Monthly Archives: June 2017

Home Staging Tips For The Luxury Seller

Condos

While these are many factors that buyers consider when buying a luxury home, appearance is certainly one of the most prominent. So, when it comes to selling, staging can make or break a buyer experience. By strategically crafting your staging, you can make your home stand out amongst other houses for sale. Follow these simple tips to take your staging to the next level.

  • Remove Clutter: Keep your home looking clean and clutter-free by taking the time to organize and get rid of unwanted items. Have a professional cleaner do a thorough scrub of the house and have the carpet shampooed.
  • Use Real Plants: Fake flowers and plants look tacky and take away from the freshness of a room. Before potential buyers come by, place fresh flowers around the home. If you have potted plants, be sure to remove any brown leaves. These details will keep the home looking lively.
  • Incorporate Pleasant Smells: Scent is directly tied to emotion, so be sure that your house smells inviting. Light some candles or place air fresheners around. Consider the season as well, lighting woodsy candles in the winter and fresh ones in the summer.
  • Purchase Artwork: Original artwork gives your home that extra boost of luxury.
    Work with a local artist on a commission piece or tour some galleries to make your selection. Buyers can usually tell when homes have stock art.
  • Have Unique Objects: Do you have a grand piano or decor from your world travels? Show off these items. Not only does it show your commitment to a high end lifestyle, but it also gives the home a unique character.
  • Remember The Outside: Your home’s curb appeal is critical to its overall appeal.
    Remember to invest in updated landscaping and hardscaping before you put your home on the market. Most realtors will be able to give specific advice on what outdoor features can up your home’s value.

There were 501,000 homes sold in the United States in 2015. Only a fraction of these were luxury homes, making this category available to a unique market. When selling your home, think like today’s high end buyer and consider what you personally would want to see in houses for sale. Then stage your own home accordingly.

5 Signs to Look for if You Want to Find a Great Child Care Center

child care centerApproximately 70.5% of mothers are part of the workforce, including 64.8% of mothers with a child or children under the age of six. Needless to say, finding an excellent child care center is usually top priority for those mothers who can’t care for their children during the day or for a period of time after school.

But knowing where to begin in your search for day care centers can be difficult. In order to help you along in your search for the perfect child care center, here are the five most important things you need to keep a sharp eye out for.

Low Child-Teacher Ratio

If a child care center places 40 children in the hands of one adult, you don’t want your child there. In fact, such an arrangement might even be illegal! Toddler education is extremely important, even if it’s not in a formal setting just yet. The lower the number of kids in the charge of a single adult, the better. This means your child will get more attention and will have more and better opportunities to learn.

Healthy Food

Every child care center should have the means to feed the children there, especially if they’ll be present for an entire workday. One of the most important things to go over is meal expectations. If the options offered aren’t things that you would feed your child, check to see if you can provide packed lunches and snacks.

Regular Exercise

It’s important for children to stay active, as it results in more attentive and better behaved students. The best child care centers will provide some form of physical, active play at least once per day.

Learning Opportunities

Even if your child isn’t attending preschool just yet, it’s important that a day care center is providing some level of education. Things like basic manners and reading time should be top priority.

Positive Disciplinary Procedures

Every child care facility has its own disciplinary procedures, but it’s important that you’re well aware of what those procedures are before you send your child to one of them. For example, corporal punishment or inappropriate language should never be used in an educational setting.

If you’re looking for the best child care center you can find, these five traits are what you need to be looking for. Above all else, you need to make sure your child is being properly educated and taken care of.

Why Elderly Individuals Should Use Walking Canes For Stability

Custom walking canes

Are you or a loved one getting to the point where you may need to start using a cane? It can be a difficult transition going from walking on your own your entire life to needing to rely on another person or an object to get from place to place. For your health and safety, it is best to make sure you start using a cane if you feel you need some support when you are up and moving around. Whether you invest in a cane for walking that is one of the custom walking canes or you prefer to get fancier with brass cane handles on your walking stick, it does not matter as long as the cane is very supportive.

Needing to walk with a cane is actually a very common thing for people as they age. Rather than risk falling and injuring themselves, it is worth it to simply do the research and invest in canes and walking sticks that will help you stay active and get from one place to the next without any issues.

More people than you imagine fall and injure themselves every single year. In the United States alone, falling occurs quite frequently for the elderly. In fact, out of all the elderly individuals in the United States one in four is likely to fall every year. Sometimes, these falls are not that big of a deal. They may put you in bed for a day or two, they may not affect you at all or they may require further attention by a doctor or medical professional. Unfortunately, quite frequently when an elderly person falls, it can require a trip to the emergency room. Out of all the falls that occur in the elderly every year, around two million times the individual will need to be escorted to the emergency room.

Additionally, nearly half of these falls take place within the elderly individual?s home. So, it is important to check up on and keep in contact with family members and friends who are elderly, or with other people if you are elderly and living alone. You would not want to fall in your home and be without a way to reach out to someone for help.

So, what causes falling in the elderly? The majority of the time an elderly person falls, it is related to unsteadiness or dizziness. This can occur when someone is standing up quickly or walking without a cane. By simply investing in a walking stick and even customizing it with brass cane handles, you can prevent yourself from becoming part of the statistic. Instead, you can join the number of people who use canes and mobility devices to help them get around without falling.

Currently in the United States there are around 6.8 million elderly individuals who use canes to get around. For those who need help walking around, a cane is the top choice. Around 70 percent choose a cane over other walking devices. With the number of ways you can customize and personalize your walking cane like with brass cane handles or with a horse head cane, it is a great way option.

Once you hit age 65 and over, it may be time to start looking into whether or not a walking cane would be best for you, especially if you live alone. By the time you are 65, things can start to change that can cause you to become more unsteady and dizzy when standing up and walking around. For those over 65 in the United States, 10.2 percent are already using canes. By age 85 and older, the percentage increases to around 40 percent of elderly in the United States who choose to walk with a mobility device.

Not sure if you or a loved one may benefit from purchasing a walking stick or a cane with brass cane handles? Make a doctor?s appointment to help get the information you need about how walking with a cane could make moving around easier and safer. Currently walk with a cane? Let us know about your experience in the comments.

It’s Time to Liven up Your Home with Nautical-Themed Decor

Nautical clocks

Have you been thinking about redecorating recently? Perhaps you’ve considered adding a few life preserver wall decorations to your den or entertainment room. Or maybe you’re thinking about other nautical items such as a wooden ship wheel and a nautical clock to accompany your new nautical-themed pillows.

When was the last time you redecorated? If it’s been a while, has it been as long as 5 years? A recent survey showed that 47% of Americans haven’t redecorated their homes within the last 5 years. Since just 20% of Americans are happy with their home’s decor, it’s time to look for decorating ideas.

Do you love to go shopping for home decor? It’s interesting to note that 65% of the women, and 58% of the men that participated in a recent survey would rather shop for household items than shoes. More men than women, however, were inclined to take a few days away from work to decorate their homes, however. The survey showed that this was the case with 55% of the men and 45% of the women.

Are you planning to purchase all-new furniture? Around 63% of Americans over 55 are planning to do so. Having new furniture can really make a difference when updating a home’s decor. Nautical-themed drapes, throw pillows, placemats, and other items can continue this theme throughout the house.

How many hours do you spend at home during the day? Whether it’s 5 to 8 waking hours or more like 9 to 12, having decor that you enjoy can really make a difference in your state-of-mind. Furthermore, fun decor that resonates with your love of the ocean can really uplift your spirits. Just imagine how nautical-themed decor can enhance the breeze blowing through your home.

Since you’ve been thinking about redecorating, why not begin the process and start shopping for life preserver wall decorations and other decor? Whether you begin revitalizing your living room, kitchen, or deck, just imagine how much fun you’ll have transforming these spaces.

If you’re looking for a few ideas, why not contact an interior designer? They can assist you with co-creating the type of home environment that you envision.
To learn more, read this.

New Luxury Homes for Sale Townhouses and Beyond

Homes for sale in media pa

Are you in the market for your first home? If so, are you looking at luxury homes for sale? It’s interesting to note that many new homebuyers want to purchase luxury real estate that hasn’t been lived in previously. Most of these prospective homebuyers want to avoid dealing with renovations and other potential issues.

Zillow states, for example, that 48% of buyers want to move into a new home that hasn’t been lived in previously. Energy-efficiency is at the top of the list for 48% of home buyers that are planning to purchase new, rather than older, homes.

Are you looking for a luxury townhouse? Zillow indicated that 23% of Millennial homebuyers tend to look at these types of homes on a regular basis. These and other prospective homebuyers, approximately 20%, were actually planning to purchase a townhouse rather than another type of home.

Is walkability important to you? Urban Land Institute conducted a recent survey where it was discovered that this was important for 50% of its participants. Whether it was at the top of their list or a high priority, walkability was a determining factor in where people chose to purchase a home.

While more Millennials prefer to live in walkable neighborhoods than Baby Boomers, there isn’t that much of a difference in their preference for walkability. Millennials chime in at 56%, and Baby Boomers at 46%, according to the survey.

When it comes to making renovations and encountering plumbing or electrical issues, a large percentage of homebuyers want to avoid these. The survey showed that 34% of individuals that purchased brand new homes did so primarily for this reason. Since these homes are well-insulated, have all new plumbing and electrical systems along with other energy-efficient features, it makes sense to purchase a new construction.

How long have you been thinking about looking at houses for sale? The results from a Realtor.com survey revealed that 73% of its participants had been thinking about purchasing a home for under 3 months. Furthermore, the survey also predicted that 61% of 2017 homebuyers will be less than 35 years old.

Whether you’re planning to purchase a townhouse or are interested in looking at other types of luxury homes, your realtor will be able to show you their recent listings. Furthermore, a real estate agent will be able to save you time and energy by showing you the types of homes that are on your wish list, including a walkable neighborhood.

Three Benefits to Hiring a Residential Moving Service

Furniture movers

Finding the new home you want to live in is an exciting time. You often find that moving is the only thing standing between you and your new home. Research shows that the average person in the United States will move about 12 times in their life. Many movers attempt to take this task on all on their own. One study found that 23 percent of adults feel home isn?t where they should be. If this sounds like you, calling a residential moving service is a must. However, you will want to be aware of the many benefits hiring a company can provide for you. Here are three benefits to hiring a residential moving service.

  • Equipment Exclusive to Moving Companies: You might find that you are moving heavy items without the proper safety equipment. The last place you want to end up during moving is the emergency room. Household moving accidents happen all of the time. Moving companies will have the proper equipment to safely and quickly get your move underway.

  • Insured Safety of Items: You will want to check if the residential moving service you use is insured. If so, you can rest easy knowing your items are safe, no matter what. Professional moving companies know how to safely move equipment. However, working with an insured residential moving service gives you extra peace of mind.

  • Potentially Cheaper than Moving on Your Own: You might be thinking that you will save money by moving on your own. However, you could find that you are in way over your head. Moving without the proper insurance means you are out whatever gets broken. Moving a heavy and expensive item is similar to losing money. Furniture movers have months, if not years, of experience in knowing how safely move large items.

    • In closing, a residential moving service is quite beneficial to have on your side. Professional movers will have the right equipment to safely move items out of your home. You will want to look for an insured moving company which means your items are protected, should anything happen. The cost of breaking one item when moving by yourself could be devastating. Over 63 percent of adults move at least once in their lives. When it is time for you to move, it is wise to call moving professionals.

    Wedding Statistics and Tips For Your Big Day

    Miami wedding venue

    Planning your wedding is one of the most exciting times of your life. Several people opt for a wedding outdoors. In fact, around 35% of weddings happen outdoors. An average of 2.4 million weddings is performed each year in the United States, which accounts for several being outdoors.



    The majority of brides, around 30%, tend to plan their wedding for an average of seven months and even up to 12 months. There’s a lot of important details that go into a wedding and make it perfect. All details matter to brides-to-be, including the time they want their wedding. Approximately 16% of weddings happen in the morning, while 31% happened during the evening, and 53% happened during the afternoon.



    Some people strive to have an extravagant wedding, while others just want the most simple wedding they can. According to statistics in 2014, couples usually invite around 130 guests to their wedding.



    Aside from time of day and how many guests will attend to weddings, the date is the most important. Many people opt for summer weddings as there are more venue options and wedding reception places. What to look for when planning a date is would you rather have a wedding outdoors in the warm sun or would you rather have a wedding indoors during the beautiful snowy winter? Wedding venues are easy to find for any season. There are many wedding venues to choose in Miami. Once you choose out of many wedding receptions ideas, you can sign your banquet hall rental agreement so you can get on with finalizing your wedding details.



    Planning a wedding doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Although you hear stories about brides stressing out and couples arguing over minor wedding details, it doesn’t have to be like that for you. Once you get your banquet hall rental agreement out of the way, you can focus on the last minute details. If you want to take an extra splurge, you can opt for Miami wedding packages to get the most out of your wedding, leaving you with memories you will always be able to remember.