Design Trend - Open Concept

 Made popular by the many home improvement shows on HGTV, Open Concept Design is on trend and can help your home reach its' potential.

Today’s trend in home design is definitely the “Open Concept” floor plan.  Take down a couple walls and instantly your home has grown.  The square footage maybe the same but the illusion of more space has been accomplished.  No longer do the walls divide us.  Our way of entertaining and living has evolved throughout the years.  The protocols and formalities have shifted to a more casual vibe.  There is a need to connect with each other and the Open Concept facilitates that involvement.  Our conversations no longer are put on pause when transitioning from room to room.  We can now watch the entire game or program (beginning to end) while we are making chili and grabbing more beers in the kitchen for our guests.

Open yet Cozy!!!
http://photos.hgtv.com/rooms/viewer/living-space/great-room

The practical aspect of Open Concept living is enticing, you don’t have to decorate three/four rooms,  but rather one.  Utilizing unifying colors and styles can create and complete a total environment.  Not only does Open Concept provide more room to roam, but the light that will stream in from all sides will saturate the space.  

At all times of the day your home will be light filled - that should make you happy. 

Open and filled with light
http://photos.hgtv.com/rooms/viewer/living-space/great-room

When looking at new listings I find myself considering the possibilities for an Open Concept design.   My job is to realize and maximize the potential in any home. If the home provides the perfect location but seems a bit small, I say, "Open it up!"   If the house has great bones but the multiple rooms make you feel boxed in, my suggestion is always, “a little demo can go a long way.”  

Open Concept design – bring your family and friends together and live without boundaries.

For more information and new listings please visit my website:
http://www.kw.com/kw/agent/sharonlaudenbach

GET READY, GET SET, SELL!!

5 most important things that you can do to help sell your home this Spring!

1.   Improve your CURB APPEAL and grab your potential buyers interest the minute they pull up to your house. If you don’t they may drive to the next listing.  Declutter your front lawn, landings and porches.  Remove all statues, wind chimes, gazing balls, lawn ornaments etc… these items might be your style but don’t assume your buyer will like them.  Ornamentation will only distract from the expanse of your yard. Simple but bountiful containers with fresh plantings flanking your front door will welcome the buyers to investigate more.  The lawn should be tidy, mowed, mulched, and all debris and leaves picked up.  Touch up all peeling or chipping paint; it wouldn’t hurt to apply a fresh coat to the front door either.  This is the premiere of your home, make it an awesome one! 

2.   Create a NEUTRAL PALATE. I get it, you took years to find the best shades and hues to make your home a cozy haven for your family.  But let’s think about your buyers taste, you have no idea what it is, so go neutral let them decide. Don’t deter them from choosing your home because they have to immediately repaint the entire thing.  Give them a break, let them settle in and then they can take years to establish their look and feel.

3.   While you are neutralizing the walls, DECLUTTER everything (even the closets!)  Don’t make the mistake of jamming your closets full of all that you decided to purge while staging your home.  Donate items that you haven’t used in years, box up the rest and, if need be, rent a storage space for the time being.  Present your closets ½ full and they will appear larger.  Clear all cabinets in the bathrooms and under the kitchen sink and leave only the essentials.  Remove all personal photos and memorabilia, remember you are leaving this home and you want it to be someone else’s.  It is important for your potential buyers to envision themselves in your home, not focus on your family history.

4.   FIX IT! You have put up with lighting fixtures that don’t work correctly, slow dripping faucets, cracked tile, sticky doors, stained grout, you know what I am talking about.  You have accepted your house and all its’ flaws, you love it just the way it is.  Well, maybe you love it the way it is but potential buyers just see a headache and more money out the window.  It is time to make the list and hire a professional to fix all those little quirks and nuisances.  I say hire a professional because if you haven’t done the repairs for years you probably won’t get to them now.  You will reap the benefits with your attention to the little details, it is worth the effort and the little cash spent.

5.   CLEAN IT, top to bottom!  Again I would suggest hiring a professional team to really scrub, scour, and freshen up the place!  Don't forget about the bed and bathroom linens, they need to be free of stains, clean and crisp.  Better yet, you can buy new and neutral ones and pack up the old. Nothing is more welcoming then an immaculate house.  It tells your potential buyers that you took great care of your home.  

Tidbit: During your Open House, clean the dishes, grab the kids, pets and dirty laundry, light a fresh candle, and head out, knowing that your home is ready to sell!