By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR(R) Magazine
Winner of NKBA’s 2013 Best Kitchen design competition: Wendy F. Johnson, Designs for Living, Manchester, Vt. The kitchen featured a “curved LED-lit glass bar overlooking art glass on panels in the cooking and entertaining centers.”
Shades of gray, quartz finishes, and energy efficiency are all growing in popularity in kitchens and baths this year, according to a National Kitchen & Bath Association survey of 2013 design trends.
NKBA reports that home owners this year are spending, on average, $47,308 on making over their kitchens, and $18,538 in bathrooms.
Here are the top 10 trends emerging from this year’s report for kitchens and bathrooms:
Calling all real estate and staging professionals: I’m looking for your best photos showing how you staged a front porch or deck of a home! Some of your photos may be used in an upcoming issue of REALTOR(R) Magazine or online (credited to you of course!). Please e-mail your outdoor staging photos to Melissa Tracey at mtracey@realtors.org. Please include your name, company, and what you did to spruce up the front porch or deck to turn it into a selling point to potential buyers.
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR(R) Magazine
Who doesn’t love a deal? I loved this article at Realty Times, which recently revealed the best time of year to buy certain household items in order to score the biggest bargains, based on research from AARP and LifeHacker.
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR(R) Magazine
During the housing boom days, media rooms, wine cellars, and large expansive bonus rooms were all the rage. But ask today’s home shopper what they want most from their home and their wish-lists have gotten much more practical.
Today, it’s all about energy efficiency.
In fact, four of the top most desired home features center around saving energy, according to a new study released by the National Association of Home Builders, “What Home Buyers Really Want.”
With rising utility costs, more home buyers are thinking not just about the price of buying a home — but also how are they going to maintain it and keep it affordable once they move in? Continue reading »
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR(R) Magazine
Photo credit: Meredith Baer Home
In this month’s issue of REALTOR(R) Magazine, Beverly Hills real estate pro to the stars Myra Nourmand and Brett Baer, a luxury home stager with Meredith Baer Home, shared with me how to add some Hollywood magic to your listings.
Take a look at some of their ideas for sprucing up the homes of A-list celebrities.
Great curb appeal can get buyers to that front door of your listing. Do you have any simple tricks to getting stellar curb appeal? I’m looking for real estate and staging professionals who can share their tips for sprucing up the exteriors and how-to make it more inviting to buyers. Your insights will be used for an upcoming article in REALTOR(R) Magazine. If you have tips to share, please e-mail writer Melissa Dittmann Tracey at mtracey@realtors.org, and include your name and contact information. (If available, I’d love to see great photos too!)
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR(R) Magazine
Emerald may be this year’s color of the year and hot hue, but which colors should you avoid?
Color research tells us some colors to avoid. Colors that can be considered, as some researchers note, “eye irritants” and can even cause headaches or mess with your vision.
According to color research, the worst offending color: Continue reading »
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR(R) Magazine
Home owners are investing in their homes once again, according to recent industry surveys that point to a strong rebound taking hold in home remodeling. Home owners also may be seeing higher gains from some of these remodeling projects at resale, according to the most recent Cost vs. Value Report, which reviews the top remodeling projects that offer the highest returns at resale. The Cost vs. Value Report is conducted each year by Remodeling Magazine, in conjunction with REALTOR(R) Magazine.
So, which remodeling projects offer the potential for some of the biggest pay-backs at resale? The following mid-range remodeling jobs offer the highest returns, according to the 2013 Cost vs. Value Report.
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