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5 Home Organization Ideas That Are Also Gorgeous
Tips on home organization and how to go about tidying up your home for good, straight from the genius home decor editors at Remodelista.
Food for Thought: Julia Child
The 3 Best Reasons to Buy a Home in 2018 (but You’d Better Hurry)
A lot depends on where you live (and how much you plan to finance), but these factors could mean 2018 will be your year to take the buying plunge.
Winter Home Maintenance Checklist: 6 Tasks to Cross Off Your List
With our home maintenance checklist, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you—season by season—so you can avoid the pain and expense of costly home repairs.
Creating the Perfect Home Gym
The New Year is upon us and we all know what that means! New Year’s resolutions get us motivated for healthier lifestyles. Instead of rushing out to buy a gym membership, I have a proposal. Why not invest in a home gym?
Read More: Creating the Perfect Home Gym
Enjoy this article courtesy of Blue Matter, a blog by Coldwell Banker. Dee Greene Hill is a licensed agent with Coldwell Banker Preferred.
New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home
December is synonymous with festive decor, choosing the perfect holiday gifts for loved ones, and food – lots of food. It is also the time of year when many vow to make positive changes, whether it be hitting the gym more regularly or dedicating more time to family and friends. But how many of you make resolutions for your home?
Read More: New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home
Enjoy this article courtesy of Blue Matter, a blog by Coldwell Banker. Dee Greene Hill is a licensed agent with Coldwell Banker Preferred.
Case Study: Social Media Selling for Real Estate
Most people you know are on social media. Maybe it’s Facebook or Instagram. Maybe they stick to LinkedIn and keep their online socializing professional. Either way, social media has become a dominant force in terms of communication. Pinterest alone has taken 1/3 of all searches away from Google, proving that social media is here to stay.
Recently, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to list a beautiful 2BR w/den, 1.5 BA condo at 921 N. 4th Street in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia. This property was completely renovated about 8 years ago. Located on the first floor, it has gorgeous hardwood floors and a private back yard oasis. I am a firm believer in social media selling – especially for real estate. I posted information about the open house across all of my social media channels. You could find home photos on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. I posted about the property listing and open house multiple times with a myriad of beautiful photos and a very detailed description of the home. Within 2 weeks of acquiring the listing, the home was SOLD! Actively marketing the property to other agents and driving traffic certainly played a role in getting the property sold. However, I firmly believe that social media marketing was a huge factor in finding the perfect buyer for this home.
Here’s why social media selling is crucial whenever you are looking to sell your home.
First, by sharing the professional photos of the home on my social media accounts, I expanded the reach and got more impressions. I used relevant hashtags and marketed to the perfect target audience. I spread the word about how amazing this home was by sharing it on social media.
I was also able to sell to people without selling to people. I could put gorgeous home photos and valuable information in front of the people who needed it the most while it felt organic and natural.
Next time you consider selling your home, ensure that your REALTOR is implementing a social media marketing strategy. Social media selling is going to help ensure your open house is filled and buyers are ready to put an offer in before they walk through the door.
The Organized Home Office – Celebrate Clean Off Your Desk Day
The 2nd Monday is January is designated as Clean Off Your Desk Day so the new year is a great time to focus your energy on clearing piles in your home office. Following are tips that will help you conquer the paper piles in your home office so you can see the top of your desk.
Getting Started
- Designate a place to keep files ( filing cabinet, file box)
- Begin a list of the documents you need to keep (financial. employment, medical)
Working Through The Piles
- Talk with your CPA or Tax Accountant and discuss what you need to keep and for how long
- Keep current documents (2015-2016) in filing cabinet
- Develop an archive or scan older tax returns and other documents (2014 and earlier)
- Toss or shred documents that you no longer need to keep
The Mail
- Designate a specific spot in your home to place incoming mail
- Open mail by recycling bin to toss inserts that you don’t need
- Shred mail with personal information
- Avoid additional clutter by deciding which catalogs/magazines you will keep and remove your name from those you are no longer are interested in reading
- File or scan statements once you have checked them for accuracy
Final Tips
- Set aside time each week to open mail and file/scan statements, pay stubs, etc.
- Remember piles are created because we delay making decisions about the paper that comes into our lives. Start today deciding to reduce the paper piles in your life by conquering your clutter.
Janet M. Taylor is a professional organizer, speaker and author with over 20 years of experience helping people get organized. If you are ready to get your life visit her website at www.janetmtaylor.com
To-Dos: Your January Home Checklist
Make a fresh start in the new year with a healthy pantry makeover, organized files and a decluttered home. Of course, once the energy of those new year’s resolutions begins to fizzle, you may be in need of a midwinter boost — when that time comes, try cozy accents and a few light-enhancing tips to keep the winter blues at bay.
Refresh your kitchen and pantry for the new year. Have you made a new year’s resolution to eat healthier foods or eat out less and prepare more meals at home? Kick things off by thoroughly cleaning your kitchen and pantry. Put your blender or juicer in a prominent spot on the counter to make it easier to whip up healthy juices and smoothies, and place fresh produce front and center.
Boost light. Getting enough light can make a huge difference in how we feel in winter. Do what you can to boost light by pulling open window coverings during the day, adding lamps and candles, and lighting a fire in the fireplace or wood stove if you have one. Or consider decorating with white for a light, bright look — in the Scandinavian countries, white interiors are common, thanks to their ability to amplify light and cheer up homes during those long, cold northern winters.
Clear home and wardrobe clutter. Postholidays is a good time for decluttering, since there’s a good chance you accumulated some new things over the previous few weeks. Grab a cardboard box and fill it with clothes, books and other items you no longer love or use. When it’s full, take it to a charitable donation center.
Bump up coziness. Avoid the post-holiday slump by adding a few super soft and cozy accents around the house: think velvet cushions, fluffy faux-fur throws, knitted poufs, candles, fresh flowers or a new teapot. And while you may be taking down most of your holiday decorations in the early part of January, consider leaving up a few strands of white twinkle lights and swags of fresh greenery a bit longer — we could all use the extra cheer at this time of year!
Organize your papers and digital documents. It’s like going to the dentist: not exactly a pleasant task, but you know you’ll feel good when it’s done. So brew yourself a cup of strong coffee, put on some energetic music and start sorting, shredding and filing. And don’t forget the computer — back up everything (put an automatic backup system in place if you don’t already have one), and begin sorting your digital documents and records using a simple filing system.
Give kids’ spaces a boost. Especially in regions experiencing extreme cold, having an appealing indoor space where kids can play in winter is essential. Consider adding a new feature to your playspace this month, such as a chalkboard or whiteboard wall, an area for messy art or tumbling mats.
Plan decorating and remodeling projects for the year ahead. Thinking of remodeling the kitchen, adding a deck, putting fresh tile in the bath or painting your bedroom? Use your favorite resources (like Houzz) to save inspiring ideas and begin contacting pros to see your project through in the new year.
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