Home Staging: How Important is the Flow and Look of My Home?

The best answer to this question is to look at some virtual tour pictures on the internet. You can quickly pick out homes that are staged and the homes that are not.

When someone clicks on your virtual tour you have, on average, exactly 3 seconds to wow them with the first picture before they click onto another listing! Vacant rooms do not show well, as they not only look barren and cold but it is difficult to see the scale of a room without anything in it.

65% of buyers remember a home from it’s color alone! At Décor Staging we think color is extremely important in setting a home apart from it’s competition and making it memorable. Although as a general rule keeping colors to neutrals that will appeal to the broadest market is good, it does not mean it needs to be “Realtor beige”.

Neutral colors can be blue, green, gold, taupe even purple! A big component of our staging design centers around the flow of a home. We often see floor plans that present difficulties in furniture placement, television viewing and traffic flow. All of these problems need to be addressed and answered in the staging of a home.

In fact, the more problems a home has with it’s flow the more in need of staging it is. Staging can deflect attention away from problems and it can accentuate the positive aspects of the home. Staging never covers up a problem such as a bad floor or faulty construction because disclosure laws protect potential buyers from these types of things. However, staging can down play these types of problems, while they still remain viewable.

In today’s market everyone is looking for a place in a home for comfortable T.V. viewing and a home office. We try to answer both of these desires in every home.

Having been in the home staging market for many years I can personally attest and give examples of how staging a listing can increase market value and return on investment. Contact me at kerry@decorstaging.com or 650-619-9052 and I can share more information with you!

Don't Get Caught Short

Important Things You Need to Know About Insurance

and

Your Home Improvement Project

Proof of Insurance Don't be afraid to ask
the prospective contractor to provide certificates of insurance. This is simply smart business, so the contractor should not be offended when you make such a request.  Having the certificate mailed or emailed directly from the contractor's insurance agency is the best way to be sure that the insurance certificate is valid and the coverage listed is in force. I the contractor prospect can't provide you with this information or seems unwilling to do so, move on to the next one.

Worker's Compensation  As the property owner, you are financially responsible if a worker is injured on the your project and his employer does not have worker's compensation coverage.  Be sure that any contractor you hire has worker's compensation if he has employees. If the general contractor has coverage, his insurance will also protect subcontractors' employees.  the safest policy is to ask the general contractor to furnish proof that his subcontractors have worker's compensation. This information should be made readily available to you.

General Liability  Ask about the general liability limits the contractor has.  You should require that the limits be a minimum $1,000,000/$2,000,000 with at least a $1,000,000 umbrella or an excess liability policy.  Ask the contractor if he has any claims pending or situations that might develop into claims. Policies today are written with a "per occurrence" limit and a policy year limit. If there are other claims pending or likely to develop you might not have the protection you expect.  Ideally, you want the liability policy to be an "occurrence form", not a "claims made" form.  The occurrence from gives you the best chance of recouping a future loss.

Also ask if the contractor's liability policy covers "broad form", property damage.  The standard liability policy excludes property in the care, custody and control of the insured.  The contractor has custody and control of any party of your home he is working on, so any damage that occurs may not be covered.

"Broad form" coverage take care of this for you.

For questions about this post or any other insurance questions contact:

Virginia Trowbridge Farmers-Trowbridge Insurance Agency

virginia.ctrowbridge@farmersagency.com

Controlling Construction Costs

Thinking about an addition or remodel project for your home? If you’re like most of us, you need to know how much it’s going to cost. And that it won’t cost more than you’ve got budgeted.

In a perfect world you would have a detailed set of plans and specifications put together that exactly described the project. You would show these documents to a contractor who would then give you an exact price.

The reality is that the world is NOT perfect, and that perfect projects are extremely rare. We’ve done a number of retaining wall and fence projects in our back yard, and most of them ended up costing more than we anticipated. Partly because when planning the project we tended to be optimistic. We thought, “That tree isn’t in the way of the footing” or “We won’t have several tons of extra dirt.”

Cost extras fall into three main categories:

1. you change your mind about something, decide to add to the scope, or misunderstand what is covered by the contractors proposal

Some scope changes are inevitable and make a better project. If a contractor’s price is based on detailed drawings and specifications, both parties know what is going to be built. Misunderstandings most often occur when the construction contract is a conversation and a handshake.

2. you wait until too long to make decisions, leading to delays and construction changes

How long is too long? Ideally, you should have made all decisions regarding the products, materials, and construction methods before you get a price. After the contractor has given a price most changes are extra costs.

3. in the case of a remodel, unexpected conditions are discovered during construction

Contractors are not responsible for things that are discovered once they open the walls, dig up that pipe, or otherwise expose hidden areas. You can pretty much count on finding water damage, inadequate construction, or other hidden problems that you want to fix before everything gets covered up again. Keep a contingency fund for these types of changes. Ten to fifteen percent of the construction cost is a good size for this fund. Put this number into your budget (not the one you show your contractor) from the begining.

Remember, a contractor or subcontractor can't change a contracted price for no reason. Once they have given you a price there has to be a good reason for change orders. And give yourself a break . . . a little optimism is a good thing.

following the trends just because...

so...are you wondering what the golden gate bridge has to do with my post? really...there is a connection... =)

today's fashion cycles are getting shorter and shorter...faster and faster...within every price range...there are more choices...more fads...and trends...that will come and go long before you can even redeem those membership reward points...women who get carried away by the constant "newness" in stores usually resort to bingeing...with little regard for what looks good on their bodies...or what styles go with the other pieces in their closets...

so what am i trying to say? don't be moved by such fashion distractions...don't let sales clerks dupe you into a garment that doesn't suit your taste...and more importantly...your figure...this means...you need to be crtain of what works on your body...you need to know what styles look terrific on you...and what type of pieces will show off those features whenever possible...by being brutally honest about what really works on your figure (remember...salespeople often work on commission)...you'll reflexively reject flash-in-the-pan fashion...

at any age...you'll want to acknowledge a fun or important seasonal look...just don't immerse yourself in the trend...seeing entire rafts of young and not-so-young women falling over themselves to catch the next trend...pink everything...cargo pants...bare midriffs...is just...well...too much...

instead...pick one or two current pieces that make sense within the context of what you already own...any faddish items you choose to own should pass a crucial price tag test...six-hundred dollar beaded flip-flops and two-thousand dollar floral bags may look swell...but such indulgences are likely to stay on your credit card bill far longer than they linger in the magazines...go for a less expensive non-designer rendition instead...spending the real money on items such as coats...dresses...jackets...or other pices that can be pressed into service every day...and are less likely to turn heads as "last year's" look...

so...the beautiful golden gate bridge...one of the the most beautiful sites to behold in our lovely city...when i was younger...and i was coveting something...there was always something...right? the words that would come out of my mouth...to my mamacita...would be..."but so-and so has it"...(believe me...my negotiating & debate skills are much better now)...to which she would "always"...yes always...reply..."if so-and-so jumped off the bridge...would you follow them?"

now...seriously...mamacita...of course not...but i have to laugh...because...it was really through that...that i started on my journey of becoming...and being my unique self...and not wearing what "so-and-so was wearing" but creating something that was "my own"...

if you are needing help in figuring out YOUR personal style...i can help...give me a call and let's get started!

elena daciuk
fabulous finds
fabulous.finds@yahoo.com
415.577.6133

Home Buying Class Saturday June 25

2011 is a great year to buy a home on the San Francisco Peninsula. Learn the steps for success at an informative class.

Saturday June 25
11am
1440 Chapin Ave Suite 200, Burlingame

RSVP HERE

Class Topics:
* Advantages of buying a home in 2011
* How the Stimulus Plan benefits first time homebuyers
* Tax Credits available for home ownership
* Owning vs renting comparison
* State of the San Mateo County real estate market
* Current mortgage interest rates and programs available
* Steps for a successful home or condo purchase
* Differences between owning a condo, townhome or single family home
* Steps to finance your home purchase
* Advantages of owning a home on the San Francisco Peninsula
* Survey of advice from other First Time Homebuyers
* How to select a good Realtor
* Real Estate Negotiations

Hosted by
Eileen Horan
Mortgage Broker
Mortgage California

Aimee Snodgrass Klarich
Realtor
Alain Pinel Realtors- Burlingame
http://www.AimeeKlaric...
DRE 01765417

New member update: Rhonda Giedt...

Women on Fire is happy to introduce our newest member: Rhonda Giedt

Rhonda Giedt is a professional photographer specializing in fine art, portrait and wedding photography. Based in Belmont, California, Rhonda’s multi-faceted approach to photography incorporates over 10 years of technical experience with innovative artistic interpretation. Working in both color and black & white, her photojournalistic style is modern and distinctive with a timeless, classical edge. She specializes in portraits including maternity, newborns, children, high school seniors and families. Rhonda customizes every photography session in order to capture each subject’s unique personality. Her secret to taking great photos lies in her clients being relaxed and having fun. Rhonda’s passion for people and photography makes her sensitive to the natural beauty that is all around, capturing that essence in every picture. Rhonda has earned recognition and respect in the photography field and her photographs have received numerous honors and awards in recent years. Rhonda’s talent as a wedding photographer has taken her to destinations such as Maui, Honolulu and Vieques (Puerto Rico), to name a few. To see more of Rhonda’s current work, go to: www.photosbyrhonda.com

Stayed tuned for future blog posts from Rhonda herself!

Master Gardener Tour 2011

June rain is highly unusual for the San Francisco Bay Area. This is the month that non-irrigated lawns begin to dry up and non-native plants start to gasp for water. A growing consciousness about water conservation and preservation of native habitats has sent many gardeners in the direction of landscaping with drought tolerant and native plant materials.

Where do you go for advice and inspiration?

UCCE Master Gardeners of San Mateo & San Francisco Counties
Educational Garden Tour
& Plant Sale
Saturday, June 18, 2011
10am - 4pm

Tickets $25 in advance, $30 on tour day
www.MasterGardenerTour.org

Learn how seven homeowners on the San Francisco Peninsula built water-wise gardens that are attractive, practical, easy to maintain, and a joy to be in.

Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about irrigation, composting, plant selection, hillside gardening, alternatives to turf, and growing fruits and vegetables. In addition, low-water plants will be for sale at one garden.