The last time I wrote a blog post with the words “Picking Paint Colors” in the title was over a year ago. Since, I’ve written over 100 other posts…yet, per Google Analytics, this post is my #2 all-time draw-only recently nudged out of 1st place by a post about Michelangelo. So yes, it’d seem there is a lot of interest in how to pick a paint color.
But picking the right paint color goes beyond what is trendy, or what works with the sofa. Yes, color is a highly personal expression, but IMO there is way too much pressure to pick THE color. Here’s how to get some perspective, and get you going in the right direction, confidently.
FORGET
Whispy, fluffy pastels Even in nurseries, colors are more sophisticated, more saturated-meaning there is a solid, dense appearance to the pigment. I agree with the notion that our world influences our color preferences; these days we seem to want our walls to comfort us, our rooms to embrace us.
Any colors you don’t already have in your closet Because we get dressed every day, we tend to be more confident about the colors we like, and what makes us look and feel good. If there isn’t any ____ in your closet, chances are you won’t be happy with it on the wall.
Believing you can imagine how it’ll look from a 2×2 square. Or a 4×4 square. Or those nail-polish sample bottles. Seriously. Narrow it down to your top 2 or 3, then spring for a quart of each, and just put it on the wall. You can always paint it over, and it’ll probably cost you a lot less than having to hit Home Goods after, to buy a lot of stupid stuff you don’t need to try to make a wrong color right.
Thinking this is a decision of a lifetime Paint is the cheapest and the quickest way to change a room. Look-we get tired of things, we all change our minds, and even sometimes we mis-calculate (!!). I’m not saying it’s not an important decision, or that you should just pick anything and hope for the best, but it’s just paint! Make your best choice, and run with it.
INSTEAD
Look at magazine pics, cruise through furniture stores as an easy way to try different colors on for size. Quickly, see what looks you’re drawn to. I recommend NOT fixating on the exact color used there, but use it to guide you, give you direction or encouragement to maybe step out of your comfort zone a teeney bit. Again-color will ’read’ differently depending on how big the room is, what was underneath, how many coats, lighting , and what else it’s shown with.
Know you have some wiggle room. When you paint, everything comes down, or gets covered up; it’s just walls with your new color, and can give you all kinds of pause. But it’ll look different after everything is uncovered or moved back, then different again once you start adding other things in. Don’t rush to judgement, play with it, give it a little time. If you find you like the color, but it needs to be ‘cut’ a bit, an oversize mirror or piece of wall art would do the job nicely.
AND-you have a “Plan B” OK, a week goes by, and there is no way around it, you truly hate the new wall color-just have it re-painted. It’s easy, and cheap enough. The hardest, and most expensive work is already done: repairing-priming-trim-ceilings. Just make the decision quickly: have the painter come back one rainy day to cover work they recently did, then you can get on with your life.
HAVE FUN! Trust your instincts, and go for it. Seeing the process through to get a look you love will more than worth it, and it’ll make your next project easier!
One in five people will move this year, and 45% of these moves will happen between Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you plan to be one of the 8 to 10 million households that are expected to move this summer, here are some tips that could save you drama, heartache, even some bucks.
A little pre-planning goes a long way. Joe Barone, owner of JB Moving and Storage has been moving Westchester and Fairfield county families since 1985, here are his top tips to help smooth the process:
First-leave yourself enough time: Interview movers as early as possible. Ask about their experience, their range of services, their specialties. What was the most unusual move they ever handled? How do they find and hire workers, and how long have workers typically been with the company? How do they keep a consistent level of quality during this peak time? Ask for, and follow up on the company’s client references.
Make as many decisions about your stuff that you can, before you get quotes. This makes getting accurate, apple-to-apple comparisons easier.
Keep last minute decisions to a minimum. Deciding to leave, give away, store or have delivered to a third party will change your price. Day-of decision leaves you little recourse other than to pay them what they tell you to. Follow up your decisions with deadlines, have a back-up plan, and stick to it. If your sister doesn’t pick up the sofa by X date, it goes to recipient #2.
Get detailed quotes in writing, after a site visit. This will the ‘what, there are stairs?’ or ‘you want us to pack that?’ on-site issues with the crew.
Assume nothing. Especially that you will get ‘a deal’. NYS-DOT does not let these vendors ‘throw in’ anything. In fact, they have to register their fee schedule with the state on an annual basis. Get costs of all packing materials, agreement of what will be put together, installed, etc.
Only hire a licensed and insured mover. Depending on your move, your consumer rights are protected either by a local (staying within your state) or federal (crossing state lines) agency. These agencies license and regulate the carriers. As a consumer, you are on your own if you choose to do business with an unlicensed, uninsured business. Check to see they are members in good standing with both the Better Business Bureau , and the Department of Transportation.
Last-this is my suggestion: Inspired by-some might even say spoiled by!-JB’s own facility and operation-Ask to visit the warehouse. See the operation, check out their trucks. Is it clean, and orderly? Are the movers wearing some type of uniform? In my experience, appearances and condition of equipment are indicative of the operation as a whole, as well as how you and your possessions will be treated.
The Refreshed Home~Because Experience Matters, and Kindness Counts
No matter the ZIP code, the size, or style of the house, there are three design elements that throw homeowners. Last time we covered lighting, today let’s talk about window treatments.
Now before you roll your eyes and moan- I HATE DRAPES !! (And yes, I know you are doing that!!)-let me ask- did you actually read the word “DRAPES “? No, you did not. But this is where-and why-so many get stuck, so let’s understand this first.
Energy consciousness was not part of homes built prior to the 1970s, and aside from Scarlett O’Hara’s PlanB, “DRAPES” were the original climate control system.
Windows were made of wood frames, with a single pane of glass; perhaps with another, slide-down panel as a storm window. In the winter the wood contracted, causing drafts; while summertime light cooked rooms unmercifully, and fabric covering the window was the fix.
SO-while building materials and practices have improved greatly in the last 40 years, most people don’t think about their window coverings that often. So ”DRAPES”-what many of us grew up with-is the vision most revert to…but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Windows are a part of the walls, the biggest surface in any room.As such, they can be huge problem-solvers, but they also possesstremendous potential to change the chemistry of the rest of the room…which is why I am so passionate about giving them their due.
Most folks most make one of two mistakes: they are 100% focused on the color, trying to hit the exact shade of ___, or totally obsessed with function (PRIVACY! GLARE! etc). The best choices include both, but fabric and color choices abound, so here are some of the factors I consider first:
Function: What is needed? Privacy, light filtering, or sound absorption? Temperature regulation? Or “just” frame a great view and add some drama?
Size of windows/room: Like when you shop for clothes-you look at the overall proportions, and the right amount of fabric and detail to flatter your body; same thing for windows. A triple window should have more fabric around it than a single window; a valence could be perfect in a kitchen, but be totally under-whelming in a LR or DR.
Natural Light: Amount, and direction-bright sunlight will fade blue and disintegrate silk in short order. Cool colors will do little for a room whose main exposure is northern.
Surroundings: Are there radiators, baseboard elements or A/C units? Pets that will find new window coverings entertaining? Young children with potential safety issue to consider? Homes with heavy smokers, or enthusiastic cooks might do best with minimal fabrics, so as to not absorb/retain all the odors.
Aesthetics: Need to add interest, offset the monolithic sectional, frame the view, or just have the luxury of being pretty?
Budget: Impossible to adequately address in this venue* but a few things to consider: almost anything can be created and installed with the right people, but more and more the home stores are carrying really nice, ready-to-install options as well.
What you like: Yes, that matters too!
Even in homes I’m preparing to sell, I always consider the windows. Counter-intuitive, yes. But fresh, basic, updated treatments already in place for a new owner is a problem solved, and value added. It elevates the value of a room…a dining area becomes a Dining Room.
And nothing says welcome to the 80′s like vertical blinds. I have two jobs going right now where we took them down, and replaced them with soft-pleated shades in a gentle off-white. Rooms are immediately livable, and easy enough for new owners to frame the window with a color/pattern of their choosing, at their leisure.
Here is another project I did last year.
After being on the market for almost a year with little traffic and no offers, the 2.0 version sold the first day it was back on the market.
Sure, we did other things, but the windows were huge, it was what faced you when you first walked in. I added the blue stationary panels to call attention to, and frame the view of the Hudson River. They also added definition and purpose to that end of the LR, presence and balance to the DR. Panels and hardware, both windows. about $250.00 at BBB. Did I mention it got a full asking?
While it doesn’t have to be a complicated process, it is a unique one, and difficult to address in the 500 word comfort level experts say blog readers prefer, but dear readers, I’m not going to leave you ‘hanging’ (sorry, couldn’t resist!!)
* IF you are still flummoxed, call me! (Yes, I do windows!) But if you wouldn’t mind your windows and situation being a blog topic at another time, still contact me directly and we’ll work it out. Meantime, hope this helps you see your windows more confidently, through new eyes.
The 11th Annual Architectural Digest Home Design Show is history, but much of what I saw will not be forgotten.
So this post is a managable size, have a few pics, but all the links to this years’ favorite artists and their art. Take a few minutes and check them all out. Prepare to be delighted, but also inspired. as much of what you’ll see can be customized.
Lighting fixtures as art Lovely, sculptural fixtures. It genuinely made my heart happy, for lighting is generally so neglected by homeowners to start with. And why NOT have art suspended from the ceiling? Elizabeth Lyons’ pressed glass medallions , J.David Taylor’s bubble fixtures and Aquas from Barry Entner were just mesmerizing.
Hands-on Met Raymond Finan last year, and came away feeling I met a true artist. Specialty wood pieces made in his shop in Vermont, his attention to detail and proportion is precise, but not fussy or over-orchestrated. You just feel good looking at his pieces, and you know he loved making them.
Free-form, dimensional pieces as wall art I really, really like the idea of wall art not being confined within two sets of parallel lines. I remember Jamie Harris’ floating bubbles from a few years ago; enjoyed Kaiser Suidan’s Next Step Studio with their fun-fun jacks and cubes, and the organic shapes from Cocobolo Designs . Great first impressions for an entry, or for adding flair to long hallways; PERFECT for commercial applications.
Countertops Yes, have more fun in the kitchen! Trueform Concrete’s surfaces are not new, and not just rectangular-but I keep forgetting how cool (and organic/durable/hygenic!) they are. Ditto for ThinkGlass‘s take on things, just loved the feel and look of them both.
Outside kitchens Saw Kalamazoo Gourmet last year and was thoroughly impressed. Sure they had a nifty display, but their products, their service, even how they’d start the design process with a neophyte made me a believer. There’s nothing these kitchen’s don’t have, and if you’re going there, these are the people you want to buy it from.
While unheated outdoor space can’t be claimed as square footage on a listing in NYS, a few years from now it’ll still be big value-added, wanna-have feature for a buyer… I sense this will be the next major upscale update.
Soaking tubs This was a nicest surprise of the show, a lovely trend I would like to see more of. Diamond Spas showed contemporary shapes in metal, Sea Otter Woodworks makes handcrafted tubs in wood-teak, red cedar and authentic Japanese Ofuro tubs (so neat, they get their own link!)
Lots of (crafted) glass S&S’s ‘melted ice’ pieces were just so real. Had seen Jennifer and David Clancy’s Landscape Series last year, glad they were back, had lost their info. Hand-blown glass botanticals were stunning in their detail and color, but when lit from within, WOW! My pics don’t do them justice, see their work through link above.
WhimseyBart Niswonger starts out with a serious-enough premise, but he is a man who loves what he does-there is just unmitigated joy in what he designs, and makes, ‘nuf said.
Simplicity It’s hard to say what I most most drawn to at Vetro Vero. The colors, the grace, the classic yet modern lines. Striking and beautifully-perfectly- done, I loved it all.
The organic shapes by Jennifer and Thor Bueno of Bueno Glass could be stacked, or hung as a wall installation. Stone shaped and either silvered, like the old mercury glass-or colored and texturized by a variety of techniques, these pieces could work in a variety of places and circumstances.
HistoryStrawser and Smith is both a manufacturer and retailer out of Brooklyn. Wrote about their melting ice glass creations above, but was so taken by their furniture made from genuine re-purposed factory parts. A chandelier whose framework was a wheel on a band saw, a dining table whose base was from a shop bench; if you can blow the photo up, you’d see “The Crescent Machine Company Leetonio Ohio USA on the base.
Experience Matters, and Kindess Counts: Meet the Staff of Bond Animal Hospital, WHite Plains NY 10606
A few weeks ago I was doing some long-overdue updates of online profiles in my various media outlets. Time to take it a step further, and more succinctly put what I, and my business stand for, black and white. One statement I came up with was Experience Matters, and Kindness Counts.
My business is much more about people than it is about stuff. Often, people who are in pain of some sort. A change or loss, there is confusion, stress and sadness. I consider alleviating distress to be a big part of my solutions. It’s not how all Stagers or Decorators work, but it’s what I do. So while it was accurate, it sounded…well, I wasn’t sure the tone was quite right-maybe too ponderous? too prissy? too indulgent? I wondered if anyone ( besides me) really cares about this kind of stuff, but went with it anyway.
Then suddenly this past week the tables turned, I became a confused, scared and sad client in need of experienced care, and kindness. Regular readers will know our dog Bella Blue is near and quite dear to my husband and myself. She had become very ill very quickly, Doug and I were beside ourselves, heartsick and sleep deprived. The happy ending is that she is fine.
As every pet-owner knows, good regular pet care is vital, yet even under the best of circumstances things can happen. And THIS is why you want to know about Bond Animal Hospital. Because experience does matter, and kindness does count.
I’m definitely a love my dog, love me kind of gal, and have been a client for over 20 years. First with Maggie Mae, a lab mix; also a shelter rescue, she was my friend for 9 years.
Many of the faces at Bond have stayed the same over the years. Partners Dr. Douglas Aspros and Dr. Geoffrey McKenzie have built a professional staff who know what they are doing, and love your pet like you do, because as pet owners themselves, they get what you go through. The doctors are all highly accredited, and my experiences have proven them all to be thorough and skillful diagnosticians, as well as compassionate advisors.
If you are new to the area, a new pet owner, have an exotic pet, or just feeling your current veterinary experience is lacking, you want to know the people at Bond Animal Hospital. Their practice includes the care of avians, reptiles, and small mammals.
Very conveniently located at the very northern end of Central Avenue in White Plains, they are moments off the Bronx River Parkway, as well as I-287. GO! STAY! You and your pet will be really glad you did.
Many professions bring more to the table than some snazzy ideas, or the completions of tasks. Home professionals in particular touch a chord in ways not easily understood, unless it’s your home, your space or your stuff.
Have been thinking a lot about some of my recent jobs, and what they were about besides picking the right paint color, or adding better light. Here are some examples of the jobs, and what came of them.
I am quick, quality decisions to investors, landlords and flippers who need to get in, then out of a property.
I am the fresh start that qualified renters and buyers are looking for.
I am time and money saved to those who need to purchase things, but haven’t shopped for years.
I am a facilitator of long-stilled hopes and dreams.
I am found time to REALTORS, and the cohesion between contractors.
I am simplicity, speed and clarity to those who want to get on with their lives.
I am relief to those who have so much stuff they don’t know where to start.
I am the voice of reason that keeps it from getting personal when frustrated couples can’t find common ground.
I am, sometimes, the common ground.
I am specific direction to those who can do it themselves, but aren’t quite sure what they should do.
I am a reasonable way the local small businesses and storefronts build their business.
I am new eyes to a buyer who can’t quite see potential in an outdated property.
I am a trusted friend and guide to sellers who are both overwhelmed by both tasks and emotions as they change stages in life.
I am clear-thinking, support and encouragement to families as they deal with loss, or change.
AND I am a great alternative to the dreaded best friend of the mother-in-law who has a knack!
If you have a property that no one is looking at, or making any offers on, there is a reason. Talk to me now, I help people make wise plans and good decisions about their space and their stuff. Let’s get your property sold/rented, so you can get on with your life.
Welcome back to Word Of The Week, where random thoughts are shared about a word that has resonated for me during the week. This week’s word is ADVOCATE.
From the early 1300′s, the Latin advacare to summon, to call to one’s aid; originally legal counsel. It’s a strong, substantial, grown-up word. Both a noun and a verb, it involves speaking for, and acting to protect the interests and welfare of another.
An advocate is CONFIDENT , and PRO-ACTIVE. They are more PASSIONATE than a spokesperson, and more LEADERSHIP-ORIENTED a supporter. It will takes doing a task well to a more personal, even on-going level. Advocates rarely punch a clock.
As an advocate for my clients, I navigate waters with contractors and vendors, even their in-laws and nosey neighbors!
Being an advocate is often part of the job, like your CPA handling funky notices from the IRS. Sometimes it is a directly paid position, usually in the government-like a consumer advocate. Politicians can advocate for a certain cause, that would be part of their platform; advocates that are paid to influence legislation are called LOBBYISTS.
Most advocates I believe, walk among us, unnoticed during everyday life. Everyday heros, they are volunteers who by their words and deeds help create, and support a better life for different segments of society. Every day of the week, volunteer EMTs and firefighters save lives, and property.
In our lifetime others have created events, images and organizations that have become institutions: think telethons and walk-a-thons; a library of colored ribbons, each with a cause; M.A.D.D, Special Olympics, and Susan G. Komen.
Advocate is a great word to show someone how much you care.
How YOU Can Get YOUR Vacant Westchester Co-Op Noticed And SOLD!
Westchester County real estate has a lot of range and variety, but some markets are pretty saturated right now. In our market, co-op apartments are probably in the toughest segment of all.
Previously I have written about the misconceptions of what staging is, and what preparing a property for sale or lease is REALLY about, but vacant co-ops are a breed unto themselves. Because there are generally fewer dollars laying around, your own success is literally in your hands.
If YOU are the owner of a vacant co-op apartment YOU want to sell, the question becomes do YOU choose to stay between a rock and a hard place, or do YOU focus on what YOU can do to change YOUR situation?
This post is longer than most, with interactive solutions…notice how YOU/YOUR have made up about 11% of the words in this post so far?
First I must be blunt. If you have neither funds, ability to make changes or a desire to find a way, this post is not your silver bullet… but it might make your decision easier.
Do nothing and wait-your choice will be taken away. You will drift wherever the market takes you, either eventually accepting a lower price than you want/need, or slowly bleeding out any equity you might have via maintenance and carrying costs. I see this in the case of a lot of estate sales, with heirs that want to be right, instead of at closing. Aggressively pricing it from the get-go might be your best answer. Hire an experienced Realtor who knows the local market to best advise you.
Vacant spaces do not photograph well, or typically woo buyers, unless the view, history or architecture is so outstanding. Which is typically not the case for most co-op apartments. Because of their price point, there are proportionally fewer dollars laying around.
But if you are in a position to make something happen, here- in ascending order of effort and effectiveness and mostly cost-are what YOU can do to get YOUR vacant Westchester co-op apartment noticed and SOLD:
1.The apartment must be clean. Not just swept clean and vacuumed, but Q-tip-around-the-faucets, in the refrigerator grill, and in the corners of the window clean. No ifs ands and buts. Just do it, or stop reading right now.
2.Repair, prepare and paint the walls. TRUST ME white walls are the kiss of death. There is nothing special about them. They photograph horribly, and in the buyers’ eyes only underscore the space is vacant, probably neglected, too.
Very cheaply, color fills up a room, adds personality, and engages buyers. Resist the temptation to put your own stamp on it…you can do that in your own place, with the proceeds from the sale.
Filling, sanding and priming is tedious work, but necessary. Quality buyers will pass on shoddy work. USE PAINTER’S TAPE to create straight lines, and spring for the extra $20.00 +/-, use semi-gloss white for trim work, mouldings and doors. The contrast color and finish calls attention to detail lost in a big vanilla space.
Warm, classic, easy on the eye colors create a pleasing canvas while defining the space. I like Benjamin Moore Historical Colors. Lighter colors are not frothy pastels, and the deeper colors are not harsh. HC-32 Standish White, HC-33 Montgomery White and HC-39 Putnam Ivory are my current favorites.
Because these rooms are typically modest, and might not get a lot of light, visually stretch the space by choosing a color that will reflect light, almost ’glow’. BM #922 Antique Lace is good for that as well.
3. Get rid of old carpet. PERIOD. Gleaming hardwood floors are preferred in this market, but tend to cost more. HOWEVER, in an empty space, with no furniture to move/store, it might not be that much of a difference. Price out your options, but ONE CAVEAT: get a good re-finisher, and clear the power requirements and source with the super, so the building doesn’t short out.
4. Change out knobs and dated lighting fixtures. Yes, really. Old spaces with old fixtures and hardware are just old and neglected. Sleek new fixtures and hardware, are ’retro’, they say someone has been paying attention to this space. $200.00 at a big-box store here will put that much-if not more-back in your pocket real quick.
5. Add mouldings. Charm per linear foot, cove (ceiling) mouldings create desire, and elevate the space above much of what else is on the market.
6. Last, if buyers just can’t ‘see’ what the space could be, I have had success with providing scale drawings of the rooms as a take-away for the agents…
I love the right word. And I am absolutely crazy over this one. UNGAPATCHKA.
In fact, can’t believe I didn’t choose this for the inaugural word for this series.
One of my customers introduced it to me many years ago. Yiddish, it means exactly what it sounds like. Too much of anything, in an un-pleasing way. Inappropriate, over-the-top, not necessary. Even boring. Channeling Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart (while ruling on another matter), you know it when you see it.
Often done well, and entertaining in a specific time and place, it’s way outdated in another. We’ve all seen this done in different applications.
the refreshed home is all about getting things done in the most direct way possible, but prefers there to be some smiles along the way. ENJOY, but if these ring a little too true, we should talk soon.
First, SNL’s beloved Phil Hartman as a lovable chef with issues.
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Then this delightful clip, originally posted on a really funny blog, Jewish Humor Central pretty much nails it.
One of the things that reinforced my decision to create my own business back in 2007 were the questionable people and practices already in place.
The HGTV shows with sniping relatives, and (many) poor design choices, projects with totally unrealistic budgets and time constraints. Then the real-life experiences from agents, clients and tradespeople with loopy, militant, unnecessarily dramatic, and just plain rude, inconsiderate people (I know, how do I really feel?!).
In the weeks and months to come SO many will be coming into the housing market for either the first time-or for thefirst time in a long time, some thoughts to consider before hiring someone to help you:
First, don’t rely on titles, for many reasons, start conversations with home professionals of different backgrounds. Ask them to describe what they do in real terms, using nouns and verbs-not titles.
Second-because many projects change as they develop, what is their range, how does it work, can they work within any constraints you may have?
Last, you want to know the nature of the person who’ll be in your house. Rarely is a job just about the task…it’s also about the people you work with during the job. These last three tips are pretty subjective, but guess what? You are writing the checks, and it’s your space, your life, your stuff. It’s an important part of the experience, and you get to choose.
Similar in nature, but important enough to be considered separately:
3. Do they play well with others? Are they realistic about their abilities, and are they respectful of others?
4. Do you trust them? Will they help you make the best decisions, based on your needs and goals?
5. Do you like them? Work in your space, with your stuff is intrusive under the best of circumstances. Why wouldn’t you consider this?
With the recent turnaround, I see some contractors in our area reverting, scrambling to make up for lost time, over-promising and over-extending themselves in the process.
Find out what their last half-dozen projects entailed, and if your needs are substantially different, how they will get your project done. You could be catching them on the cusp of a growth spurt, which is OK if they have a plan….or catching someone who’s just looking for an income stream and will say anything, or under-bid, just to get in the door.
Ask for references, not just from past clients, but from others in the trades that they have worked with. Almost anyone can manage to put on a nice face for a client, but other tradespeople can add great insight: were they organized and clear in their communication? Were appointments kept, were deadlines met, were they respectful of their time, and their crews?
Stagers and organizers have the unwelcome task of trying to pry people away from their stuff and ideas, it just comes with the territory.
Phil Faranda, broker-owner of J Philip Real Estate in Briarcliff told me about his first experience working with a Stager: Probably a recent online-graduate, she brought his seller to tears by insisting a single wedding picture of her son-innocuously placed on a side wall-had to go. A real professional will get the job done, but a good one will leave their ego at the door, and knows how to make the experience as pleasant as possible.
So yes-FAIR AND NICE count. You should also BELIEVE this person has your best interests at heart and YES, LIKING them should be on your gotta-have list as well. You will thank me, or even better, maybe you’ll START A CONVERSATION with me!
SCSP (smart, creative Staging professional) (that would be me)seeks UCRw/D (upbeat, confident Realtor w/ Designations) (hopefully, that is YOU)OBJECT: cooperative and content clients, more time on your hands, fabulous listing photos, and selling lots of properties quickly, and for the best price
YOU: Positive attitude, reality-based, open-minded, straightforward and direct, good communication skills. Value education and running a customer-service based business. And ohyes, have the desire to sell lots of properties.
ME: All of the above, and passionate about it; kind, adaptable, supportive, quick-witted, able to manage both projects and sellers.
Turn-offs: Cranky, jaded, complacent or rude whiners; hobbyists; over-priced listings
Remote Staging and phone consults do-able. Sense of humor a must, GRI, CBR, or CDPE preferred.
I am Marie Graham, owner of the refreshed home. I can bringing life and light into lives, listings, and living spaces. All you need to do is start the conversation!
Welcome back to Give Yourself A Gift For 2012- where good ideas and smart people who know what they are doing could help make 2012 your best year ever.
Finally deciding to move forward on something you’ve been holding off on can be a huge relief. While this is time of great opportunity, the paths are rarely clear or direct, well-lit, or even reasonably level.
Knowing the questions to ask is just as important as knowing the answers. Unless you less you truly know what you are doing, you could end up seeing your dreams up in smoke if your try to go it alone. Our world is not simple to start with , but in these turbulent times, the need for an advocate has become a necessity, not a luxury.
Transactional law specializes in laws governing transactions between businesses and/or individuals. If selling or purchasing a property or business in New York State is in your future, I recommend a conversation with Phyllis Knight-Marcus be on the top of your list.
Phyllis is a transactional attorney who you always want to be sitting on your side of the table. Meet her once and you will know why. I have known Phyllis for years, she is knowledgeable, dedicated and experienced, and extremely tenacious when protecting the best interests and assets of her buyers and sellers.
Let’s say you’re a homeowner who has come to the painful realization that a short sale is in your future. Did you know the amount that forgiven by the banks (the difference between what is owed, and what selling price is) is considered income to the seller? Or that many short sale lenders reserve the right to go after the sellers for the difference after the closing?
A good transactional attorney will discuss the tax consequences with you beforehand in the former scenerio-perhaps you qualify for the IRS expemtion? They will also negotiate with lenders, and advise you of options in the latter.
Thinking of purchasing a short sale property? On average, purchase contracts bind the buyer for an average of 90 to 180 days, while the seller gets approval. This length of time is dishearteneing, but it can also require buyers to incur fees to extend the mortgage commitment or interest rate.
A good transactional attorney will limit that time, or include an ‘escape clause’ in the contract.
Even in a regular sale, buyers and sellers both need to know if the deck, addition, or basement on a property is legal, and has a CO.
Reviewing building and tax department records and advising you what to do about any problems will protect you before a contract is signed.
Looking to start, sell, or buy a business? How do you know what is an accurate price? And beyond price, are the terms like conditions of lease, and whether to buy business assets, or company stock-in your best interest? And flippers-how’s your cash flow, really?
The world can be a complicated place. The take-away for anyone contemplating making a move is to protect yourself, your rights, your money and your future: You need an advocate, before you start signing things and committing yourself financially. Just start a conversation, and get on with your life!!
Welcome back to my post-holiday series Give Yourself A Gift For 2012: where good ideas and smart people can help you have your best year ever.
At a recent WCBS Business Breakfast, Barbara Corcoran famed NYC Real Estate agent was the featured speaker. I did not attend, but caught an insight I found fascinating. She spoke about how she saw two types of people in the current market, in pretty much a 50-50 split: those sitting tight, and those making big moves.
Historically, recessions have proven to be fertile times for many business of all sizes and types to start, make a move, grow and expand…Hyatt, Sports Illustrated, FedEx, Trader Joes and media giants CNN and MTV are a few of the more well-known biggies that got their start in the midst of economic down cycles.
Will 2012 be your year to make some changes, to make something happen?
You don’t have to have plans for world-wide domination of your industry, but if you have bigger plans, or even are in a space, or a lease that is not meeting your needs, a really good first step would be to talk to a professional who can give you information and feedback to start the process, and I recommend you have that conversation with Trevor Tunell.
Trevor is the Vice-President of family-owned T-Square Properties. T-Square Properties specialize in all aspects of commercial real estate.
They represent Tenants to Landlords (including lease negotiation); represent Landlords to attract new Tenants, and maximize the value of their assets; and manage properties for owners. T Square Properties will also represent your interests if you are looking to buy, sell, or lease a new property.
And it costs nothing to have that conversation.
Besides that Trevor is a nice guy and a smart guy, he and the T-Square team “know” Westchester. They have been Westchester-based since they first opened their doors in 1983.
We all know real estate is hyper-local. Is there any reason to think a conglammorate with sattelite offices would really know the neighborhood better, understand market nuances better-or who’d be in a better position to serve their clients than a company with deep local roots?
As the population ages, the demand for easily accessible, state of the art specialized medical and dental services can only grow; but right now is also an especially good time for anyone in the Personal Services field-or even mid to large-sized corporations to make a move into larger, existing spaces.
Does your business depend on good foot traffic? Today’s economic climate has convinced some successful long-time shop ownersand restauranteurs to retire, making some very attractive storefronts in desirable locations available.
Commercial Real Estate is a highly specialized field. The right or wrong terms or location can make the difference between a dream realized, or a dream deferred. Don’t be afraid, just don’t go it alone.
Welcome back to my latest series, Give Yourself A Gift in 2012: good ideas and smart people who can help you enter the new year purposefully, with a clear head and lighter heart.
When comedian George Carlin first debuted his routine on “Stuff” in 1981, he observed that sometimes we have so much stuff, that we pay to store some of our stuff…’ IMAGINE< an entire industry based on keeping an eye on your stuff!! ’ The audience was hysterical-what a concept!
Several years earlier, Business Week made some predictions about business in the future, one was the computer would render us to be a paperless society. HA! A lesser-known-but correct prediction was our having a computer on every desk, but it has been ‘paperless society’ that we remember. (Fact is, the boom of affordable desktop copiers-and consumer-oriented retail stores that sell them- helped to more than DOUBLE the worldwide use of paper from 1980 to 2000!)
What was out there and funny then is all too real now. There are a number of things that have brought us to this glut of stuff, but one big question-how to deal with it?
At the least, excess stuff is annoying and inconvienent. It weighs us down, affecting our concentration and productivity; in more severe situations, it can be unhealthy, even life-threatening….sadly, three Westchester residents lost their lives in recent years when fires started in their over-loaded homes…they couldn’t get out, and firemen couldn’t get in.
As our lifestyles have changed, businesses have grown to meet these needs and provide solutions for for these issues. Organizing is one of those services.
Marcia Sloman was one of the first professional organizers in our area, and her company Under Control Organizing has been helping Westchester get organized since 1992. I’ve known of Marcia for years, but it was only after a series of phone calls and emails that we finally, recently met. Minutes into the conversation, it’s easy to see why she has been so successful: she is warm and friendly, precise and very focused, but with a light touch.
Numbers on how much time we spend looking for things vary, but all of them give pause: Online I found surveys quoting anywhere from 16 minutes a day (or approximately 1 year of your life) to 55 minutes a day (a mind-numbing almost 14 years of your life!).
Even at the lower end, it’s still a lot of time lost…wouldn’t that be a great burden to have lifted from your shoulders in the New Year? Getting cleared out and organized not only will save you time and energy, again, you re-claim some valuable real estate in your home. Marcia’s services run the gamut, but some of her specialties are managing paper and stuff, and making the most of two finite entities: time, and spaces.
Solutions or systems mean little if they’re unrealistic, or, frankly if you don’t trust or respect the person coming up with them…it’s that way with Staging, too…one great, very user-friendly mindset Marcia recommends to deal with a big project: Divide things into the following groups: Trash, Recycle, Sell, Give Away or Donate.
Organizing styles-especially as far as paper is concerned-also figure strongly into her approach. Marcia creates filing systems for the “In-nies”-those who need stuff to be out of sight, but easily accessible; and can have specialized storage spaces made for those “Out-ies”-folks who need an open, visual display to keep things orderly and find-able.
Bottom line-while having someone help you clean out your closets, your garage, or set up your office might seem like an indulgence, ask yourself: so how’s doing it yourself working out for you?
If the answer is not so good, start a conversation, give yourself a gift, and get on with your life!
WHEW. Busy couple of weeks, and 2012 is looming large. Ideas for new beginnings and fresh starts abound this week, but what will be meaningful and feasible for you? Many not only share this thought, but in my experience, share the very same sticking points as well.
Really looking at the stuff that holds you back, takes up way too much space in your brain or keeps you up at night is hard, but resist the urge to pull a Scarlett O’Hara (I’ll think about it tomorrow), or make grand vows for sweeping, 180-degree changes. Neither are good paths to real solutions.
the refreshed homehas always been about getting past the stuff that gets in your way: ID-ing issues, providing specific solutions, and connections to people who can help get resolution . SO-welcome to the first in a series of posts that will get you, your space and your stuff in it’s best place ever.
This first post was a no brainer, it is the #1 issue I see in almost every home I am in. Look and your space and ask yourself:
Is the most attention-grabbing feature in your family room a wall of components, a bookcase full of DVDs, or a pile of remotes on the coffee table?
Do cables and wiring snake around your room, following the baseboard, up the walls and around door frames like those vines in “Jumanji“?
Is your new HDTV (blu-ray player/smart phone/tablet/etc) still in the box, while you’re on hold, or reading manuals trying to figure out how to set it up, or get it to work with your other things?
Have you just adapted to your home office setup, putting stuff where there is room-or a plug?
Love them, hate them-electronics are as much a part of our day as brushing out teeth. Everything from our music and games, computers and smart phones-we are rarely far away from these modern day ‘necessities’. They connect us, and make us viable in school and business, and dis-organization here can cost you. That’s why giving yourself the gift of e-organization could be the most satisfying and productive thing you could do for 2012.
Folks in the big-box stores could be semi-qualified to talk about the stuff they sell, but can’t possibly have the best answers for your overall digital, electronic situation.
Khattar Hashim is the owner of Digital Media Integration of NY. Beyond smart, he’s an electronics artist. Ask him to tell you about the kosher refrigerator, or speakers-as-car-fenders he created for two clients. He gets that electronics are solutions to a problem, and should enhance one’s space and life-not create their own problems.
Khattar has been a self-professed digital-geek since 1997, and if you live in the lower Hudson Valley, he is the guy to call to get yor stuff positioned, hooked up, working properly, and to it’s intended capacity. He is also an authorized dealer, and installer for some of the worlds’ best products: Bose, Samsung and Crestron, to name a few.
Re-claim your living space with an installation that hides wires, or can bury the components, out of sight, in a closet. Program your lights and thermostats to work off your smart phone or tablet, get that man-cave set up for the Super Bowl soiree!
Get the little green men on your TV back to their normal color, convert all your music and movies onto a media server, and imagine-get it all to work on one remote!
Update and synch your stuff, get those speakers in exactly the right place and calibrate it all…then enjoy, and get on with your life!
YES! I feel the stirrings of economic recovery! Parking lots are full, sales floors are busy, and more people are buying big-ticket items like cars (me), and furniture. On gorgeous fall days like today, it’s a beautiful thing!! After on-site Color Consults, Assisted Shopping is the service I am getting the most calls on lately.
Time is money, time is also non-renewable. Nothing wrong with ‘retail therapy’ to clear the mind, but shopping like a pro is a focused, progressive, and results-driven process: information is obtained, and thoughtful decisions are made, relatively stress-free. Whether I accompany clients, or coach them through it, proper mindset comes first.
Channeling Yogi Berra, successful shopping (i.e. making your best decisions) is 90% mental, the other half is physical. Not fun or sexy. But going there on the fly, as an empty vessel, with just your checkbook and heart to guide you is asking for trouble. Here are some of the basics I recommend… get these out of the way, and the fun will follow.
HAVE A PLAN
Don’t go solo, establish a co-decider
And decide who gets to vote. And bring them in at the beginning.
Friend, brother, co-worker, neighbor, kids? Big decision, and no wrong answers, just know this first. Don’t suddenly defer to your six-year old, or realize your sister who lives three states away is the one you need to ask when you lose confidence or need support. YES, reticent partners need to invest some quality time up-front, and single persons should enlist a trusted companion.
It’s not a sign of weakness to do this…the feedback of an interested participant early on will reinforce all that comes later. After this initial go-round, most couples work it out between themselves who does what next. For what it’s worth, in 30 years of doing this, I have yet to meet a sole decider who didn’t call someone in at the last minute…only sole deciders who wished they did, afterward.
Know what you are sure of
Have a budget or a deadline? Partner HATES/LOVES_____? Even that you actually WANT to buy furniture! Looking at things for a home can bring up a lot of things..over the years I’ve met folks who ultimately decided to put in pool, move, even divorce instead of buying furniture. REALLY. Bottom line: a furniture store is not the place to start exploring these issues.
Updating/adding to what you have? First evaluate how you really feel about what you already own. Consider my given, going, negotiable model:
LOVE IT: It’s a building block of the room
HATE IT: Can’t get it out soon enough
It’s OK: Will keep it if it can work well with other things I like, but won’t invest lots of time/money to make it work.
Know what you are looking for
Getting ideas? In pursuit of a brown leather sofa that is 86″ of less? Need new bedroom furniture? Want cool new lighting, or a rug that is $700.00 or less? Worthwhile goals, all; point being to not just wander in aimlessly, and be at the mercy of what is on display, or what is on sale.
FOCUS.
An efficient outing will focus on things vital to YOU. If you’re not clear on what you’re looking for, you’ll stop and debate the merits of everything you see, regardless of if it holds any value for you.
Don’t waste time observing “Gee, I really like/don’t likethe fringe on the ottoman/thatcolor leather/the salesperson’s hairstyle/shade on the chandelier/MUZAK channel“….UNLESSyou are looking for fringe/an ottoman, like leather furniture, need a new hairstyle, want to add zip to your lighting fixture, or are a rep for SIRUS-you are likely to get quickly frustrated, without ever really knowing why.
Everything can be defined, and articulated -even NOT knowing what you’re looking for is looking for ideas. I advise clients to just take it to the furthest point possible before walking into a store.
NEXT: How to Prepare… Dealing with Salespeople… and What To Expect Next
Fifty Is Not What It Used To Be, And Neither Is Sixty
Have you seen the latest cover of New York Magazine?
A take-off of the infamous Demi Moore cover on Vanity Fair, it’s a bit unnerving. But re-defining the who/what/when/why of what makes up a family, and how they live is not news to the Census Bureau, or to those of us in the home and housing industry.
As a young adult, most of us became familiar with the typical milestones in life: first job, first place, first serious relationship, family, career, retirement.
We might not experience them all, but they were familiar, and by and large, this was the order we experienced them in.
Today, people in their 50′s could be new parents-adoptive or otherwise, sending kids off to school at any grade, welcoming back their grads who have not found a job, helping to raise grandchildren. They could also be be care-givers for an ill or re-habbing child or spouse, or tending to the needs of a parent.
Those in their sixties might have many of the same situations-perhaps less actively involved in children living in their home, but they could be retiring just as easily as they’d be starting up their own business…down-sizing their residence, or upsizing into a 2nd, vacation home. Divorcing…or re-marrying, complete with a new blended, extended family.
Economics, medical science and a society generally more accepting of differences have all combined to blur previously understood definitions and accepted timelines. According to the Pew Institute, a record 49 million-or 16.1% of Americans lived in a household that contained two different adult generations, or a grandparent and at least one other generation.
Add in the burgeoning work-at-home segment, rarely does their space and their things best serve their current circumstances. They all have to live somewhere. That is where the value of hiring professionals lies.
Each family presents its own unique situation and challenges. Home professionals know the questions to ask, and have smart solutions. Architects are trained to address changes and updates in infrastructure; experienced Senior Move Managers are a godsend who help make transitions easy for parent and adult children as well.
Having worked shoulder to shoulder with homeowners, in thousands of Westchester and Fairfield county homes, I understand how people live in their homes, and bring a unique perspective to the table.
Trained/certified as both a Decorator and a Home Stager, I understand how to balance the yearning with the reality, and know how to combine the common sense and the dream, the aesthetically pleasing as well as the functional.
the refreshed home supports and plays well with Architects, Movers, Senior Move Managers, Realtors, Contractors/Builders, Property Managers and Landlords.
Because I understand-and can explain-design principles like balance and color, space planning and lighting-therefreshed home specializes in old, unusual and small-to-average spaces, and also works directly with homeowners, tenants, buyers, sellers, and small business owners.
Bottom line, if your life/family/lifestyle is not matching up with your space, or your possessions, there could be some very easy fixes for you, and we should talk. Soon.
Because life is too short for you not to be in your best possible space.
Am finishing up a few big projects now, two of which required me to replace appliances to get the houses ready for sale.
Although I always prefer to go to smaller, local stores I need a lot of things for these jobs, so thinking well, OK< maybe the NAMELESSBIG BOXSTOREwill save me some time.
Here is the condensed version of my experience that actually took place over 3 days.
ME: What-an appliance sale? 10% off , and YOU’RE KIDDING-another 10% off for opening and using your store’s charge card??
NAMELESS BIG BOX STORE: YES!!
ME: (Thinking now)-HMMMM-that could be a lot of money on a bunch of appliances. Clients hire me to help make decisions that are in their best interest. Putting my personal views aside, if I can save them some dollars on a known entity, I will.
ME: (Talking) Sign me up!!
NAMELESS BIG BOX STORE: OK!
ME: (Afterwards, looking at the bill, finding 10% only off on appliances over a certain dollar volume, and other 10% off is only on the first item on my purchase)Please cancel this order.
Then- (sound of dialing on new smart phone)- “Hello, Bergers?”
A RAVE
Berger’s Appliances has been in the same location, on Commerce Street in Hawthorne since the early 60′s. Opened by Ernie Berger Sr., his sons Ernie Jr. and Bob went on to run the place, and Ernie still puts time in there.
The showroom is not fancy, it pretty much looks the same way I remember it did in the 60′s when my parents were buying a new fridge. Showing an uncanny awareness of good value, even at that tender age, I remembered urging them to purchase this one model that-CAN YOU BELIEVE IT-came with a free butter dish!!
They represent the entire spectrum of brand-name appliances-nothing odd, old, or questionable; and their specialty is, simply knowing whatthey are talking about. They do not BS the customers.
Their sales staff has been there for years, and many travel from quite a distance. My salesman-Jim K. -there are two Jims- is younger than I am, travels from Red Hook, and has been there almost 30 years!! When I walked into the showroom unannounced, 6 years after Doug and I bought our new kitchen appliances, he not only recognized me, he remembered where I was working at the time!
Everything is always free delivery, and free haul-away. Every. Thing. Every. Day.
They will price and give you print-outs of the product, and these print-outs are tied into a data base, which will advise you of any rebates for the product. And they let you walk out of the store to think about it.
Stagers And Agents: More Alike Than You May Think (Part One)
Last weekend on Active Rain I wrote a Members-Only post asking agents who never worked with a Stager to please tell me why.
Great contributions, and a some points I did not expect. Knew this was a national stage, but did not expect this amount, or range of input. It’s taken a few days to wrap my brain around it all-and how it relates to my original question.
Whether you are a home seller, or a real estate agent, being comfortable with all that Staging might be may seem a formidable task, but here’s my pitch: It’s really not, because Stagers and Agents really have a lot in common.And where not alike, they can be complimentary.
Goals: At the end of the day, Stagers and Agents both have a single goal, to create and facilitate a new housing situation for their client. What is 100% absolutely the same here is that each does it in their own unique way. We build our brand which encompasses our decisions on marketing, communications, personality, strategy and pricing.
Skills and Expertise: True of really any profession, Stagers and Agents have ranges of skill, and levels of expertise. Descriptions like Short Sale Expert, Top Producer-or Accredited Stager!!-are not a standardized entity, NOR a guarantee of the sale of a property. It comes down to the individual.
Education/Accreditation: While not (yet) standardized or mandated for Stagers as it is for Agents, IMHO it should be. Til then, it’s a great interviewing tool…certainly for consumers, but for other professionals as well.
I like Agents who are Realtors. And have, are proud of, and can explain their designations. (AND PLEASE-ASK ME ABOUT MYDESIGNATIONS!)
I take CE Staging courses, and also audit CE RE classes. Both for knowledge, and frankly, to scope out Agents/Realtors I might like to work with. Sure, some if it can be pretty dry, but those sitting in the back of the room, reading the paper- sorry, we wouldn’t be the best fit.
Mark Twain once commented ‘Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today’. Little good can come when one is more focused on differences. But start the conversation with what you have in common, and be prepared to succeed.
FINALLY! Spring has enthusiastically, colorfully, and jubilantly arrived! After an interminable winter, we are OH-SO ready to get back outside, and enjoy our friends, family and property.
But is your space ready for all your big plans?
If some updates are in your future, here is the first of 3 parts on what to consider before you even THINK of setting foot in an outdoor living store.
Outdoor space planning utilizes many of the same principles as interiors, but there are a few unique elements that need to be considered.
Ceiling-less spaces with low or non-existent walls can really throw your spatial perception off, so above all, resist the temptation to “wing it”.
Your best first step is to measure the space you have, and to get it on paper. Transfer the measurements onto grid paper, and create a master plan, Make copies of the blank, so you can block out different layouts.
Next, create your wish list-what do you want this space to do for you:
-Is enough seating for those big parties you can finally host a concern?
-Looking for a casual weekend retreat for sunning, reading and napping?
-Perhaps a quiet oasis at the end of the day, where you can put your feet up under the stars, listen to the crickets, and be hypnotized by a fire pit?
Maybe a little of each? That’s ok!!
At this stage, I counsel my clients that there are no wrong answers, being familiar with what is important to them comes first. Then, if space and circumstances dictate, prioritization is easier, as the whats, and whys have already been explored.
Homework done, here are the basic ABC’s to consider when making decisions.
Allow enough space:Chairs around a table need at least 18” (24” is better!) to pull out, and get in, and out of; that doubles the needed space for a 48” table up to 8’ diameter!
Include door swings. Make a clear path from the house to the grill, but keep it far enough from the house that a breezy day won’t fill your house with smoke-or worse!
Do you need to include a children’s table? Be sure to plan for generous space around the grill, fire pit and any umbrellas.
Be ‘special’: Special elements like free-standing bars, tall bistro tables/stools or oversizesun beds au deux create a buzz, break up a space, visually adding interest, and are a great way to encourage mingling.
If a great sound system, dramatic outdoor lighting, or an outdoor TV would make you little piece of paradise complete, talk to a professional installer first, so placement and quantity of furniture enhances placement of speakers/equipment.
Create groupings:As in interior spaces, large communal sitting areas only work if you are playing trivial pursuit, or watching TV, where everyone is in on the same purpose, or conversation. Once a group hits 5 or 6, secondary conversations and sub-groups develop,
Even if 10+ is your typical entertaining style, instead of one huge table, consider 2 or 3 smaller tables. You can place/move them around more, and it allows for genuine conversation from all at each table.
Think lots of individual chairs: flexible by themselves, when at either end of an anchoring sofa or loveseat, they form more intimate groupings.
paint! Make your best choice, and run with it.
We all know real estate is hyper-local. Is there any reason to think a conglammorate with sattelite offices would really know the neighborhood better, understand market nuances better-or who’d be in a better position to serve their clients than a company with deep local roots?
