Recent Articles

Will Your Home Decor Affect the Resale of your Home?

| 04/17/2013

The Decor of your home is a personal thing and a reflection on your likes, dislikes and tastes. What other people think of the paintings and art on your walls, choices in wall color and even the furniture you buy doesn’t really matter so long as you love it.

But what happens when you want to sell your home? Will the decor you have in your living room, bedrooms and bathrooms affect how quickly you can sell your home?

Realtors, such as halifax real estate brokerage Innovative Real Estate, will tell you that buyers can often look past poor decor and see what is underneath, however in a crowded market where there aren’t a lot of buyers it’s important to stand out.

Home staging is a way to update the decor in your home to a more neutral and common look that will appeal to a broader spectrum of potential home buyers.

home staging example

This article from Home and Gardent Television gives you a primer on how to stage your home properly to make the most of it.

For many of us that are busy with work and family commitments hiring a home staging company might be a better alternative.

Home staging companies will come into your home, take a look at the current decor and then make some recommendations on what you can do.

If you’re willing to spend the money these companies will even take away some of your own current belongings, place them in storage and replace them with stock items they feel will give the decor of your home a better look and feel for potential buyers.

If you’re wanting to do some of this on your own, I’d suggest first checking out the article mentioned above. This will give you some ideas on what you can do to make small changes. Also a second idea is to de-clutter. Too many small items on book shelves, counter tops and on the walls can make things seem a bit messy.  Consider renting a storage unit outside your home to store some of these smaller items until you sell and move.

Home decor is a personal expression of what you like, but when it comes to making your home saleable, consider going with what the masses want. You’ll be happier with a faster sell time.

 

A Great Canister Vacuum Can Make Cleaning Easier

| 03/15/2013

Looking for a canister vacuum? Check out the Miele S5281 Callisto Deluxe, a full size canister. The 1200-watt Vortex Motor, a product of German engineering, is powerful. Yet it is quiet, too. The rotary dial power selector has graduated suction levels and features a silent setting. It easily adjusts to different surfaces. Its Electric Powerbrush with an independent motor picks up pet hair and works well on either medium to high-pile carpeting, as well as on area rugs. The Parquet Twister Floorbrush is built to safely clean wood, tile, and all smooth flooring. Three integrated accessory tools include a dusting brush, an upholstery nozzle, and a crevice tool.

One of the best features of the Miele S5281 is its HEPA (“High-Efficiency Particulate Air”) filter. The latest in filtration technology, it removes 99.99 percent of particulate matter, even as tiny as 0.3 microns. It conforms to the new stringent European filtration standard (EN 1822). This is particularly good for people who suffer from allergies, asthma, or who desire a high degree of hygiene. It also absorbs odor. The canister is constructed with a patented sealed system which has been proven by independent laboratory tests to be extremely effective at controlling pet dander, pollen, dust mites, and other allergens.

Those who use the Miele S5281 point out how lightweight and maneuverable this vacuum is. It weighs 24 pounds. The electric, telescopic wand is a boon if several people of different heights use the vacuum. Changing the dust bag is easy, and you can reach the accessories without difficulty. The different power brushes and floor cleaning attachments fit under furniture openings, around chair legs, or tightly next to baseboards due to its 90 degree twisting rotation. It has a 33-foot operating radius, which means that you won’t be unplugging and moving to another power outlet too often. The power cord retractable mechanism is sturdy. The choice of horizontal or vertical storage makes this vacuum a space saver.

The Miele S5281 has a 20-year average life span, with a 7-year motor warranty and a 7-year casing warranty. It bears the Good Housekeeping seal. But it also has a high price tag. While you can purchase this vacuum from many vendors, it pays to shop around. Be sure to find out very precisely what is included in the price in order to determine that you’re getting the type of brushes that you need.

The thoughtful design of Miele appliances, including the Miele S5281, is appreciated by many consumers. The manufacturer is owned and run by a family since the late 1920s, and it has primarily sold its products through small, independent dealers in the United States, although lately it has begun marketing through several bigger outlets. Miele is recognized in the industry for superior quality.

Turkey Platters for Thanksgiving

| 10/22/2012

Turkey Platters for Thanksgiving
JOHNSON BROTHERS THANKSGIVING TABLEWARE
No other American holiday centers itself around one meal. Yes, we Americans do love to chow down on most of our holidays. But on Thanksgiving, it is the meal. Yes some families do go round the table and say what they’re grateful for, but most just hone in on the turkey! I live a few short miles from Plymouth Plantation, a recreation of the first European settlement in New England. If we have new family members that have never been there, then we always find time on that weekend to take them there. I know that I always appreciate my kitchen, after a walk through those primitive little houses. Did you know that they didn’t have ovens with those fireplaces. These women all shared one oven, that was outside, to do their baking!

You can see my Johnson Brothers Thanksgiving tableware above. I can serve 12 grownups at my table and use my turkey platter as well. This is quite the extravagance because I use this china about two weeks out of every year. If I don’t get to host the family Thanksgiving dinner, then I try to have at least one fancy dinner party, so other people can see it. But I admit that I do use it for just my husband and I. I mean why not. I work from home, so I do have the ability to cook a nice meal and do the place setting right. It makes us feel like we’re staying at an upscale bed and breakfast.

I also use them as part of my Autumn decorations. If you have a mantle over your fireplace, this is the perfect spot for your Johnson Brothers turkey platter. Add a few turkey figurines or a Pilgrim candle holder and your all set. I don’t buy fancy Thanksgiving candles, because then I don’t want to burn them. With the candle holders, I just buy plain white candles and burn away!