Happy Labor Day! Like it or not, summer is almost over, and fall has arrived. While you may have been focusing on your landscaping and gardening projects all summer, it’s time to turn your attention to getting the inside of your home ready for fall and winter entertaining.

Here are a few tips that will make your home cozier this fall:

-Consider giving your home a fresh coat of paint to give it a lift. If it is in a low-to-mid price range, and you plan to sell it in the near future, you might consider painting it a more neutral color. If it is in a higher price range, you might go a little bolder with your color selection.

-Add seasonal scents to your home. There is nothing like fall candle scents, including pumpkin and spice. They will make your home cozier in an instant.

-Replace worn drawer hardware. This is an easy, inexpensive fix that will freshen up your home and give your kitchen or bathroom a new look.

-Get your carpets professionally cleaned, since clean carpets will give your home a  lift.

-Add warmth to your home through darker accessories, warm throw blankets and accent pillows in rich colors.

-Add seasonal accents throughout your home, including pumpkins and pine cones.

For information on getting your Denver home ready to sell, please contact TeamCox Realtors – Denver real estate specialists – at 303-400-6060. Fall is a great time to sell your home, since there are buyers in the market, but less competition from sellers.

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TeamCox Realtors is pleased to introduce, Lynn Bruskivage, of LGA Home Solutions, LLC. Lynn will be an ocassional guest blogger for us, focusing on issues related to getting your Denver home ready to go on the market.

Stage Your Home First

Don’t waste valuable days letting your home sit on the market without “staging” your home first. Most real estate professionals recommend staging your home for resale. Staged homes spend 83% less time on the market, according to the Association of Staging Professionals (ASP). Data collected from the last two quarters of 2009 showed that a staged home averaged 37 days on the market compared to 212 days on the market for a non-staged home.

 First impressions are important and that is why staging works! By presenting your home in its best possible condition, you “set the stage” for your home to be sold quickly. This is accomplished through room editing, furniture arranging, and organization.  Some refer to Staging as Interior Re-Design.  This process will make a home more desirable to potential homebuyers, as well as lead to a quick sale at a higher price point.

It is a pleasant surprise to most that for a small investment, the return can prove quite substantial! The National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that the average staging investment of 1-3% of the home’s asking price can generate a return of 8-10%! That is an average return on investment of around 340%!

Please visit our website @ www.lgahomesolutions.com to see what we can do for you.
Our services include:
• Staging & Staging Consultation
• Room/Home Makeovers & Decorating
• Professional Organization
• Move-in Services
…and more!

During the month of August we are offering a 10% discount on all services!
As always we offer a:
• 10% discount for senior citizens & military
• $100 first time discount on initial consultation for realtors
Call us today and let us transform your home! 303-929-1790  
Lynn Bruskivage, Owner
LGA Home Solutions, LLC 
303-929-1790                     
lynn@lgahomesolutions.com
www.lgahomesolutions.com
member of the Colorado Association of Staging Professionals CASP / HSE Certified

If you have questions about getting your Denver-area home to sell, please contact TeamCox Realtors – Denver real estate specialists – at 303-400-6060.

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TeamCox Realtors – Treating our clients’ real estate transactions as if they were our own.

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Have you been looking for an excuse to get rid of your old appliance? The Colorado State Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, known as “Cash for Appliances,” begins April 19th! The mail-in rebate program is to encourage customers to replace older appliances with new Energy-Star appliances.

Eligible appliances include:

• Clothes washers — $75
• Dishwashers — $50
• Refrigerators — $100 w/ proof of recycling, $50 w/out proof of recycling
• Furnaces — gas condensing $500
• Hot water heater — gas condensing/high performance $200 
• Hot water heater — gas tankless $300
• Gas boilers — $400

Click Here for More Information

Check our blog soon for information on other rebate programs for homeowners, including residential energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. For more information on Cash for Appliances, or regarding how upgrading appliances can help the value of your home, please contact TeamCox Realtors – Denver real estate specialists – at 303-400-6060.

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TeamCox Realtors – Treating our clients’ real estate transactions as if they were our own.

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Welcome to 2010, everyone! The motto for this year is “Hey, at least it’s not 2009!” Did you hear that Pantone declared Turquoise the color for 2010!  Of course, color starts first in fashion, so watch for this all spring and summer. Home textiles and paints will be next year and into 2012.

Why Turquoise? Well several reasons. Color forecasts are global and we in the states take our cues from Europe. Global climate change has had a huge impact, bringing shades of blue — azure, sky, water — that reflect the melting polar ice caps.

In the fashion arena, be on the lookout for Gold, not the typical silver, to accent Turquoise. It’s fresh, and Gold, thanks to the global economy, is HOT…

Joyce Klegg
Allied ASID
Daydream Designs llc
www.daydreamllc.com

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FREE Denver Property Search

It’s the burning question that every Denver seller wants to know right now. What are Denver homebuyers really looking for right now? The answer is simple. Traditional real estate principals will drive the Denver real estate market in 2010 – location, price and condition. While professionally staged homes are attracting the best offers in the shortest period of time, a competitively-priced, well-presented home in the Denver area, will also win some hearts. If your home is located near good schools, it is another plus.
 
If you would like ideas for low or no-cost improvements that you can accomplish to make your home more saleable, I am an Accredited Staging Professional, and would be happy to offer you suggestions to maximize the return on your investment. A few simple improvements can bring in better offers in a shorter amount of time.

For information on selling your home in the Denver area, please contact TeamCox Realtors – Denver real estate  specialists – at 303-400-6060.

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TeamCox Realtors – Treating our clients’ real estate transactions as if they were our own.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FREE Denver Property Search

What Types of Denver Homes Are Selling Right Now?

There are two types of Denver area homes that are selling, despite the rather slow current market conditions – the “gotta have it” home and the “make me a deal” home. The “gotta have it” home is well-positioned in the market, exuding an emotional appeal from the moment the real estate agent pulls up to its curb.  Your mother was right – first impressions mean everything, and they are especially important in real estate. Keep in mind, that prior to entering the home, potential buyers are evaluating the yard, the paint, the trim, the cleanliness of the outside entryway, and even if the doorbell works or not.  The house is being closely compared with the last home the buyers saw, and it will be quickly be compared with the next one home the list. 

The “make me a deal” home is also selling, but this property must be aggressively priced, since the buyer for this home is looking almost exclusively for the best possible price, or the best square footage “deal” in the target neighborhood There is not nearly as much emotion involved with this transaction as with the “gotta have it home.” Obviously, the best possible combination for a quick sale is if the best priced home also happens to be great looking and in good condition.

As an Accredited Staging Professional, TeamCox Realtors – your Denver real estate specialists – can give you guidance in getting your home ready for the market, along with many other complimentary services that we can offer.

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TeamCox Realtors – Treating our clients’ real estate transactions as if they were our own.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FREE Denver Property Search

By: Joyce Clegg, Allied ASID, CAPS

Decorating on your own looks easy enough.  But then a little “weekend project” stretches on for months, and you realize you can’t return that sofa that you thought would be so perfect in the store.  Before long you and your spouse are no longer on speaking terms. Here’s what a design professional can bring to the table:

1.  The ability to solve problems.  Whether it’s a storage issue, poor traffic flow or a featureless room, a designer can help you understand that color, scale, light, placement and space all impact a room, in ways the amateur doesn’t understand.

2. The expertise to prevent costly mistakes.  “Most people decorate only once or twice in their lifetime”, states Karen Fisher of NYC’s Designer Previews, a designer referral firm. “There are lots of things that are hard to know unless you’ve encountered them dozens of times before.”

3. Access to a much wider range of resources.  There is a world of fabrics, furniture and finish materials that are available “to the trade only”.  Not only do interior designers have access, they will instantly know who specializes in what you’re looking for, which saves time.

4. Guidance through the decision-making process.  Perhaps the most challenging aspect of decorating is sorting through and selecting from all the myriad of choices.  A designer will understand your needs and wants, and quickly narrow down the options to those that best fit your needs.

5. Better quality and longer-lasting style.  Interior Design Professionals don’t succumb to trends that you will tire of quickly, but rather will create a timeless look you’ll enjoy living with for years.  Instead of relying solely on “off the floor” items, the designer will add custom details and paint finishes that make your house an individual masterpiece.

6. Help with setting priorities.  The notion that designer will cost you more money is a fallacy.  A designer will give you advice on how best to spend your money, whatever the budget. 

7. Arbitration with your significant other.   The designer wears many hats. She is at once project manager, interior architect, marriage counselor, and confidant.  I know more about my clients than their closest friends sometimes, because I spend so much time getting to know and understand them.  If there’s a disagreement, I can bring a third-party opinion to the table without emotional investment.

8. The power to advocate with tradespeople, showrooms and manufacturers.  When you purchase furnishings from a designer, you don’t just get a one-time sale.  The designer has more leverage to get things repaired or replaced. Longstanding business relationships help resolve disputes in a professional manner.

9. The ability to get the job done.  How often have you given up halfway through a project or neglected those last few niggling details?  It is a designer’s job to follow through on every aspect of the decorating process and make sure that all the elements have been completed to your satisfaction.

10. Last but not least, the designer has the creative chops.  No matter how creative you think you are, any idea you have on your own is only made better with the designer’s input.  I always say, creativity is an organic thing, and the best designs evolve.  Beyond that, any design is only as good as its execution, and designers have the best ideas, the best workrooms, carpenters, etc., to make sure the job is top-notch.

To get started, contact Joyce at 303-329-3732 or email at joyce@daydreamllc.com.

TeamCox Realtors – Treating our clients’ real estate transactions as if they were our own

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The Denver Design District and Daydream Designs are working together to create our own stimulus package!  Because so many manufacturers are trying to move furnishings and accessories to make room for new, the Design Center is throwing one of their largest sample sales, starting TOMORROW April 14th, for THREE DAYS only.
 
Prices are marked down 70% and more.  If you are interested in a new rug, chair, lamp, or a whole room, now would be a great time to shop for it.
 
And, Daydream Designs is helping by offering FREE* delivery of any samples purchased off the floor, during the three sale days!!!
 
So call me, let’s go down and stimulate the economy!!  We can all do our part, and take advantage of the huge sale at the same time!  Now who doesn’t want that?!
 
Call me at 303-329-3732 to schedule a time to shop.
 
Joyce
Allied ASID
Daydream Designs llc
www.daydreamllc.com
303-DAYDREAM (office)
303-589-8936 (cell)
303-379-9858 (fax)
CAPS, NKBA Member
*FREE DELIVERY for purchases of $500 or more.  Does not apply to Inbound Freight.  Taxes extra.

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By Joyce Clegg, Allied ASID – Daydream Designs LLC

Now that you’ve made the decision to hire a designer, how do you find the RIGHT designer?  And by “right” designer, I mean the person who can best channel your ideas, someone with whom you communicate well, someone who’s company you enjoy.  Because the fact is, there’s a finite number of ways to find a professionally qualified designer.  But YOUR designer is the one that works with you well.

First, finding a qualified designer.  The first place to look is the American Society of Interior Designer website, or www.asid.org.  The women and men on this list are here because they have met certain criteria for calling themselves “designer”.  Education, years of experience, etc.   This helps insure they’ve got the expertise and resources to accomplish the task.  And, there can be no complaints filed against these designers, either within this organization, or through the legal system.  That’s a pretty good weaning process right there.  It will certainly get you on the right track to finding a “qualified” designer.

The list can be broken down by location, so you can find someone close to you, or close to the home you want them to work on, if the two are not the same.

Now, to find the “right” designer.  The right designer will be someone who responds to your inquiry within 24 hours, because that means she will be prompt and respectful of your time.  And when they do respond, they will answer the questions you have asked, and not just talk about themselves.  They are friendly and knowledgeable.  They don’t make you feel rushed to decide or make you feel pushed in any way. This is YOUR home;  you should feel like she is willing to work for you, not the other way around.

But the most important element the right designer possesses is the ability to listen.  Listen to your ideas, listen to the way you describe your home, your furnishings, your family, your lifestyle.  They don’t just talk about themselves and their past projects, they talk about you and your home.  After all, that’s the reason you called, right?

You should expect the designer to delineate for you what she CAN and CANNOT do.  For instance in a remodel, can she do the drawings for the contractor? Or do you need to hire an architect?  That often depends on the scope of the work, but a good designer will tell you, she won’t claim to be able to do what she can’t. 

When you hang up from that first conversation with her, did she put you at ease?  Did you feel heard and that she answered your questions and addressed your concerns?  Do you feel the two of you made a connection and were on the same wavelength?  Did you feel good about her? If the answer is yes to these,  and you felt good about it, then you have found what you seek!

Joyce Klegg
Allied ASID
Daydream Designs llc
www.daydreamllc.com

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By Joyce Clegg, Allied ASID – Daydream Designs LLC

In my professional career, there have been many discussions on the difference between a designer versus a decorator.  Well, let me set the record straight.  The decorator can be anyone, from your sister-in-law to someone who markets themselves professionally as a decorator.  They usually have little or no specific education in the field, and have not met any certification or regulation standards to sell their services.  Decorators, however, are usually relegated to the tasks of filling the interior spaces – painting, furnishings, window coverings, staging, etc.  They cannot create floorplans, project-manage remodels, modify interior spaces architecturally, create lighting plans, or specify materials.

Interior Designers, on the other hand, can do all of these things.  They are the one-stop shop.  A professional designer usually has a degree in Interior Design, or a related field, and usually has to qualify for their affiliations (such as ASID, CKD, etc) annually through Continuing Education Units (CEUs).  This ensures that the designer is on top of the latest and greatest technology, materials and their uses, and the application of these.

Most people find, once they choose a designer, they use them for life.  Many of my clients have been my clients, and now my friends, for years. We like to say, “if you wouldn’t have your Designer to dinner, don’t have them design your home.”  What that means is, if you don’t trust them and like spending time with them, you probably don’t have a good fit for you. 

We were many hats – from interior fashionista, to home technology guru, to marriage counselor!  The relationship is the most important thing.  So, choose once and choose wisely.  The relationship is probably going to be a long-standing one, and no one will understand you and your family — and your home — better.

Next time: How do I find a Designer in Denver?

Contact Joyce at:  joyce@daydreamllc.com, www.daydreamllc.com, or 303-329-3732.

Introducing…One of Denver’s Best Interior Designers – Joyce Clegg!

TeamCox Realtors – Treating our clients’ real estate transactions as if they were our own.

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