Touch of Black Adds Allure to a Home

Everybody knows what a little black dress does for a woman. Guess what? Black accents do the same for a home.

A touch of black can add intrigue, sophistication and even mystery to a decorating scheme, inside or out. Paint your door black, and suddenly your house stands out. Add a black coffee table or a black-and-white chair to a monochromatic room, and the decor goes from dull to dramatic.

A bit of black is almost a cure-all for an uninspired space! Black works because it adds contrast without clashing. Since it goes with everything, it’s easy to add to any color palette.

And it doesn’t have to involve a big change. Even something as simple as adding black knobs to a vanity can break up the monotony of a bathroom with matching fixtures. Black works well in accessories or small accents, such as throw pillows or area rugs.

Painting window sashes black are becoming popular. The effect is almost like eyeliner, drawing attention and adding interest both inside the house and out. It’s also a historically accurate detail on an older home, since sashes were often painted dark colors in the 19th century.

Black, however, is best used with restraint. Too much black, and the power of contrast is lost.

Some other good ways to add a touch of black:

— Paint non-matching chairs black to unify them.
— Paint an outdated piece of furniture black to update it.
— Spray-paint ornate gold picture frames flat black to downplay the glitz and focus the attention on the artwork.
— In a traditional room, add a chair or pillow in classic black-and-white toilet. In a mid-century modern setting, use a bold pattern such as a trellis design.
— Instead of decorating daughter's bedroom in her favorite color, use black and white as the base with the color as an accent. Black and white will be more sophisticated and easier to live with as the child grows older, and the accent color can be changed easily as her taste evolves.
— Add black in odd numbers: maybe one strong piece, such as a sofa, wall or door, or three smaller pieces sprinkled around the room, such as a throw, a vase and an accent pillow.

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Bidding Wars In Real Estate Market

Housing inventory in the Greater New Orleans Area remains low, and demand for homes has been high. Brokers see their share of bidding wars quite often.

Professional buyers come in with all cash and buy up available properties. The regular buyers clamor for quality product if there aren’t that many available just as aggressively as the pros.

Sometimes regular buyers are pitted against deep-pocketed investors, making for an awfully daunting showdown—not that the seller should mind. Occupant-buyers need to show somehow that they’re more likely to close the transaction than an investor. Cash and speed are to the advantage of the investor, but they’re not as heavily invested in actually getting any single property they’re writing offers for. Regular buyers should show commitment, whether by financial, logistical, or personal means to sway the seller—within legal guidelines, of course. Personal letters, earnest money increases, and waivers of contingencies can all show serious intent to close.

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Eco-Friendly Amenities for Your Home

Eco-friendly amenities often add to the beauty and comfort of a home, and even save money in the long run. There are unlimited ways to upgrade your existing home to be more eco-friendly. Here are some of the top trends in eco-friendly remodeling in 2015:

1. ENERGY STAR appliances. Appliances are responsible for about 20 percent of an average home’s energy use, and some can make an up to 50 percent saving on energy and water bills. Consider using trendy and durable stainless steel appliances, and the new high-efficiency, clean-burning gas stoves that protect your indoor air quality.

2. Natural sunlight. Not only does it illuminate your home for free, but studies show that natural light is far better for mental and physical health. Well-placed windows with quality window treatments will help you make the most of your available daylight. Skylights are another great option. If your existing windows are in poor shape, replacing them with high-quality, energy-efficient windows can also save on your energy bills. Wood or fiberglass windows; they are much more eco-friendly than vinyl.

3. Real wood. Nothing beats the warm luxurious look and feel of real wood flooring, trim and cabinetry. Real wood is much healthier than alternatives such as particleboard, because it will not off-gas toxic substances into your home.

4. Built-in water filters. Municipal water supplies contain chlorine and other substances that can compromise your health. Install sink filters. Imagine the convenience of having delicious, pure water right out your tap. Your skin absorbs chlorine readily, so why not get a showerhead filter? Or better yet, invest in a whole house water filter.

5. Smart home technology. Smart management is the key to efficiency. You can save huge amounts of energy and water (not to mention time) by taking advantage of modern automated home management technology. Some popular examples include programmable thermostats and weather-based irrigation controllers.

6. Eco-friendly landscaping. The first step is careful plant selection. Native plants are a good choice because they don’t require more water and nutrients than is natural for your area. Next, place them where it makes sense for optimal beauty and energy efficiency. Shade trees are a great example, but well-placed shrubs, vines and even flowerbeds can help shelter your home from sun and wind, and collect excess rainwater runoff. Rain barrels, rain gardens and automatic watering systems can help minimize your water use while maintaining a beautiful exterior.

If you are thinking of remodeling, consider some or all of these eco-friendly upgrades. Not only will they make your home greener, but also a more pleasant, healthy place to live.

For more tips go to http://findneworleansproperties.gardnerrealtors.com/

Size Of The New Constructed Homes Goes Up Again.

Remember how the size of the new constructed homes kept declining over the last several years? Well, it looks like that trend came to an end. Recent research indicates that “size matters”, and here is a good RISMEDIA article illustrating just that: http://rismedia.com/rrein/20166/1023666/5079737/77164?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email

For more information go to http://findneworleansproperties.gardnerrealtors.com/

Divide Between Appraiser and Homeowner Perceptions

Accordingly to the Detroit-based Quicken Loans, appraiser home value opinions continues to fall below homeowner estimates.

The trend of a widening gap between appraiser and homeowner opinions continued in April, according to the Quicken Loans study of home value perceptions. The Home Price Perception Index (HPPI) showed appraiser opinions were 0.69 percent below homeowner estimates in April. The index dipped compared to March when appraiser opinions were 0.40 percent below homeowner estimates. April marks the third consecutive month of appraiser opinions falling below homeowner estimates.

It is not surprising to most appraisers that homeowners are overestimating their home’s value on a national average. There is nothing more disappointing to a homeowner than learning that the value of their home is less than they expected. This index is important for homeowners as they set reasonable expectations.

At the same time the national Home Value Index (HVI), a measure of home values based solely on appraisals, increased in April after a drop in March, gaining 0.28 percent nationally. Values also continued their strong year-over-year increases, rising 5.54 percent since April 2014 on a national level.

Even though the home values increased in April, it was not enough to cancel out March’s decline around the country. Homeowners that are still underwater are looking for large increases, but those increases can in fact price homebuyers out of the market. Home affordability could become a worry if home values increases get too far ahead of the modest pace of wage increases, which are sitting at about 2 percent annually.

For more facts go to  http://findneworleansproperties.gardnerrealtors.com/

What's Desirable in a Home Today

There are plenty of home buyers these days dreaming about a brand-new house with the outdoor kitchen, the two-story foyer, and the luxurious master bathroom, complete with a whirlpool tub. But today homebuilders across America have decided to cut out those kinds of features in favor of efficient, organized, and pragmatic ones.

Walk-in closets, laundry rooms, energy-efficient windows and appliances, and programmable thermostats are on the rise. It’s all about efficiency, both of time and resources. A working couple trying to get out of the house in the morning needs a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, they need a laundry room that’s well-lit and well-organized. That’s how they improve the efficiency of the household, find clothes, get organized, and hide the clutter.

Today's buyers are fixated on comfort and affordability. It’s part of a postrecession cultural shift toward pragmatism, and homebuilders have adjusted their creations accordingly, appealing to a segment that’s willing to forgo a two-story foyer or family room to get a better price.

Their list of most and least likely features does offer a few surprises; it’s not all about the decline of luxury. Once a high-end item, granite countertops are now the norm. Specialty spots such as media rooms or sunrooms are being replaced by spaces that are more flexible, especially additional bedrooms. And communities with jogging and walking trails, previously coveted, are now less popular than a two-car garage. Just because some features are less common doesn’t mean you can’t get your hands on a house that includes them. All you have to do is spend more money.

Hear are the features most likely to be found in new homes:

         1. Walk-in closet                             6. Energy Star windows
         2. Laundry room                              7. Ceiling 1^st floor 9’
         3. Low-emission windows                8. 2-car garage
         4. Great room                                  9. Programmable thermostat
         5. Energy Star appliances              10. Granite countertops

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Don't Argue When Selling Your Home

Tips to Avoid Home-Design Arguments

Design and style preferences when when staging your home to sell may create quite a bit of drama. comes to your home. Here is some advice on how to stop the fights that have kept you from painting the walls or tiling the floors. 1. Make a plan Making a list of how each room has to function and look before embarking on a design project is not a bad idea. This will help couples and families prioritize and understand why one idea might be better than another. Think realistically about how you’ll use the space or how potential buyer might use it. Look through pictures online or in magazines, and talk openly about your likes and dislikes. 2. Listen to each other Communicate openly, and don’t forget to listen. Interior designers say the majority of their job comes down to listening to clients. Sometimes your spouse or partner might just want his or her ideas heard. Discussing concerns helps to avoid conflict, and will help you determine what he or she likes about a particular color, pattern or piece of furniture. 3. Combine your ideas Not everything has to match. There are ways to mix style preferences. This could be as easy as using one person’s color choices with the other person’s fabric selection. 4. Hire an interior designer Bringing in reinforcements often helps see eye to eye, but it could cost you between $100 and $300 for an initial one-hour consultation. For more tips visit http://findneworleansproperties.gardnerrealtors.com/

Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

When it comes to selling a home first impressions are everything. Majority of buyers make up their mind whether or not they like a house within minutes of stepping foot inside.

Here is what to do and what not to do when getting your home ready for the market:

• Do work on curb appeal. Curb appeal is a huge draw for buyers, invest in a new doormat and keep the driveway clear of junk. Warm lights glowing in the window will also be welcoming.

• Don’t expect people to use their imagination. If you have wild colors in your rooms, you might think that people will look past that. But that can prove difficult for buyers. Paint over those wild colors and put away any crazy items that might raise eye brows or bring on laughter.

• Do invest in updates that matter. People will pay top-dollar for homes with updated kitchens and bathrooms. If you make improvements to these rooms, you will see a huge return. At the very least, purchase new shower curtains, bath rugs, and the like.

• Keep it light, bright and airy. Open all the curtains, turn on all the lights. Replace all dead light bulbs. Crack open doors to the pantry or laundry room so people won’t be afraid to peek inside. And tidy up in forgotten places like inside the fridge or oven…people will be looking in there.
• Read more at http://findneworleansproperties.com/

Who Should You Trust to Sell Your Home

So you are ready to move on to the next chapter in your life, and you need to sell your home. Who are you going to hire to do this job?

You need a great agent, you need to be able to trust that agent, you need to know that the agent you chose will make YOUR business his or hers top priority.

Here are some tips published recently by Rismedia http://rismedia.com/rrein/18662/1023666/5079737/71884?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email

Also, visit http://findneworleansproperties.gardnerrealtors.com/

2015 is going to be great for the housing market.

There are numerous strong indications that this year housing market will improve even more than in 2014. Click the link and listen for yourself.

For more good information or to search for homes go to

http://findneworleansproperties.gardnerrealtors.com/