $400 at big-box retailers. Steel offers the strongest barrier against intruders, although its advantage over fiberglass and wood in this area is slight.
2. Replacing your entry door with a steel model actually reaps a profit in added home value. Remodeling Magazine estimates the total project cost of installing a 20-gauge steel door at about $1,200—and the project, on average, returns about 129% of cost or $1,400.
3. The attractive cost of a steel door comes with an important caveat: Its typical life span under duress is shorter than either fiberglass or wood. A steel door exposed to salt air or heavy rains may last only five to seven years, according to Bob Bossard, general manager of 84 Lumber in Clarksville, Del. Despite steel’s reputation for toughness, it actually didn’t perform well in Consumer Reports testing against wood and fiberglass for normal wear and tear.
4. With heavy use, a steel door may dent, and the damage can be difficult and expensive to repair. If your door will be heavily exposed to traffic or the elements, you may be better off choosing a different material.
You’ll also find tips on landscaping for curb appeal, achieving the perfect paint job, low-maintenance lawn alternatives, and outdoor lighting for curb appeal and safety at the REALTOR® Content Resource, in the “Exterior Upgrades” package.
The REALTOR® Content Resource, the new tool brought to you by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, is an exclusive NAR member benefit that entitles you to download free homeownership content to your consumer Web site, blog, or e-newsletter. HouseLogic is the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’® no-topic-left-uncovered consumer Web site geared to helping homeowners make smart decisions to maintain, protect, and increase the value of their home.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/I-FBqFz3e3Q/
