Proper illumination makes a home feel warm, inviting, and even larger and more open. Changing the light bulbs can be like putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls. It can really freshen up the look and make a huge difference. Lightening and brightening a home can offer the second biggest return to sellers at resale (behind the cleaning and decluttering). Upgrading lighting fixtures and cleaning windows can potentially offer a nearly three-fold return on investment at the time of resale.
Use clear light bulbs. Place new incandescent light bulbs in all fixtures so they don't risk burning out in the middle of a showing. Choose clear light bulbs over opaque for a cleaner look.
Reconsider energy-efficient bulbs. To save the energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs for after the move because they emit a harsh glare compared to standard incandescent bulbs. Use halogen flood bulbs, when possible, for best overhead lighting that brightens a space. They are more energy-efficient than incandescent flood light bulbs. If deciding between white and soft white, soft white is preferable.
Watch the wattage. Use the highest wattage possible for fixtures to brighten the home. 30-watt bulbs in wall sconces in the bathroom to create a softer light setting.
Clean light fixtures. Brush off dusty lamp shades, scoop up the dead flies lingering inside the fixtures, and remove any spiderwebs dangling from chandeliers.
Brighten the exterior windows. Take more advantage of natural light by removing window screens. Don't forget to wash those windows, too!
Replace dated light fixtures. Swap out dated models for a modern look featuring oil-rubbed bronze or brushed nickel.
Add a mirror. Mirrors can be used to bounce light and make a home look brighter and its walls higher. Place a mirror opposite a lighting fixture to project more light into a room or to catch light entering through a window.
Open the windows. Remove draperies that prevent natural light from flowing in.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Spam in Your Hand
Fake text messages soar as email users wise up.
In 2012, cellphone spam - often called "smish-ing" - has tripled compared with 2011 levels. At least 70 % of cellphone text span attempts to defraud you.
Ignore instructions to text "STOP" or "NO" to prevent future texts. This is a common ploy by scammers to confirm they have a live, active contact for more cellphone spam. Never dial call-back numbers either. Forward the texts to 7726 (SPAM on most keyboards). This will alert your cellphone carrier to block future texts from those numbers.
In 2012, cellphone spam - often called "smish-ing" - has tripled compared with 2011 levels. At least 70 % of cellphone text span attempts to defraud you.
Ignore instructions to text "STOP" or "NO" to prevent future texts. This is a common ploy by scammers to confirm they have a live, active contact for more cellphone spam. Never dial call-back numbers either. Forward the texts to 7726 (SPAM on most keyboards). This will alert your cellphone carrier to block future texts from those numbers.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Curb Appeal
A property's curb appeal makes a critical first impression.
FRONT DOOR
A front door can be a home's focal point. Replacing an entryway door with a new steel door (which costs about $1,200) actually offers among the biggest bang for the buck at resale (an average of 73% of the cost may be recouped, according to Remodeling magazine's 2011-2012 Cost vs. Value Report). Sometimes a front door can be salvaged with a fresh coat of paint.
WINDOWS
Wash them - inside and out - and remove the screens for added sparkle. Also, consider a new color for shutters. The trend is a shift away from high-contrast green, red, or black to more monochromatic palettes that blend with the rest of the house.
GARAGEDoes the door need paint or repairs? Should it be replaced? A new steel garage door can cost about $1.500, but sellers, in average, recoup nearly 72 percent of that investment at resale, according to the Cost vs. Value Report.
FRONT PORCH
Don't overlook this key selling point. "Sell" your front porch as additional square footage by staging it with as much care as you would other rooms.
DRIVEWAY
Is the driveway covered with cracks and oil stains? If you can't afford a complete resurfacing (which may cost about $2,000 for concrete driveways), look into patching up cracks using premixed concrete materials.
AFTER DARK
Evening curb appeal also matters. Conceal a couple of portable outdoor lamps and aim them at the house or a beautiful tree for low-cost, high-value impact. Have outdoor lights on a timer so they're always on for nighttime showings. Interior lights, too, work to create a warm glow from the curb.
FRONT DOOR
A front door can be a home's focal point. Replacing an entryway door with a new steel door (which costs about $1,200) actually offers among the biggest bang for the buck at resale (an average of 73% of the cost may be recouped, according to Remodeling magazine's 2011-2012 Cost vs. Value Report). Sometimes a front door can be salvaged with a fresh coat of paint.
WINDOWS
Wash them - inside and out - and remove the screens for added sparkle. Also, consider a new color for shutters. The trend is a shift away from high-contrast green, red, or black to more monochromatic palettes that blend with the rest of the house.
GARAGEDoes the door need paint or repairs? Should it be replaced? A new steel garage door can cost about $1.500, but sellers, in average, recoup nearly 72 percent of that investment at resale, according to the Cost vs. Value Report.
FRONT PORCH
Don't overlook this key selling point. "Sell" your front porch as additional square footage by staging it with as much care as you would other rooms.
DRIVEWAY
Is the driveway covered with cracks and oil stains? If you can't afford a complete resurfacing (which may cost about $2,000 for concrete driveways), look into patching up cracks using premixed concrete materials.
AFTER DARK
Evening curb appeal also matters. Conceal a couple of portable outdoor lamps and aim them at the house or a beautiful tree for low-cost, high-value impact. Have outdoor lights on a timer so they're always on for nighttime showings. Interior lights, too, work to create a warm glow from the curb.
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