Tuesday, November 5, 2013
REAL ESTATE, NEW ORLEANS : How To Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests
REAL ESTATE, NEW ORLEANS : How To Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests: Is your home ready for holiday visits from friends and family? Here’s how to prepare for the invasion. Some preparations for holiday g...
How To Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests
Is
your home ready for holiday visits from friends and family? Here’s how to
prepare for the invasion.
Some preparations for
holiday guests take only a few minutes; some take a lot longer. Start preparing
your home for the holidays now.
Declutter guest
rooms and public areas — foyer, kitchen, living room, den, and dining room.
Remove anything unnecessary from countertops, coffee tables, and ottomans; if
it’s out of sight, keep it out of mind, for now.
Light the way: Even though you can navigate your home blindfolded, your
guests can’t. Make sure outside lights are working so they don’t trip on the
way to your door. Put motion-activated night lights in hallways, bathrooms, and
bedrooms to ensure safe passage after the sun sets.
Child proofing: Ask parents to bring hardware that keeps their small ones safe,
such as baby gates and cabinet locks. Transfer toxic cleaners and medicines
from base to wall cabinets. Hide matches and lighters.
Entryway upgrades
Your home’s foyer is
the first place guests see, so make a good first impression.
·
Upgrade exterior entry doors or give old doors a
new coat of paint. Polish and tighten door hardware, and oil hinges to prevent squeaks.
·
Clear out shoes,
umbrellas, and other clutter.
Kitchen prep
Your kitchen is
command central during the holidays, so make sure it’s ready for guests and
extra helpers.
·
Move your coffee
station into a family room so guests don’t crowd the kitchen when you’re trying
to fix meals.
·
If you like to visit
while you’re cooking, place extra stools and chairs around the perimeter of
your kitchen so guests can set a spell.
Bathroom storage
Bring toilet paper,
towels, and toiletries out of hiding, and place them on open shelves so guests
can find them easily.
If you don’t have enough
wall space for shelves, place these items in open baskets around the bathroom.
Also, outfit each tub
with a bath mat (to avoid falls) and each toilet with a plunger (to avoid
embarrassment).
For other tips go to http://findneworleansproperties.com/
Monday, October 28, 2013
Living Smart: Bathroom Remodeling
Bathroom remodeling continues to be one of the most popular
home improvement projects. If you’re
moving beyond the imagining stage and are ready to get serious about renovating
a bathroom, here are trends and tips to keep in mind.
What you can do with a bathroom depends on its size and
who’s using it. Hall bathrooms are commonly used by kids and guests, and an
update may be focused more on making the most of a high-traffic, cramped room.
Ideas include replacing a mirror with a medicine chest faced with a mirror, or
replacing a pedestal sink with a vanity that has cabinet space. A master
bathroom, however, is usually larger and more private. It’s a likely candidate
for a spa makeover. Some ideas from highly rated remodelers:
—Replace the tub with a luxury shower featuring multiple
showerheads and handheld sprayers, or a large rain-style shower head.
—Create a fresh, clean look with a frameless glass shower
door.
—Upgrade with granite or solid-surface materials.
—Focus less on the latest design trend or fad, and more on
elements, fixtures and colors that will stand the test of time.
—Incorporate universal design — which is intended to ensure
that a project is useful for people of all ages, abilities and sizes. Among the
ideas: Replace lower toilets or sinks with taller options that require less
stooping or bending.
Plan to do your homework before starting the project. Be
realistic about your budget. The average cost of bath remodeling in 2013 was
$18,538, down slightly from 2012, according to the National Kitchen & Bath
Association.
Before you start talking to contractors:
—Check websites and magazines for designs and ideas.
Research materials and products at showrooms and retail stores. This will help
contractors more accurately estimate the time and cost for your project.
—Talk to neighbors, friends and family about their projects.
Check contractors’ reviews on a trusted online review site.
—Get multiple bids and ask for and check references.
Questions to ask include: Did the contractor meet expectations? Were there
delays or miscommunications? How did the contractor handle requested changes?
—Get at least three written estimates that clearly define
the project and what materials will be used.
—Make sure you can reach a contractor when you need to.
—Be sure the contractor you hire is appropriately licensed,
insured and bonded. Bathroom remodeling work often requires electrical and
plumbing work — two of the most often regulated trades.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
TIPS FOR A GREAT LOOKING HOME THIS FALL!
It’s hard to believe that fall is already upon us. Summer
may be over, but now is not the time to neglect a home’s exterior, especially
if it’s going to soon be listed for-sale this season. Here are a few tips to
help you embrace the fall season and keep your property looking its best:
· The most obvious
tip: rake up leaves on a frequent basis;
· Inspect your
gutters regularly and remove any leaves that get trapped;
· Carry on weeding
garden beds and walkways;
· Remove all
annual flowers that are no longer blooming and plants that are past their “best
before” date. Dead vegetation gives the
impression of a home not cared for;
· Readjust the
timers on outdoor lighting displays since it now gets dark earlier;
· Give your
gardens some liveliness by planting fall flowers such as chrysanthemums. Choose
a color that compliments the exterior of your home;
· Redesign your flowers
pots – it’s time for a fall theme;
· Add some
vignettes. Sometimes, it’s the little things that produce the most
attention. My personal favorite for
generating anticipation in potential buyers is to create a simple fall vignette
on the porch. Pumpkins add a punch of color and provide a warm, welcoming look
when blended with something interesting like a couple of antique lanterns, for
example. Be careful not to add too many
items to the vignette or it will appear too cluttered.
If there’s a swing or rocking chair on the porch, add
cushions with a generous amount of orange in them to tie everything
together. If you pay this much attention
to the exterior of your home, buyers will be anxious to see what awaits them
behind the front door
Have I missed anything?
Feel free to add your fall tips to the list!
For more real estate related tips go to http://findneworleansproperties.com/
Thursday, October 10, 2013
GREAT SPACES
Celine Dion sold more than 200 million albums worldwide. She is so amazing that she built herself her very own private
resort, complete with a water park! Who in the world has their own water park!?
Celine Dion does, and that $72.5 million compound is now up for grabs.
Dion’s Jupiter Island, Fla., estate sits on nearly six acres
and has more than 400 feet of waterfront. Celine designed the compound herself!
She purchased the estate’s two homes for $12.5 million and $7 million each back
in 2004 and 2008, respectively. Increasing home values, the home’s three pools
and water park, as well as the prime oceanfront make up for the price tag. The
water park itself includes slides and a lazy river at the bottom, along with a
foot bridge for the kids.
Inside, the home continues to boast a Bahamian-style resort
feel, with five bedrooms fit for any diva. The master bedroom has a walk-in
closet with an automated rack for clothing and shoes. A wrap-around terrace
with a hot tub is attached. Celine’s guests have an entirely separate
guesthouse to spread out among eight additional bedrooms.
For information on homes for sale go to http://findneworleansproperties.com/
Saturday, September 21, 2013
PRIDE OF HOME OWNERSHIP
In such a depleted real estate market as we see today it’s
not often that a really nice home comes up for sale. Here is one that is
definitely going to grab buyers’ attention. Listed only a few days ago, it
shows the pride of ownership.
2313 Burdette St., New Orleans, LA 70118
or visit
findneworleansproperties.com
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