Tracy Johnson's Blog
Kitchens have become the new hip gathering spot in the home. With open floor plans, kitchens are combining the cooking, dining, and hanging out areas of your home and meshing them into one big room. Counters and islands have become tables, trading for fancy dining tables. People tend to congregate in the kitchen, allowing it to be the center of food, fun, and conversation. How can you make your kitchen ultra inviting? Below, you’ll find a few tips to help bring your kitchen to a new level of trendy.
Bright, Attractive Cabinets
Cabinets are one of the focal points of the kitchen. If you have bright cabinets, it attracts people to the room. The type of cabinets that you have also establish the type of style that you’re looking to create in the kitchen and possibly throughout your home. You’ll want to work the entire color palette of your kitchen around the color and style of your cabinets. As a bonus, good cabinets equal good storage. If your kitchen is organized, you’ll feel a lot happier and at ease in the room as well.
Technology
Kitchens are becoming increasingly technological. From smart, energy efficient appliances, to features of the kitchen that you can control with your smartphone, a kitchen can truly have it all. This makes entertaining a breeze. You could even get dinner going before you ever leave work! All of the new technologies that are being introduced surely make life much easier.
Advanced Lighting
The type of lighting that you employ in the kitchen can set the tone for the whole room. Not only do you need good task lighting, but ambient lighting is important as well in order to attract guests to the main gathering place of the house. Whatever vibe you want your kitchen to give off works with the lighting that’s available. The kitchen certainly should never be a dark room. Consider the safety factor that’s needed in the room, then realize just how inviting a room is that is bright and airy. It’s important to plan out your lighting scheme accordingly when it comes to your kitchen.
Storage
One thing you’ll want plenty of in your kitchen is storage. This helps to reduce clutter, increase organization and makes entertaining an easier undertaking. Guests will feel more welcome as there will be ample room to sit and hang out while prepping and cooking are going on.
It seems that trends in kitchens are always changing, however, many things remain constant. The need for a clean and organized gathering area in your home will never go away.
If you intend to buy or sell a house, it frequently pays to hire a real estate agent, and for good reason.
A real estate agent can offer expert insights into the housing market. Plus, he or she can respond to any concerns or questions that you may have as you proceed along the homebuying or home selling journey.
When it comes to hiring a real estate agent, however, it is important to note that no two real estate agents are exactly alike. In fact, there are several factors that differentiate an ordinary real estate agent from an outstanding one, and these include:
1. Industry Experience
Regardless of whether you plan to buy or sell a house, you should definitely spend some time evaluating a real estate agent's industry experience. That way, you can find out how long a real estate agent has been working in the industry and choose one who knows how to overcome potential homebuying and home selling hurdles.
Ideally, you should employ a real estate agent who possesses many years of industry experience. This housing market professional likely understands the ins and outs of buying and selling houses and can help you get the best possible results.
2. Communication Skills
The right real estate agent will be a great communicator. As such, this housing market professional will be able to keep you informed at each stage of the homebuying or home selling process.
To learn about a real estate agent's communication skills, it often is a great idea to meet with a real estate agent and interview this individual. During a face-to-face interview, you can get a better idea about what a real estate agent is all about and ensure you feel comfortable working with him or her.
In addition, a real estate agent should have no trouble communicating with you in good times and bad. He or she will be prepared to provide honest, unbiased feedback, and by doing so, help you make your homebuying or home selling dreams come true.
3. Client Feedback
Reach out to a real estate agent's past clients before you hire this housing market professional. With client feedback at your disposal, you can learn what it's like to work with a real estate agent.
A real estate agent usually will be happy to provide you with client referrals. Then, you can contact an agent's past clients and learn about their homebuying or home selling experiences.
Lastly, if you're uncertain about whether a real estate agent is right for you, it sometimes is valuable to find out how this housing market professional will approach the homebuying or home selling process. Explaining your goals and learning how a real estate agent will help you accomplish these aspirations can make it easy for you to find the right agent, at the right time, every time.
Start your search for a real estate agent today, and you can move one step closer to buying or selling a home.
Watertown, MA 02472
Rental
$2,445
Price
Watertown, MA 02472
Rental
$2,150
Price
What homeowner doesn’t want to maximize overall home value when the time comes to sell? In order to sell your house faster and for more money, it's important to have a firm understanding of the specific housing features that matter the most to prospective buyers.
Well-Established Property Value Boosters
If you’ve ever considered home renovations, you’ve probably heard that the biggest boons to overall resale value are updated bathrooms and kitchens. In order to set your house apart, however, you may want to go the extra distance in these rooms to make them truly special. A bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub or a walk-in closet, for example, may just make the final difference in the mind of a buyer who would otherwise remain on the fence bout a prospective purchase.
Other Buyer-Attracting Home Features
To borrow a word from HGTV.com, people are often looking for homes with an extra bit of “pizzazz” when it comes to making that final purchase agreement. This can mean the presence of existing architectural flourishes and unusual floor plans or more practical amenities such as ample garage storage space and a separate laundry room.
Here are just a few features that will make your home shine during your future open house:
The Backyard Patio
According to the independent financial authority Kiplinger, 87 percent of buyers are looking for a concrete patio surrounded by an attractive backyard.
The Playroom
Although this feature will be of value only to families with young children, the presence of a good playroom is often the deciding factor for prospective homebuyers.
Green Features
Whether you’re talking about solar panels, a highly efficient HVAC system, or double-paned Energy Star-qualified windows, homebuyers are increasingly looking for green building features to control their utility bills and help save the environment.
Ceiling Fans
Home improvements don’t have to be extensive or expensive to be effective. Kiplinger reports that 85 percent of prospective homebuyers are looking for one or more ceiling fans in their new home. Even with a full lighting kit and a remote control unit, a newly installed ceiling fan should set you back less than $500 in total.
Let Your Specific Goals and Restrictions Guide Your Way
Before considering renovations to boost the value of your home, ask yourself exactly what you hope to gain from those renovations and exactly how much those renovations will cost. Depending on your budget and your level of ambition, you may opt for popular, value-boosting features that range from the installation/restoration of hardwood floors to the addition/improvement of exterior lighting fixtures.