Real Living Earns Promotions & Awards from the Ohio Association of Realtors

Real living Inc., the most promising new national real estate brand, announced its outstanding performance at the Ohio Association of REALTORS® (OAR) Promotion and Advertising Contest by winning First Place and/or the Award of Excellence in 11 of the 20 contest categories.

Real Living also received the Award of Excellence in categories including: Business Cards & Stationary, Classified Advertising, Display Advertising/Newspaper, Firm Web site, Individual Web site, Novelty Advertising, Photos of Billboards, Photos of Office Exteriors, Photos Office Interiors, Photos of Office Signs and Print Advertising of Residential Properties in Brochures & Other Printed Materials.

"For Sale Buy Owner" Signs- Good Idea?

Selling your home? Before you place that “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO) sign in your front yard, know the risks and challenges associated with selling a home without professional help.

According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), sellers who use a REALTOR® receive a purchase price that is around 5 to 8 percent higher than they would if they sold the home themselves. This may seem surprising considering sellers are required to pay REALTORS® commission and other fees when closing a deal. How exactly does this happen?

Some sellers believe attempting to sell their home alone can save on commission fees and time. However, the complex issues involved in selling a home, which are handled by a REALTOR®, are often overlooked. A professional, qualified REALTOR® can accurately price your home by conducting a comparative market analysis on the property. This report provides pricing information on similar homes in the area, which in turn helps you to accurately price your home – reducing the property’s market time. The NAR also states, “The typical FSBO home sold for $187,200 compared to $247,000 for agent-assisted home sales.” REALTORS® have a tremendous amount of experience pricing within different markets. Unless you’re an expert, it’s better to have a professional REALTOR® do the market analysis.

According to the NAR, deciding on a selling price is one of the most difficult tasks for FSBO sellers, but one undertaking proves to be even more complex—understanding paperwork. This intricate process can be a legal nightmare if you’re not careful. Not only can a REALTOR® assist you in the actual transaction process, but some may even provide additional home-related services to make life easier. For example, some brokerages may offer home warranties, utility-connection services or “concierge desks” to eliminate the confusion and stress of buying or selling your home.

Another important component to selling your home is marketing. Here at Real Living, we employ 360° Marketing Integration. This involves everything from blogs and social networking to direct mail campaigns. Marketing can be a challenging task, so if you’re on a tight budget, it might be more effective to hire an agent to drive traffic to your listing.

For more information on the risks and challenges of FSBO listings, contact your local real estate agent today!

Creating the Illusion of a Larger Room

Whether it’s a bedroom, living room, kitchen or bathroom, everybody has one of those rooms in their home that could stand to be a little more spacious. You may not be able to change the dimensions of the room, but you can create the illusion of a larger room through a few simple techniques that deceive the human eye.

Paint
Choosing color for the walls of a smaller room can be a delicate decision. Most people agree that lighter paint colors reflect more light and therefore create the illusion of a larger room. In terms of color, go with a monochromatic theme. Then, if you have trim, paint it an even lighter shade than the wall. This technique causes the walls to appear farther away than they really are. Crown molding is a great option in terms of trim because it creates the illusion of a higher ceiling by drawing people’s eyes upward. If you’re ambitious, another way to make ceilings appear higher is by painting vertical stripes on the wall.

Staging Furniture
This may seem counterintuitive, but when staging your furniture, larger pieces create the illusion of more space in a room. An increased number of smaller pieces make the room appear cluttered and they create more wasted space. If you choose to use larger pieces of furniture, stage them diagonally in the room. The longest line in your room is diagonal, and by placing furniture in this position, you’re showcasing the length of the room’s imaginary diagonal line. Keep furniture from disrupting natural walkways and the flow from room to room. Tables with clear tops also create the illusion of more space. In terms of décor and accessories, reduce clutter as much as you can—more floor space lends to the appearance of a larger room.

Walls
Hanging mirrors on the wall can creates the illusion of a larger room. Utilize mirrors in spots that need expansion. For example, if you want to lengthen a hallway, place a mirror at the end of the hallway. This makes the hallway look twice as long as it really is. Another technique is to place a mirror behind a display of flowers. The mirror doubles the amount of flowers in the display.

Window Treatments
In an attempt to capture as much natural light as possible, stay away from heavy or dark drapes that block sunlight. If drapes fit well around your window, try and hang drapes made from a sheer fabric. Otherwise, go for light colored Venetian blinds or shades.

Lighting
Once again, when lighting a room, look for as much natural light as possible—specifically larger windows and skylights. If this isn’t an option, try and illuminate all four corners of the room. Darker edges and corners make rooms look smaller. To create the illusion of a higher ceiling, install wall sconces that reflect light up toward the ceiling. This technique vertically elongates the height of the wall.

For more information on how to create the illusion of a larger room when in reality, you’re stuck in a smaller space, contact your local agent today!

Real Living Joins Glam Media Network

First Real Estate Company to Join Glam’s Network and Provide Content to Living Channel

Real Living, the first national women-focused real estate brand, announced a partnership with Glam Media to share content on their living channel and become the first real estate company in Glam’s extensive vertical content network of 640 sites.

Real Living Chosen as Only Real Estate Franchise for National TV Show

Eye on America to feature Real Living in upcoming special on franchising

After reviewing many real estate franchise systems, the producers of Eye on America, a national educational show hosted by Greg Gumbel, chose Real Living, one of the nation’s fastest-growing real estate franchisors, to be featured in an upcoming episode as part of the show’s real estate series on Growing Trends in Franchising.

Interior Desing Trends of 2008

Redecorating In Style

Naturals
With eco-friendly campaigns everywhere you turn, it’s no surprise interior design is trending toward environmental preservation. Expect to see organic, recycled and renewable materials in furniture and other décor. Leather in chocolate or light brown is always a great staple, but you’ll be seeing it more frequently this fall. Bamboos, teak and cork are also being canonized as great eco-friendly alternatives for furniture and accessories. Finally, the award for most important hue of the year goes to “green.” Not only is “green” living a mindset, it’s also one of this fall’s most popular colors for interior décor. Basically, if it’s green, you can’t go wrong.

Bright and Bold
This fall, expect a move away from minimalism. Detailed accent pieces, and bright and bold accessories are a must. Don’t be afraid to throw different patterns together. The key is to be eclectic, creative and move away from themed rooms. Bold is great as long as pieces aren’t competing for attention. Use judgment when selecting fabrics and patterns for a room.

Hollywood Glam
Consider creating a throwback to old Hollywood glam in your home. To generate this look, metallic and glass are going to be important players. It’s all about vanity—the glitzier, the better. Indulge in chandeliers, oversized mirrors and if you’re bold, go for metallic wallpaper. Silver frames complemented by black and white photographs are a great dynamic for the wall. Remember, in Hollywood, vanity is a must. Mirrors can be used in more spaces than just the wall. Look for reflective accent tables, accessories and panels to help strategically stage a room.

For more information on this year’s interior design trends, contact me today!

Make the Most of Natural Lighting

Add balance and warmth to your home

Balance is key for any home, but specifically for each individual space in a home. A good rule of thumb is to make sure major rooms in your home are illuminated from two different directions. This contrast brings a powerful dynamic to living spaces. If it’s impossible to achieve this balance of light from two different directions, consider implementing a skylight. Skylights are great at subtly bringing more light into a room and diminishing harsher shadows.

Natural light also brings warmth to a room in more than one sense. Temperature wise, light contributes added heat that may be of interest during winter months. During the summer, intense mid-afternoon sunlight can be oppressive and unappealing. Take these situations into consideration when designing a room. Make sure rooms receive light at appropriate times of the day. For example, a porch should typically be shaded during the afternoon. Or, in a master bedroom, you may want your windows on the east side of the room so sunlight can enact as a natural wake-up call. It’s worth plotting the course of the sun in a drawing of your site. Take into account trees, overhangs and other objects that may provide shade. Natural light also brings warmth, in an inviting sense, to spaces in your home. As humans, we are drawn to illuminated areas. If you want to improve the flow of your home from one room to another, use natural light to highlight staircases, walkways and other transitional spaces. By doing this, you’re inviting individuals to move through your home while being guided by subtly marked pathways of light.

Natural lighting has an important impact on how things are illuminated in your home. Work with an interior architect in order to maximize your home’s potential for capturing sunlight. For more tips on how you can illuminate your home with natural light, contact me today!

LEED Certification Can Add Value to Your Home

New Enviromental Standard for Homes

What’s LEED certification? If you’ve never heard of this acronym, it may be time to familiarize yourself wit

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. As a third-party, green building Rating System, LEED has become a nationally accepted standard for environmentally friendly buildings. While LEED certified buildings promote an overall eco-conscious mindset, the focus is on five areas in particular—sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

LEED certification is taking off with residential homes. According to the EPA, “indoor air quality is now two to five times worse than outdoor air quality.” This knowledge is prompting individuals to come to terms with indoor air pollution as a major health concern. To create healthier residential living spaces, consider investing your time and money in LEED certification. There are four levels of LEED certification for homes—certified, silver, gold and platinum—all of which are based on a point scale with a maximum of 136 points. Certification can be attained by application through the United States Green Building Council.

The LEED home checklist covers everything from air quality to appliance efficiency. Here are some standards LEED lays out for those interested in becoming certified:

· Reduced demand for irrigation

· Drought-tolerant vegetation

· High-efficiency fixtures and fittings

· ENERGY STAR appliances

· Radon-resistant construction

· Effective insulation

Having your home LEED certified drastically cuts down on energy and water bills. It adds resale value to your home and helps the environment. Some individuals are apprehensive about financing such an expensive undertaking. But over time, the initial costs are balanced out by the money saved in utilities and resale.

For more information on how to “green” your home, check out Real Living’s Green Program or investigate USGBC’s Green Home Guide.

To become LEED certified, there’s a small fee for registration and another nominal fee for certification. To access these rates and additional information, check out the U.S. Green Building Council’s Web site or contact your local agent!

Real Living Opens First Office in Georgia

Real estate franchisor opens new offices in Georgia, Massachusetts and Texas

COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 31, 2008)–Real Living Inc., the first women-focused brand in real estate, announced the opening of new offices in Massachusetts, Texas and its first office in Georgia.

Eco-Friendly Building Materials

Alright, so you recycle paper and plastic, limit your water usage and conserve gas. You’re taking strides for the environment, but maybe you’re ready for a more progressive leap. Try incorporating these principles into the foundation of your home by using eco-friendly building materials to spruce-up your space and add value. Here are some “green” products to blend into the interior and exterior of your home:

Accoya™
Accoya™ has recently gained a reputation for its durability and resourcefulness. A process called acetylation gives Accoya™ its competitive advantage—resistance. Accoya™ withstands water deterioration and UV damage for long periods of time. In fact, it has even been used to line canals. The self-sustainable nature of this product classifies it as an eco-friendly, renewable resource. If you’re looking for a great environmentally-friendly building material for boat decks, patio furniture, sheds or tree houses, Accoya™ is a great candidate for the job.

Bamboo
Consider using a dynamic and versatile material like bamboo to create an eastern aesthetic that works well in urban spaces. As a great organic alternative to plastics and carpets with high VOCs and toxic adhesives, bamboo is being used more frequently as an alternative to wood. It quickly regenerates after the stalk is cut, and provides a sturdy frame for sleek furniture and rugs. It can also be spun into yarn for bedding and drapery. Small urban spaces are an ideal setting for the clean, contemporary lines of bamboo furnishings.

Ekobe®
Looking for an eco-friendly, yet exotic flair? Look no further than Ekobe® tiles. These tiles add an organic feel to sleek, contemporary spaces as they provide the utmost durability. The texture of a coconut shell can provide an array of eclectic designs and subtle style. Bring the tropics to your home through Ekobe® tiles.

Teak
From the forests of South Asia, teak is one material you don’t want to overlook. It’s durable, eco-friendly and in high demand. Purchase new teak or search for old pieces to refurbish. Either way, teak is a great choice for living room furniture or backyard patio displays.

X-Board
It’s used in aerospace engineering, packaging and automotives, but it can also be an eco-friendly addition to your home. This extreme building material boasts a core composed of 100% recycled paper and 100% natural fibers. X-board’s light, but durable composition makes it a great candidate for tables, benches, partitions and countertops. Look no further if you want durable shelves or a cutting-edge side table.

If you have the option, try and reupholster furniture and reuse old materials. This is a simple, but effective way to promote eco-friendly living. It will also increase resale value. For more information on eco-friendly building materials, check out Real Living’s Green Program or contact your local agent today!

Real Estate Agents Expand Networks Through Social Media

Are you looking for a new home, but don’t want to spend all weekend walking around neighborhoods? Well now you don’t have to. Many REALTORS® have joined in on the Web 2.0 movement.

Blogs— There are now hundreds of ways to search for a home online. One of the newer methods is through blogging. Updated about once a week with content ranging from listing information, marketing and more general real estate topics, blogs have become another great way for REALTORS® to highlight incredible listings. Blog sites like Active Rain allow REALTORS® to communicate and network with one another.

Podcasts— Agents have also turned to podcasts to increase listing visibility. Web sites like MLbroadcast allow REALTORS® to post audio and video podcasts of the homes they are selling. There are also hundreds of podcasts on iTunes about the real estate market, investments, mortgages, real estate talk radio and much more. Even the President of Real Living, Kaira Sturdivant Rouda, has an iTunes podcast feed.

Social Networks— Jumping into the Web 2.0 movement also means REALTORS® have started creating Facebook and Myspace profiles. This allows them to easily reach out to Generation X and Y, who are traditionally first-time home buyers and don’t always know how or where to look for an agent. Using social media sites allows agents to communicate instantly with their clients in a user-friendly manner. Clients are also able to see if that particular agent is a good match for them by viewing his/her profile. Facebook, Myspace and many others allow clients and agents to connect on a real and personal level.

Online Videos— The use of online videos is also popular right now. Sites that allow you to post video content, like YouTube, Facebook, and MySpace are slowly enhancing the real estate industry because agents are able to post virtual video tours of homes. Clients can then get a better feel for a home before even stepping inside. This feature of the Web 2.0 movement is great for people looking to move to a different city or state. Viewing a video of homes in the area allows them to narrow down exactly what houses they like and don’t like. All in all, the Web 2.0 movement is advancing the real estate industry by making it more enjoyable and easier for you to find an agent and a home that is right for you.

For more information on how to market your home online, contact your local agent today!

Home Emergency Kits

It's Better to Be Safe Than Sorry

Since emergencies can happen without notice, it’s important for you to prepare and be ready for all types of situations. Proper preparation can make a difference and ensure the well-being of yourself and the people you love should an emergency happen.

There are several great ways you can be prepared. One of the best and most important is to create a home emergency kit. Home emergency kits can be created using a large plastic container or a duffle bag. The container you choose should be large enough to hold at least three days worth of supplies, yet be moveable if evacuation is necessary.

Here are some items to include when assembling your kit:

• One gallon of water per person, per day (warmer climates might require more)
• Non-perishable food, low in salt to avoid excess thirst
• Eating utensils, including a manual can opener
• First Aid Kits
• Battery powered flashlights and radios with spare batteries
• Anti-stress items such as magazines, games, crosswords, etc.
• If applicable, canned pet food and extra water
• Blankets
• Fire Extinguisher

Education is a key part of being prepared. Educate yourself and your family on proper procedures to take when an emergency does occur. Be certain that each family member knows where the emergency kit is located as well as how to use what’s inside. Following these simple tips will ensure that you and your family are prepared in case of emergency.

For more information regarding home emergency kits, visit www.ready.gov.

Purchasing a Historic Home

What Constitutes a Historic Home?

According to the National Register of Historic Places, a home is classified as a historic home through one or more of the following stipulations:

• Associated with events that have contributed to broad patterns of history.
• Associated with significant individuals in the past.
• Important artistic or architectural aspects that represent a type, period, method of construction or particular craftsman.
• Yield information on history or prehistory.

Benefits of Buying a Historic Home
Keeping this in mind, if you own or are considering buying a historic home, why would you want to spend your resources on such a massive undertaking? After all, historic homes require several inspections and continuous efforts toward preservation. Well, some individuals choose to preserve historic homes because they appreciate the home’s significance to the past or its unique architectural features. Others opt to restore and preserve historic homes because of the tax benefits involved. Check to see what tax incentives your state may offer to individuals preserving or restoring historic structures. A great place to start your researching is at the National Register of Historic Places.

For more information, contact your local agent today!