October 2021
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Archives for October 2021

COULD THE LUXURY CONDO CRAZE RETURN? HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN URBAN MARKETS

October 28, 2021 by Susan Solliday Leave a Comment

While many affluent clients were busy trading in their luxury condos for more space, privacy, and nature over the last eighteen months to escape the confines of a job they no longer needed to commute to, some have simply been waiting to return back to the city life they love.

Last month, the Luxury Market Report revealed an emerging trend of some affluent clients returning to urban living, likely due to softening prices and the trickling of listings finally hitting the market after a year and a half of ultra low inventory.

Joining those returning to urban life are also many first-time homebuyers in the luxury market, as well as foreign investors.

So, what does this mean as the market continues to shift? And more importantly, what kinds of opportunities does this return to city life present for the luxury market?

Let’s take a look:

BUYER’S MAY HAVE A LITTLE MORE BREATHING ROOM

For the last year and a half, it’s been nearly impossible for buyers to find homes.

Now, the re-emergence of available luxury condos gives buyers the opportunity for slightly less competition when it comes to presenting an offer.

FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS HAVE A CHANCE TO ENTER THE MARKET

When inventory was extra low and prices were extra high, many first-time luxury home buyers were priced out of the market — drastically reducing the pool of potential buyers. Now, with city property values leveling out, there may be an easier opening for these buyers to stake their first claim in the upper tier.

However, prices may rise again as people jump on the opportunity to enter the market now, so buyers should still move quickly and expect multiple offers — although there may not be quite as much competition from other buyers as there was just a few months ago, or as there might be on larger single-family homes.

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS ARE TAKING NOTICE OF THE SHIFT

Another demographic that was pushed out of the luxury market? International buyers.

Between strict restrictions during the pandemic and almost no inventory available to purchase sight-unseen anyway, international buyers and investors spent most of the pandemic on the sidelines waiting for better conditions to purchase American and Canadian real estate.

Now, the availability of single and attached homes in more urban areas is catching their eye, too, presenting yet another opportunity for sellers and a bit more competition for buyers.

Photo by Naomy Gniara on Unsplash

Make Your Home Roomba Safe

October 25, 2021 by Susan Solliday Leave a Comment

This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t get a Roomba or similar vacuum. I have one and LOVE it! They can work just fine in most homes and will likely be a good addition to yours. Just like any new addition, though, you may have a little bit of prep to do before you bring it home and putting it to work. Depending on your home, here are a few basics you will want to consider to get the most out of your little robotic helper.

Consider Your Flooring

Given that your robotic vacuum will be tasked with keeping your floor clean, it makes sense that you’ll need to think about the condition of your floors to get the most out of it. While some models work just fine on any flooring type, others may struggle with deep carpet or certain textures. Loose rugs and some other flooring features may cause occasional issues as well.

While your flooring type is a big consideration when it comes to choosing the robotic vacuum model that works best in your home, floor features will also affect how well any model will work once it gets there. Rug grippers or other options that help keep rugs from slipping will be a big help, and large floor furnace intake grates or similar features you might find in older homes might cause problems with your robot’s navigation. Secure or cover as much as you can when it comes to prepping the floor, giving your vacuum some help in achieving full coverage of your floors.

Make a Clean Path

Clutter can be a big problem for anyone when trying to clean up, but it is especially troublesome for robotic vacuums that can only rely on sensors and programming to get around. Take the time to pick up before your Roomba runs so that it can fully clean the floor, and try to space furniture and other static objects in such a way that the vacuum can navigate around them or go under them for cleaning. This is especially important if you have features such as catty-cornered couches or other large objects with space behind them, as your robotic vacuum won’t be able to clean the area if it can’t get to it.

Along these same lines, make sure that there’s a clear way for your Roomba to get out of any area that it can get into. While this might sound like a no-brainer, it may be possible for it to access areas such as a sunken living room but not be able to easily get out the way it came in. This could lead to your robotic vacuum getting stuck and possibly running down its battery trying to get out of the area.

Roomba-Proofing Your Home

Most robotic vacuums have sensors to detect possible collisions, falls, and other dangers, but there’s only so much that these sensors can accomplish. Don’t be afraid to put up baby gates, place pool noodles on the floor, or take other precautions to keep your Roomba from accessing an area where a fall or other potential damage could occur. If you have a vacuum model that features app connectivity, you should also set up alerts so that your vacuum can message you in case it runs into any potential peril. Robotic vacuums are an investment, so it makes sense that you’d want to keep them safe.

Photo by Blake Carpenter on Unsplash

Designer Tips to Take Any Kitchen From Ordinary to Deluxe

October 10, 2021 by Susan Solliday Leave a Comment

HGTV star and professional property flipper Johnathan Scott is well accustomed to making design dreams come true for homeowners who have champagne taste on a beer budget.

In a recent interview with lifestyle editors at PureWow.com, a lifestyle destination focused on everything from beauty to recipes, Scott offered four tips for adding luxury touches to even the most ordinary kitchen:

Embellish prefab cabinets.

Create the illusion of custom cabinets by starting with inexpensive prefab cabinets. From there, add stylish hardware pulls, install a light rail underneath the uppers or add crown molding details around the edges. Each creates the illusion of custom cabinetry—even if you bought your cabinets on closeout at your local home improvement store.

Adopt a two-tone color scheme.

A two-tone color scheme can infuse your kitchen with upscale vibes. (Think black cabinetry with a glossy white island.) It’s a simple and sophisticated color palette trick that lends creative vision and instant design cred to kitchens of any size or configuration.

Pick a correlating backsplash.

Check out backsplash ideas at your local home store. While they can run the gamut from minimalist to elaborate, stay on or under budget by selecting a simple backsplash that adds a touch of quiet elegance and complements your two-tone color scheme.

Install statement lighting on the cheap.

Lighting is one area where there can be huge price differences between fixtures that basically look the same, especially when it comes to glass globes or kitchen chandeliers. Instead of shelling out big bucks for designer lighting fixtures, trust that the “copy cats” will add the same look of luxury to your kitchen despite their lower price tags. For a touch of added glamour, install dimmers.

These tips can help you create a stunning luxury lifestyle space as well as increase the value of your home for an affordable price, giving you long-term benefits for when it’s time to sell.

Image Source: Black and white kitchens Pinterest

How to Design a Calming Bedroom

October 3, 2021 by Susan Solliday Leave a Comment

When the day is done, nothing is more relaxing than retiring to a calming bedroom. Especially after a busy day at work or the craziness of the holidays. That is of course unless your bedroom is anything but calming.

Here are several tips for designing a sleeping space that brings calm and comfort to what is the beginning of a beautiful … ZZZZ.

Cool colors.

There is nothing calming about a blood-red bedroom or hot orange. Choose a hue like a gentle blue, soft sage green, taupe gray, or deep, delicious brown to create your calming bedroom and make falling asleep easier.

Window covers.

I can’t say it enough, blackout shades. Make sure you can block light with opaque window coverings so your hibernating state can go uninterrupted. Even that extra 30 minutes of shut-eye between sunrise and the alarm can make all the difference in the world and extend the effects of your calming bedroom.

Tech-free.

While you might like to watch TV in bed, try and create a space that isn’t focused on binge-watching Netflix or Hulu. It’s well known that the light from electronic devices can interrupt our sleep cycles, so if you must occupy your brain before bed opt for reading to give you a calming bedroom. Or set the remote timer to turn off the tube at a certain time so it doesn’t run through the night.

Clear clutter.

Keep your room neat and clutter-free so your mind doesn’t go into overdrive when you enter. Keep clothes in the closet or hamper (not on the floor) and rid horizontal surfaces of stacks of bills and other clutter. Making your bed every morning makes slipping between the sheets at night feel fresh and eventful. It’s also a great finish to a tough day knowing you started your day with a job well done.

Light it right.

There is nothing calming, special, or flattering about harsh overhead light. Rooms should have three sources of light: ambient, accent, and task lighting. Ambient lighting for an overall light is suitable for picking a coordinating outfit or keeping you from stubbing your toe. Accent light can give your room a pop to show off fabulous art or beautiful window treatments. Great bedside lamps are a must as task lighting when reading those last few pages before turning off the lights.

Click.

Photo by Ava Sol on Unsplash

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