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Article 1. The Sense of Smell

When selling a home you have the opportunity to impress potential buyers or send them running!  The best way to make a good impression is to stage your home for the senses.  A quiet, clean, uncluttered home is refreshing to buyers and says that your home is ready for new owners.  This is the first article in a series of four.

Your sense of smell tells you when something is pleasant, fresh, and appealing.  It also notifies you when something is rancid or dirty.  Foul odors are a turn- off.  Don’t let bad odors distract potential buyers from making an offer.  Before you put your home on the market, make sure it smells clean and fresh.  Here are some tips:

• Litter boxes:  Change often and place in garage for showings.  Do not leave litter boxes in the kitchen; litter boxes are not appetizing.
• Diaper pails: Dispose of dirty diapers often.  Home buyers want to smell a fresh nursery.
• Trash cans (this goes for all trash cans): Empty regularly and hide in cabinets or pantry.  Trash cans are not accessories.
• Carpet: If you have pets, hire a professional to clean your carpets.  If pet odors are present and not removed, hire a professional to give your home an ozone treatment.  Ozone treatment removes pet odors in the carpet, walls and upholstery.
• Cigarettes: If you smoke in your home, an ozone treatment is in order.  Cigarette smoke is not removed with simple carpet and upholstery cleaning, and penetrates every surface of the home, and is even trapped in the ventilation system.  Buyers with allergies and/or asthma will turn down your home for the one that they can breathe in.
• Food: Food odors (i.e., curry and garlic, among others) linger in the home, so open the windows and spray a little Febreeze or Oust in each room.
• Highly fragranced candles, plug-ins, and scented oil:  Beware of using these products.  They are often too strong and buyers can be negatively affected i.e., headaches, asthma, and allergies.  And, not everyone likes the same scents that you like. 
• Garbage disposal: Run the garbage disposal with small pieces of freshly cut lemon and water.  The lemon juice is also great for cleaning the sink!
• Closets:  Closets can smell bad from shoes and gym equipment.  Open the doors to let the air circulate and spray Oust or Lysol in the closet.

If you are not sure whether your home will pass the sniff test, invite an honest friend or your Realtor to help.

Holly Bellomy is a home staging consultant who serves clients in Dallas and the surrounding areas. www.DallasRealEstateStaging.com

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The 4th of July is said to be the Birthday of the United States. It is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 which declares our independence from Great Britain. This special day is often filled with fireworks, parades, bar-b-cues, fairs and picnics, not to mention concerts, baseball games and political ceremonies.

4th of July Ideas

• Decorate a Flag Cake
• 4th of July Parade Wear for the Kids
• Fourth of July (government site)

Patriotic Hymn

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Perfect strangers peaking into every cranny of your home. Sounds blissful… NOT! As unpleasant as showing your home may be, it’s a necessary part of the selling process. If you’re serious about selling your home, better hunker down and get ready for the showings.

-Make sure your home, inside and out is beyond reproach.  Clear away debris, clean your house from top to bottom. Nothing is more important than curb appeal and first impressions.

- Declutter your decor. You want the potential buyers to think of your home as theirs, not yours. Often personal momentos and cloud the view. You don’t want someone to not choose to buy your home because of Aunt Sylvia’s photo.

-Gather materials about your home for viewing. Locate owners manuals for appliances and floorplans or drawings from your home’s purchase and place them in a convenient location for those viewing your home.

-Bake cookies or another good smelling food in the oven to give your home an inviting aroma. Cinnamon sticks placed in boiling water offers a faster way to get that homey-smell.

-Try not to be home. It is best for you to be gone when your home is being shown. Potential buyers may not feel as comfortable with you there.

-If you must be home, refrain from giving the “guided tour.” Retreating to another room after a polite hello is the best way to give the home shoppers their privacy.

-Play soft music in the background. Some sources recommend playing soft music in the background while others say “silence is golden.” You and your Realtor can be the judge.

-Open your windows wide. Let the sun shine through the windows giving the appearance of openness and friendliness. Light pouring into a room will enlarge the space and brighten the home overall.

-Remove pets from home. If possible, remove your pets from the home while it’s being shown. Pets are a nuisance to potential buyers as they are determining if they feel at home in your house. If you can’t remove them, cart them. At the least, keep them outside.

This blog post was created by http://www.dotjenna.com/

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It is not always easy to tell if you have hail damage from the ground. It takes a trained roofing professional to determine the extent of your damage. Hail damage seems harmless and may look harmless, however, do not be fooled. Over time, it can wreak havoc on your roof, causing it to deteriorate and leaks to start coming through your walls. If you suspect hail damage, you may want to have your roof inspected by a certified roofer. If you need a referral for a roofer, please contact us directly.

How to tell if your roof has hail damage warranting full-replacement by Insurance Company

Insurance will cover the cost to replace your roof if your roof has hail damage, and the hail damage is extensive enough to warrant full replacement. Here are 8 ways to tell if your roof has enough hail damage to warrant full replacement by the insurance company.

1. If other homes in your area have hail damage, chances are good that your house has been damaged too.

2. If you notice shingles in your yard, it is more obvious. Time to have your roof inspected by a reputible roofer in your area.

3. Whenever there is a hailstorm that comes through your area, there is a really good chance that your roof got pelted by hail.

4. Your next door neighbor getting a new roof should be cause for you to get a roof inspection. The longer you wait after a hail storm, the less likely you are to be able to collect on a claim.

5. When on your roof, if you notice bruise spots on your shingles, that is a definite sign of hail damage.

6. A leak coming through any part of your ceiling also indicates potential damage that you may have overlooked in the past. 

7. If other parts of your home are damaged from a storm, such as your fence, or your gutters, your roof may have been damaged too. Better have an experienced roofer check it out before water seeps through.

8. If your vents have visible dents, your roof does too. Just because you can’t see the damage from the ground, doesn’t mean you don’t have hail damage. Don’t take your chances, call us and we’ll refer you to a reputible roofer.

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Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching, an extended weekend for family, friends, bar-b-cue, parades and sporting events. How will you share this holiday time? When you’re out on the lake fishing, boating and enjoying your freedom, take special time to reflect on the reason for the holiday, to honor those who gave their lives in military services. 

Memorial Day Facts

• Memorial Day is always held on the last Monday of May.
• A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3pm local time.
• A Memorial Day tradition is to fly flags at half-staff from dawn until noon.
• Volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at National Cemetaries.
• Memorial Day originally was held on May 30th of every year, but was changed to the last Monday.
• Memorial Day was originally known as “Decorations Day.”

Ideas for Memorial Day Activities

If you haven’t made your Memorial Day plans, here’s a few ideas that are affordable for the whole family.

• Throw an impromptu bar-b-cue in the backyard or by the pool.
• Make a special desert with strawberries and blueberries resembling the American Flag. 
• Take pics of the kids with their American Flags for keepsake, Facebook and scrapbooks. 
• Visit grandparents and “pick their brains” about the past. 
• Take flowers and candy to elderly relatives who are in retirement centers.
• Put a flag up in your front lawn. 
• Play out in the sprinklers with the kids. 
• Vow not to work at all this weekend. 
• Attend Memorial Day services. 
• Visit a local National Cemetery. 

Whatever you do this Memorial Day, take pause for those who died in military service who are so deserving of the honor. 

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!! 

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Spruce It Up!

Home Staging Ideas for each Room of Your Home

Living Room: 

1. Replace heavy drapes with light weight fabric panels. If you don’t have any drapes, hang one panel on each end of a window or series of windows in a solid color. 
2. Use your chess set as an accessory and set it up on the coffee table.
3. Add a live or faux plant to the coffee or side table.  Greenery adds life to a room.

Dining Room:

1. Try a group of three potted orchids (faux or real) and place them in a row in the center of the table.  Make sure that they are identical.
2. Remove half of the items in the hutch and rearrange the rest of the contents. 
3. Paint the brass chandelier black; it will look like iron.

Family Room:

1.      Replace the lamp shades, if you don’t have lamps, now is the time to buy a pair.  My favorite place to shop for lamps is Home Goods and you can find great shades at Wal Mart!

2.      Revive your tired sofa with a slip cover and new pillows!  Pick a neutral slip cover and buy pillows that coordinate with your art.  Check Ross, Target and Hobby Lobby for great deals!

3.      Clear the mantle and lean a piece of art on it.

Kitchen:

1. Place limes or lemons in a big glass bowl and set the bowl on the table or island.
2. Display a colorful platter or plate on the counter.
3. Remove the leaf from the table and set with 4 placemats (solid color), 4 white plates and 4 white bowls.  White is crisp and fresh and works in every home style and décor.

Master Bedroom:

1. Does that art look dated?  Swap the old mat for a new one and your art looks fresh and new!
2. If you don’t have a head board, place 26”pillows with pillow shams (AKA Euro shams) against the wall.  Then, add more pillows in coordinating fabrics. 
3. Clear each night table except for the lamp. Then add one or two of the following to each table: crystal bowl or vase, decorative clock, stack of three small decorative books, small sculpture or decorative plate on a stand.

Master Bathroom:

1. Corral small items with a decorative tray.  Decorative soaps and perfumes look like art instead of clutter when gathered together on a pretty tray.
2. Add a valance to the window.  Hang it as high as the ceiling will allow without letting the top of the window show. 
3. Hang new towels on towel bars and then roll some and stack them pyramid style for the bath surround. 

Holly Bellomy is a home staging consultant in Dallas, TX.  For more info: www.dallasrealestatestaging.com

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Not all real estate agents, Realtors^® and brokers are alike. It’s wise to shop around and find the real estate team that’s right for you. First stop to think about the qualities that you need in a real estate agent to effectively sell your home. Your list may read like this:

• Listens to my needs. You want a real estate professional who listens more than talks. Your agent needs to hear what’s important to you, and keep your priorities above his or her own at all times.

• Works hard and is not lazy. It sounds basic, but there people out there who are not willing to work as hard for you for whatever reason. You need someone at the top of their game, someone at the peak of their career who is ready to get out there and do whatever it takes to get your home sold in a timely manner and for the right price.

• Answers my calls. When you’re selling your home, nothing is worse than getting voicemail even 50% of the time. You need a real estate professional who is available for you when you need him or her. You need someone you can reach immediately when necessary.

• Positive Attitude. Want to sell your home quickly, for more than you expected? Find a Realtor^® with a good attitude. A negative, moody or depressed agent frankly will not have the confidence necessary to sell your home effectively in any market conditions.

• Knowledgeable. Your Realtor^® needs to be knowledgeable about the legalities of real estate, the marketplace and about your area.

• Successful. The best real estate agents are successful agents. You should be able to tell they are successful when you meet with them. They should have an excellent track record and sound references to prove it. An unsuccessful agent is that way for a reason, don’t find out why.

• Confident & Assertive. When it comes to selling your home, you need someone who is confident and assertive. Confident, because they need to know exactly what they are doing, and assertive because they have to take an assertive stance in the negotiation process. You want someone on your side who knows how to take a stand.

• Ethical. You want an ethical real estate agent who you can trust. Not only will he or she show up where expected, but will show up on time. Your Realtor must have an outstanding reputation and perform his or her job with high moral clarity.

• Markets your home by many different means. Sometimes all that’s needed is a sign in the front yard and you’ve got offers on your home from here to the Brazos River. Other times, depending on market conditions and other factors, selling your home may require extra techniques and tools such as virtual tours, internet marketing, open houses, direct mail, etc… Make sure your agent is ready to do whatever it takes to get your and your home moving.

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Roses are the most beautiful, colorful display in a garden and particularly hardy in southern climates. Taking care of your roses will ensure its beauty for many years to come. Here are a few tips for cultivating gorgeous, healthy rose bushes with fragrant blooms.

Fertilize Roses Regularly

Fertilize your roses in spring, about two weeks after the roses start to leaf out and again in the summer as needed. Do not fertilize during dormant periods or frost. The more your rose bush grows and blooms, the more fertilizer it needs. Experts say just about any type of fertilizer is good for roses, but recommend a ratio of 1:2:1 of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous & Potassium). Over-fertilizing can kill your rose bushes. 

Source: http://www.rose-roses.com

Prune Roses to Promote New Growth

Those new to gardening may be intimidated by pruning roses, but it’s actually very good for the plant. Pruning away stems will actually promote more growth and create a more vibrant and lush rose bush. Pruning also promotes air circulation, removes dead wood and shapes the plant. When pruning, cut at a 45 degree angle (not too much of an angle). Do not cut straight across as this causes water to collect and attracts pest and disease. Use clean, sharp shears and a pair of gloves to prevent being injured by the thorns. Remove all broken, dead, dying or diseased wood from the plant. Shape it as well, according to your desires. Remove sucker growth beneath the graph.

Source: http://gardening.about.com/od/rose1/a/RosePruning.htm

Watering Your Roses

Nothing is more important than watering for your roses. Roses love water. Promote rose growth by watering the soil deeply, but infrequently, about 1-2 inches per week. Even in the winter, watering the rose bush occasionally will promote growth the next season. Water in the morning at the base of the plant to prevent black spot and mildew. Getting the rose bush’s leaves wet promotes disease. It’s good, however, to give your roses a “shower” once a week with a spray hose to wash off any pests and other grime. 

Source: http://www.rose.org/watering-roses/

Remove Spotted or Yellow Leaves 

Roses in Texas are susceptible to a variety of problems, including yellowing and black spot. Yellow leaves is caused by heat, toxicity, root damage and improper irrigation. You can prevent this problem by mulching around the roots and applying a topical anti-transpirant / anti-desiccant like Cloud cover or WiltPruf. It is also a good idea to provide a sunscreen for new rose bushes. If your plant gets yellow or spotted leaves, it’s important to remove each damaged leaf immediately. Do not allow damaged leaves to fall onto the ground without picking them up, because the disease can spread this way. Always water roses from below, as black spot is caused from the dew left on the leaves. 

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_9358_control-black-spot.html

Do you have secrets for growing beautiful roses? If so, please leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you! 

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(c) All Rights Reserved – Jenna Ryan 2010

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