By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

On a hot summer day, who isn’t envious of the house with the inviting, backyard pool to jump in and cool off? But today’s cost conscious homebuyer may be leery of taking the plunge with buying a home with a pool, viewing the upkeep as putting them in the deep-end of mounds of extra expense.

In-ground pools can be attractive features when selling a home; Realtor.com allows buyers to narrow their home search to properties with only a pool. However, some buyers are looking more closely at the added expense, just as some home owners are even opting to remove that once-considered jewel of the backyard.

In a recent Wall Street Journal article (Taking a Bath on Your Pool by Brett Arends), experts estimated that pools can add $3,000-$5,000 in maintenance a year. And if something goes wrong, say the filters or pump need replaced, costs can quickly add up.

For example, a pool that is five years old often needs a new filter or pump, which could cost an estimated $500, according to an MSNBC article (“Is It a Pool or Money Pit?” by Melinda Fulmer). A pool that needs to be resurfaced may cost $5,000-$10,000, depending on its size. And thinking about upgrading the tile, decking, or plaster? That could cost you up to $20,000, according to the article.

And don’t forget initial installation fees too. Pool installation fees, which vary considerably, often range from about $25,000 to $50,000.

Don’t want the pool any more? Getting rid of it isn’t cheap either. A partial removal can run you anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the size. A full removal, which varies greatly, averages $10,000 to $15,000 for a small pool, according to CostHelper.com.

Taking into account all of the expenses, many financial advisers are telling buyers to take caution before jumping into pool ownership.

However, expenses aside, a well-maintained pool, especially in an area where you can use it more than three months out of the year, can still be an attractive feature to buyers.

The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, a trade association representing the industry, recently posted a response to The Wall Street Journal’s article questioning the expense of a pool: “There are many, many things – including pools – which people choose to buy because it makes their lives better,” the association writes on its Web site. “A pool or a hot tub may or may not be a financial investment, but they are most assuredly a quality-of-life investment.”

By Sonja Greenlee, kitchen gardener for The DS Team

Lush gardens and planters sprouting life can make a huge difference to the curb appeal of a home – even in the autumn season. So if your clients are looking for a hardy vegetable to add to outdoor pots, or to spruce up a fall garden, tell them to try planting radishes. They are easy to grow, sprout in three to five days, and are ready to eat in four to five weeks.

Plus, radishes are a great fall weather crop. These shade-tolerant plans also work well in the southern region of the U.S. in the winter when temperatures are in the 70s.

Sow the tiny radish seeds in half-inch deep, well-worked soil. Plant in rows or in a mass; just remember to thin so the plants are two to three inches apart once the root systems are established. Be sure to harvest the plants before the roots get too big, or they will crack and become woody.

In addition to bringing life to the garden, radishes will bring life to the kitchen. Cut off the tops and give them a good washing. Radishes will store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. They are high in vitamin C and have plenty of fiber. Raw radishes are wonderful in salad or as a crudités, and radish greens are edible as well!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sonja Greenlee is a special correspondent for The DS Team and is the culinary columnist for The Sanford Herald in Sanford, Fla. She is the mother of three and grandmother of two, who maintains residences in Florida and New Hampshire.

By Elaine Williamson, Elaine Williamson Designs

With temperatures reaching record highs throughout the U.S., thoughts of autumn seem but a woeful wish. The fall season evokes thoughts of home and hearth, as families and friends eagerly anticipate re-connecting with one another amid busy lives.

Of course, most want a home design and décor that will impress, and help de-compress, impending company – one with that autumn sensibility that exudes comfort and warmth … and duly stimulates the senses.

With this in mind, here are 10 top home design and décor trends for fall:

Photo Credit: Elaine Williamson Designs

1. Vintage accents. What’s old is new again. French-burlap is no longer just for sack-racing. This Earth-friendly fiber is being used for chic pillows imprinted with a vintage stamped design or even a family initial.

Accent chairs can also be seen covered in gray linen imprinted with vintage “document” script writing. Vintage couture lamps (and their replicas) are utter perfection this year, especially those with milk glass and natural material bases, drum shades, and antique brass finials.

Aged, color-washed wood accessories such as candlesticks, urns, and bowls are popular as oversized accessories to accent and update a time-worn look.

2. Wallpaper! With a decreasing demand for faux finishes and walls painted in solid primary colors, wallpaper is making a comeback in a big and decidedly fashionable way.

From bright and bold to subdued and elegant, today’s wallpapers are easy to apply and even easier to remove, making updating the seasonal look of a room easier than ever before. here are a seemingly endless number of choices from solids to patters, and everything in between.

Photo Credit: Elaine Williamson Designs

3. Timeless art. When shopping for items to occupy wall space, ditch the quick fix, “matchy-matchy” picture. Art doesn’t have to be expensive but it should certainly have meaning. Buy what you love. Mix mediums and styles. To add depth and character to your pieces, forego the glass cover that can be distracting and casts a glare that actually detracts from your interior design.

4. Elemental color. While neutrals have made a strong showing in design this year for primary design elements like walls and baseline furnishings, boldly colored accent pieces give a space visual interest and appeal.

Brightly colored and/or patterned pillows, rugs and other accessories will bring an otherwise bland space to life. Of course, these accessories can be readily transitioned to exude the spirit of a given season.

5. Space simplification. With a strong desire to ease and reprioritize our homes and lifestyles, de-cluttering — even with respect to editing down furnishings and accessories — is the best way to gain control of your surroundings and feel a refreshed sense of purpose.

It is very important to streamline not only the lines of your furniture, but the bulkiness as well. But, this does not mean giving up comfort for style. Many times we place too many items in a room by way of accessories, pillows, throw rugs, and family photos.

Pick and choose very carefully the most important items and then pare down from there. There is brilliance in restraint.

6. Rug rage. There has never been a more exciting time than now in the area rug industry. Whatever style, shape, and design you can imagine is within your reach.

Even if a space has wall-to-wall carpeting, place an area rug to establish a layered look and add depth and personality to a room and also tie in other disparate color components. A rug’s color palette and pattern can easily establish the desired style and tone of a season.

Photo Credit: Elaine Williamson Designs

7. Bed basics. Bedding has also changed this year. The pomp and circumstances of overstuffed pillows that seem to multiply in the night are out. Way out.

Exquisite, neutral colored linens are in, especially when paired with a luxurious top blanket and a clean lined duvet.

For those who desire more color that’s representative of fall or any other season, indulge in two medium sized pillows placed in front of each sham.

Photo Credit: Elaine Williamson Designs

8. Pillow talk. Today’s pillow designs offer an array of textures, colors, shapes, sizes, and accents, and can completely transform a room’s aesthetic. Accordingly, pillows have become the ultimate interior design accessory, especially since they are so versatile.

Choose an assortment of pillows for the spring and summer and other set for the fall and winter. This is an easy way to seasonally transition a room in an easy and budget-friendly way.

Also, resist the urge to “karate chop” pillows to give them a center crease as this look is not style savvy.

9. Window treatments. While many love luscious fabrics, an overuse of material on your windows can quickly overpower an otherwise streamlined room. Linen panels are now very trendy since they beautifully outline and soften windows. This classic and timeless fabric is now available in a staggering array of colors to coordinate with any interior palette.

10. Brass. Yes, brass is back but a bit older and wiser. Antiqued brass and even antiqued gold have both made a large comeback on everything from drapery rods, to cocktail tables, to door and cabinet knobs to décor figurines.

The light reflecting surface of brass adds warmth, glow and movement to a space and, thus, is perfect in a room with a fireplace.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Luxury interiors expert Elaine Williamson is the principal of Elaine Williamson Designs, a full service, award-winning firm specializing in high-end residential and commercial interior design. She may be reached online at www.ElaineWilliamsonDesigns.com, accessed on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/ewd-facebook, and followed on Twitter at “ElaineWDesigns”.

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Come wintertime, homes can suffer from the winter blues too. When it’s cold, gray, and snowing, how can you still make a home warm and inviting to potential buyers? I’m collecting favorite winter staging tips for an upcoming article in REALTOR® Magazine, and I want to hear from you!

Please e-mail your best winter staging tip to Melissa Dittmann Tracey at mtracey@realtors.org and include your name, company, and city/state. Be free to send any photos of your winter transformations too! Some of your submissions will appear in an upcoming issue of REALTOR® Magazine, as well as be featured at Styled, Staged & Sold.

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Nothing kills curb appeal like brown grass spots or an uncared for lawn. Buyers love vibrant green lawns, but when you’re dealing with abandoned foreclosures, homes in drought areas, or home owners who haven’t committed to the upkeep, getting that green lawn seems impossible.

Not anymore — and you don’t even have to use water either. A new home trend is to grab some spray paint and dye the entire lawn green, ABC News reports.

Some staging and real estate professionals have been embracing green spray paint in covering up brown grass patches for years. But now companies are popping up that will do it for you — and paint the entire lawn, not just a spot here and there.

Lawn Smart USA, based in Tom Rivers, N.J., will dye the lawn green by spraying an environmentally pet and child safe paint onto the lawn that will last up to 3 months.

Some home owners and real estate professionals are being lured to not only the curb appeal but the water savings too.

Watch the video below to see how Lawn Smart USA is transforming lawns, and then take our poll to share your thoughts about this trend.

What do you think of painting a lawn green to cover up a less-than-perfect lawn when trying to sell a home?online survey

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Hong Kong architect Gary Chang doesn’t sacrifice any square inch of his tiny, 350-square-foot apartment. He’s found a way to turn it into a home office, master bedroom, kitchen, guest room, media center, and more…in just 350 square feet.

Chang designed what he’s nicknamed the “domestic transformer” and has shown how a smart design style can truly make the tiniest spaces contain all you ever need.

The rooms in Chang’s 350-square-foot space are created by sliding walls that reveal new spaces and functions. Up to 24 new spaces can be created.

For example, where you see a wall in the living room, you can pull it away to show a linen closet. Move it again and you’ll find a soaker bath tub.

Pull the mounted TV forward, and you’ll find the full kitchen behind it. That home office can quickly transform into the dining room.

It’s a case of now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t design in making small spaces seem bigger.

“The house transforms and I’m always there, I don’t move. The house moves for me,” Chang told Planet Green TV in a video segment about his space.

By G. M. Filisko, contributing writer, HouseLogic

You’ve preached to sellers that curb appeal goes beyond making a good first impression and that the way their house looks from the street can impact its value and shorten the time it takes to sell. But have you given them concrete curb appeal tips they can implement today?

Get “8 free tips for adding curb appeal to your home” now available in the August “Curb Appeal” article package at the REALTOR® Content Resource. Here are just two of the tips you’ll find there:

1. Paint the house. Hands down, the most commonly offered curb appeal advice from real estate pros and appraisers is to give the exterior of your home a good paint job. Buyers will instantly notice it and appraisers will note it on the valuation. Just make sure you stay within the range of accepted colors for your market. A house that’s painted a wildly different color from its competition will be marked down in value by appraisers.

2. Have the house washed. Before you make the investment in a paint job, take a good look at the house. If it’s got mildew or general grunge, just washing the house could make a world of difference, says Valerie Torelli, a California real estate agent. Before she puts a house on the market, Torelli often does exterior makeovers, a service she pays for herself. Overall, she says her goal is to spend less than $5,000 and generate an extra $10,000 to $15,000 on the sale price.

For even more free tips you can use on your Web site, blog, or e-newsletter, head to the August “Curb Appeal” article package at the REALTOR® Content Resource. There you’ll also find tips on outdoor lighting for curb appeal and safety, landscaping for curb appeal, choosing an exterior door, and a guide to garage door options.

The REALTOR® Content Resource, the new tool brought to you by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, is an exclusive NAR member benefit that entitles you to download free homeownership content in your consumer Web site, blog, or e-newsletter. HouseLogic is the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’® no-topic-left-uncovered consumer Web site geared to helping home owners make smart decisions to maintain, protect, and increase the value of their home.

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Those kitchen cabinets may soon get pricier.

A new law recently signed by President Obama limits the amount of formaldehyde used in U.S. products. Formaldehyde can be found in the glue that holds wood together, often used in furniture, cabinets, and inexpensive wood products.

While the new law will make furniture greener — and safer to your health — some furniture-makers will likely need to increase the cost of their products as they explore an alternative to using formaldehyde. Some industry experts predict that furniture pricetags may increase anywhere from 5-15 percent on items that currently contain the formaldehyde-based glue.

In high doses, formaldehyde can be dangerous to your health. Health experts have linked it to respiratory problems and even cancer.

The health dangers of formaldehyde gained widespread attention after trailers for victims of Hurricane Katrina were banned when some victims experienced respiratory problems from the formaldehyde used in the trailers’ walls, cabinets, and ceilings, according to a recent article in USA Today (Furniture to be Greener, But Pricier by Jayne O’Donnell).

It could be at least three years before all products sold in the United States must meet the new guidelines, which limits formaldehyde emissions to 0.09 parts per million or less. In California, which paved the way for the federal law, furniture stores must comply sooner — Dec. 31, 2011.

By Barbara Ballinger, Architecture Coach columnist

Functionality is still a key driver when home owners spend thousands of dollars to build and remodel kitchens and bathrooms. But high performance shouldn’t exclude comfort — and fun. These products, which were highlighted at the 2010 annual National Kitchen & Bath Association show in Chicago, mesh function and comfort:

1. Warmly Yours adds the right amount of warmth just where it’s needed to make bathing, shaving, or applying make-up easier and more delightful, with radiant floor mats, towel warmers, and defoggable mirrors. Outdoors, sensors can detect wetness and cold to warm surfaces, whether a driveway, front walk, or patio.

2. Known for its dish drawers, Fisher & Paykel introduced an all-in-one “CoolDrawer” that makes gathering in the kitchen more enjoyable. The undercounter, variable-temperature drawer can be programmed to chill or freeze foods and store wine.

3. Glass works well as a countertop surface since it’s fashioned from recycled content, is low maintenance, nonporous, durable, and can be molded into curves or angles. But it also can be an artistic, fun surface to work on. ThinkGlass’ control panel allows the glass to change colors while also being illuminated.

4. Bathing hasn’t been just about getting clean since ancient times, but today’s tubs keep upping the ante on how relaxing the experience it can be. Kohler’s “Fountainhead VibrAcoustic” design features vibration, recorded sound tracks–though home owners can add their own music choices, chromatherapy, and different colors for the tub itself. Maax’s “Eterne” tub offers similar pleasures with aromatherapy, chromatherapy, a quiet pump, and optional back massage heater.

5. With new standards required to make showering more water efficient, Moen’s “Envi” rainhead satisfies the need; its 100 nozzles also make the experience more soothing. The head can also be adjusted so fewer nozzles provide a more concentrated spray.

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

The sagging economy is influencing home design as more home owners favor smaller indoor and outdoor spaces that are often cheaper to maintain. Forget the formal spaces that are rarely used. Home owners nowadays don’t want to waste space and want to use every square inch of their home.

Home sizes and lots continue to decrease as preferences grow for low maintenance property improvements, according to the American Institute of Architects Home Design Trends Survey for the first quarter of 2010.

“We continue to move away from the McMansion chapter of residential design, with more demand for practicality throughout the home,” AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker said in a public statement about the survey results. “There has been a drop off in the popularity of upscale property enhancements such as formal landscaping, decorative water features, tennis courts, and gazebos.”

Instead, slightly more home owners than in 2009 say they want open space layouts, informal spaces, a finished basement or attic, and a single-floor plan, according to the survey.

Large, expansive homes, once on top of many home owners’ wish-lists, are being replaced with a preference for more flexible, open and informal layouts that are more conducive for families, Baker said.

But how can you ensure that small space doesn’t feel too cramped? I recently spoke with Jennie Norris, president of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, who had several tips on how you can Make Small Spaces Bigger. Read some of her tips to get ideas.

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Photo Credit: Elaine Williamson

Add calmness to any room with an eye-catching color combo: yellow and gray, says designer Elaine Williamson with Elaine Williamson Designs.

“It’s so peaceful and calming –it’s just a really good combination,” says Williamson, adding that white added in can exude even more sophistication.

Need some ideas on how to mix in the color combo?

• Use gray as a base color on upholstered furniture, such as furniture with espresso-stained wood.

• Try a yellow throw pillow on a gray sofa.

Do you have a favorite color combo? Tell us what your favorite color combos are when designing a room and send a photo of it to Melissa Tracey at mtracey@realtors.org. Please include your name and contact information.

By G. M. Filisko, contributing writer, HouseLogic

A do-over in the kitchen will bowl over buyers—and sellers will recoup most of the cost when they sell. A mid-range kitchen remodel brings an average 72 percent return on investment, while an upscale kitchen re-do returns an average of 63 percent of the money invested, according to Remodeling Magazine’s most recent annual Cost vs. Value Report.

You can help sellers maximize the return on a kitchen remodel with tips now available in the July “Smart Kitchen Solutions” article package at the REALTOR® Content Resource. Here’s just a taste:

1. Keep the same footprint. No matter the size and scope of your planned kitchen, you can save major expense by not rearranging walls and locating any new plumbing fixtures near existing plumbing pipes. Not only will you save on demolition and reconstruction, you’ll greatly reduce the amount of dust and debris your project generates.

2. Focus on durability. “People are putting more emphasis on functionality and durability in the kitchen,” says Molly Erin McCabe, owner of A Kitchen That Works design firm in Bainbridge Island, Wash. That may mean resisting bargain prices and focusing on products that combine low-maintenance with long warranty periods.

“Solid-surface countertops [Corian, Silestone] are a perfect example,” adds McCabe. “They may cost a little more, but they’re going to look as good in 10 years as they did the day they were installed.” If you’re not planning to stay in your house that long, products with substantial warranties can also become a selling point.

For even more ways sellers can beef up the amount of money they recoup from a kitchen remodel, check out the July “Smart Kitchen Solutions” article package at the REALTOR® Content Resource. If sellers’ kitchen is already sizzling hot, the package also includes tips on green kitchen remodels, smart options for kitchen flooring, tips for saving energy in the kitchen, and budget-smart remodeling.

The REALTOR® Content Resource, the new tool brought to you by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, is an exclusive NAR member benefit that entitles you to download free homeownership content in your consumer website, blog, or e-newsletter. HouseLogic is the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’® no-topic-left-uncovered consumer website geared to helping homeowners make smart decisions to maintain, protect, and increase the value of their home.

By Erica Christoffer, Multimedia Web Producer, REALTOR® Magazine

Happy Independence Day! This weekend, many of your sellers will raise the flag outside their homes in celebration of the day our nation was formed. Of course, many of you will also be displaying the American flag outside your homes and businesses. But before the Stars and Stripes go up, check out these tips from the Veterans of Foreign Wars on flag etiquette:

If the flag is flown on the same staff as other flags: The U.S. flag should be at peak, above any other flag.

If the flag is grouped with other flags: The U.S. flag goes to its own right, the observer’s left. Flags of other nations are flown at same height.

When marching with the flag: The U.S. flag should be to marcher’s right, the observer’s left.

When the flag is flown over a street: Union (stars) face north or east depending on the direction of the street.

Time of day to display the flag: Traditional guidelines call for displaying the flag in public only from sunrise to sunset. However, the flag may be displayed at all times if it’s illuminated during darkness.

When the flag hangs at a public event: It should appear to the audience on the left, the speaker’s right.

Flag no-nos: Never display the flag with the union down, except as a signal of distress. The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, floor, water, etc.

Ready to put the flag away? Follow the directions of this animation to learn how to properly fold the U.S. flag:

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Should interior designers be licensed? The question is being debated among a Pennsylvania House panel on whether to require interior designers to get licensed in the state.

Nevada, Florida, and Louisiana currently are the only states that require such a license.

The Pennsylvania bill, if passed, would require interior designers to hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an approved program, have two years of professional experience, and pass the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam or an equivalent test.

The license requirement would apply to interior designers who work closely with architects and would not apply to those who work as decorators or kitchen and bath remodelers. Stagers who are prepping a home for sale, therefore, would not be mandated to be licensed.

However, “those not in the ‘elite’ category could be referred to as unregulated and therefore considered as unprofessional, demoting us in the eyes of the public,” Nancy LeRoy, president of Special Spaces in Mechanicsburg, told The Patriot-News about her concerns regarding the proposed bill (Read: Interior Designers Clash Over Licensing).

On the other hand, Gavriella Fiedler, president of Interior Dimensions in Harrisburg, told The Patriot-News she was in favor of the licensing requirement for interior designers. “Without a license, anyone who has a good flair for putting colors and furniture arrangements together can call themselves a designer,” Fiedler told The Patriot-News. “I shouldn’t have to compete for the same small piece of the pie in the same geographic area with someone who hasn’t had any formal training.”

What do you think? Do you think more states should adopt a license requirement for the interior design field? And do you think such bills should go even further? For example, several great training and certification programs exist for the home staging business. Should stagers be mandated too?

By Charlene Storozuk, Dezigner Digz

Staging a Man Cave - BEFORE

As you know, in real estate every square foot counts (especially when it can be turned into liveable space).  That’s just what we did on this project.  This vacant attic had great bones and a lot of potential for many uses such as an additional bedroom or a home office.

Since this home already had four bedrooms and a fifth bedroom staged as a home office, I chose to go with something a little less conventional for this room.  In fact, this was a first for me.

I decided to turn the attic into a “man cave.” The room’s shape and the fact that the home owner was not finishing the walls with drywall, leant itself to the feel of a cave.

The living room in this home had orange broadloom, which we had previously ripped up to expose the hardwood underneath. We decided to take that broadloom upstairs and lay it down in our newly created man cave.

Yes, it was orange, but somehow it seemed to work up there and gave the room a more finished look (especially since drywall was lacking).

To brighten up the space, the overhead light bulb was replaced with fluorescent lighting. Also, an old patio table was set up complete with playing cards to replicate a poker table.

Old benches were also brought upstairs to create an additional seating area.  In the garage, we found old fishing rods, golf clubs, and pub posters, which were used to accessorize the space.

This was the last room that we staged.  After it was completed, we were informed that a young single man in his 20’s was on his way over shortly to look at the property.

Man Cave - AFTER

For that one showing only, we brought in a large plastic pail and placed it right next to the poker table and tossed in a few empty beer and whiskey bottles for good measure.  After all, staging is all about selling a lifestyle, so we tried to hit the mark on this specific targeted audience.  Of course, we removed the pail afterwards.

So what was the outcome?  He loved it.  In fact, he ended up buying the house!  Who knows, maybe the man cave sealed the deal for him.

If there’s an empty room in your listing that you aren’t sure what to do with, remember that potential buyers may question how to best use that space as well. So point them in the right direction by providing ideas on how to make it an additional, functional space.

If you can do that, you’ve just given them more bang for their buck. On top of that, if you can offer them a visual; in this case, empty bottles and fishing rods, you just might reel in a buyer.

Charlene Storozuk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Charlene Storozuk is the owner of Dezigner Digz, a professional home staging and interior decorating company based in Burlington, Ontario. Her work is featured in the book FabJob Guide To Become A Home Stager, 2009 edition. She serves as regional vice-president, Canada for the Real Estate Staging Association and is a past recipient of the North American Leadership Award for her work as founder and president of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth RESA Chapter.

By G. M. Filisko, contributing writer, HouseLogic

Sellers who replace their front door may get a full return on their investment or even turn a profit from the increase in their home’s value, according to Remodeling Magazine’s most recent annual Cost vs. Value Report. A new door will also boost their home’s curb appeal—and may even be eligible for a tax credit to boot.

Help sellers sift through their front-door options—steel, fiberglass, or wood—with tips now available in the June “Exterior Upgrades” package of articles at the REALTOR® Content Resource. Here are some of the pros and cons of steel doors:

1. If you’re looking to save money, a steel door may be a good choice, particularly if you have the skills to hang it yourself. A simple, unadorned steel door can sell for as little as $150 (not including hardware, lock set, paint, or labor) and typically runs as much as $400 at big-box retailers. Steel offers the strongest barrier against intruders, although its advantage over fiberglass and wood in this area is slight.

2. Replacing your entry door with a steel model actually reaps a profit in added home value. Remodeling Magazine estimates the total project cost of installing a 20-gauge steel door at about $1,200—and the project, on average, returns about 129% of cost or $1,400.

3. The attractive cost of a steel door comes with an important caveat: Its typical life span under duress is shorter than either fiberglass or wood. A steel door exposed to salt air or heavy rains may last only five to seven years, according to Bob Bossard, general manager of 84 Lumber in Clarksville, Del. Despite steel’s reputation for toughness, it actually didn’t perform well in Consumer Reports testing against wood and fiberglass for normal wear and tear.

4. With heavy use, a steel door may dent, and the damage can be difficult and expensive to repair. If your door will be heavily exposed to traffic or the elements, you may be better off choosing a different material.

You’ll also find tips on landscaping for curb appeal, achieving the perfect paint job, low-maintenance lawn alternatives, and outdoor lighting for curb appeal and safety at the REALTOR® Content Resource, in the “Exterior Upgrades” package.

The REALTOR® Content Resource, the new tool brought to you by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, is an exclusive NAR member benefit that entitles you to download free homeownership content to your consumer Web site, blog, or e-newsletter. HouseLogic is the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’® no-topic-left-uncovered consumer Web site geared to helping homeowners make smart decisions to maintain, protect, and increase the value of their home.

By Barbara Ballinger, Architecture Coach columnist

Cash-conscious consumers continue to seek value, whether they purchase a $10,000 bathtub with jets, chromatherapy, and soothing sounds, or a $25 gallon of low- or no-VOC paint in chic fashion-forward hues.

Part of building in value is having the ability to make selections, then change them affordably as lifestyles change. A host of products at were showcased at the the annual National Kitchen & Bath Association show in Chicago in April. They demonstrated how flexible and cost-effective kitchen and bathroom products have become. Some innovative designs on view:

• Rev-a-Shelf

  Rev-a-Shelf’s space-saving interior systems now include glass-lined shelves that can be adjusted up and down or left to right, depending on a cabinet’s shape and size and what’s stored. One pull-out “basket” turns 360 degrees to provide complete access. The glass is finished to prevent items from sliding.

• Giani TM, a paint kit that transforms laminate countertops or backsplashes into granite look-alikes, lets homeowner’s redesign rooms quickly and stylishly at a fraction of the price of costly remodelings, whether for their own enjoyment or to attract sellers. The $49.95 kit offers a choice of six patterns and colors and requires just five steps.
• With counter space at a premium, sinks are no longer just sinks. Kohler’s “Poise” features a removable cutting board, wine glass rack for glasses to dry upside down, and basin to protect the sink base. The company’s “Stages” sink has a removable cutting board and prep trays and serving bowls. Blanco offers similar solutions with its 20-inch-round “Ronis” sink with cutting board and tray with colander and solid basket.
  
• Saving space means greater design flexibility, and Geberit’s concealed tank and carrier system frees up 2 square feet of floor space per toilet. The design also makes it easier to clean underneath the bowl.

  Liebherr wine and humidor

• Liebherr’s fully-integrated wine and humidor equipment take up no counter or floor space since they’re designed to be built into walls. The humidor fits 15 to 16 dozen cigars; the wine cellars keeps 18 bottles at a range of temperatures.
• Kichler’s energy-efficient LED lighting strips can be installed in a variety of lengths and in any place–from along toe kicks at cabinet bases to underneath countertops and inside ceiling coves at the top of a room.

By Julie Chrissis, New England Staging Group

BEFORE

Selling a vacant home poses all sorts of challenges for real estate professionals. It feels uninspiring, doesn’t photograph well, the rooms appear smaller than they are, there is typically a lack of light, and you often are competing with furnished homes in your price point.

Staging a vacant home with furniture solves all of these problems and more.

So what do you need to know about renting furniture?

AFTER

• There is typically a minimum rental term. Industry standard is three months. Shorter terms often require a surcharge.

• Payment requirements vary. Some companies require the entire rental to be paid upfront, others charge monthly with a security deposit required upfront.

• Not all furniture rentals include accessories.

  BEFORE

• Pricing is often based on the cost per item so your quote and final pricing may vary. This is normal if inventory has changed.

• Ask what happens at the end of the initial rental term. Some companies automatically renew the rental and some will call to ask if you want to renew.

  AFTER

There are several, national “budget” rental companies – before you rent from them, take a look at the product you will be getting. Putting cheap furniture into a home to fill it up doesn’t fool anyone.

The best course of action may be to contact your trusted local stager. She will likely have experience with furniture rentals. She can get you a quote, select the furniture, coordinate delivery, meet the truck, and ensure the furniture is set up properly and trash is removed. She will also likely have accessories if your rental company does not, including the small details like light bulbs and pillows that don’t usually come with a rental, even one that includes accessories. And, most importantly, she will professionally style the home.

Julie Chrissis

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julie Chrissis is the principal of New England Staging Group, which specializes in home staging for the luxury markets of metro-Boston and Southern New Hampshire. She is considered a local expert, and her work has been featured in many local publications.

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Sometimes what works in creating a great photo of a home doesn’t work in reality. That’s the main point of an article on “10 Decor Trends to Skip,” written by The Nest and reprinted at MSN.com. It’s always amusing to read the latest fashion faux pas when it comes to home design.

Here are some of the design blunders that made The Nest’s list.

• Antlers: Mounted horns displayed on walls became popular accessories in magazine home design spreads. But it’s now best to leave the horns on the animals, not the walls.

• Inspirational decor: Inspirational sayings like “Keep Calm and Carry On” or lettered decals such as “dream” or “friends” are no longer inspiring for home decor.

• Boutique hotel chic: It’s no longer a good idea to take pointers from hotels to guide your decorating. You’ll be left with “stiff minimalism, dull neutrals” — a quick way to achieve a blah room design, according to the article. (You might want to channel those inspirational sayings before starting your design!)

• Accent walls: Yes, surprisingly, accent walls made the list. Accent walls were once touted as a great way to bring in splashes of color, without committing to painting the entire room. But there’s no half-way now: It’s all or nothing. According to the article: “When all-white rooms were in fashion, one brightly painted or wallpapered wall was a great way to break up the monotony. But now, with bolder paint colors the norm, accent walls have less purpose and can break up the flow of a room. Plus, what was once an unpredictable pop of color is now, well…predictable.”

So what do you think — do you agree with the list? What’s missing?

By Stephanie Decker, Staged Marin Homes

In home staging it is vital to make a home look high fashion without paying the cost of high fashion. Home stagers are always increasing their staging inventory and can’t pay full price for furniture and accessories, or their business won’t be successful.

Unfortunately, there is not just one place to find home staging supplies so being creative is important — not only in what you use but what you buy.

Here are my top five ways to make a home’s interior look expensive and in fashion, but not at the cost of your bottom line.

1. Use one expensive piece in each room. In order to make a room look high fashion, you have to believe that it is, even when it isn’t. The way to do this is to incorporate one expensive, well-positioned piece in each room.

It can be a piece of art, a table or piece of china. I will position it where the focal point is so that when the buyer first walks into the room this is what they see first. Then, they just assume that everything else is expensive too.

2. Use white. White will always be a staple that home stagers use. It gives the look of light, cleanliness, and an open space. I love white moldings, cabinets, and doors. I also love white lamps, accessories, and linens.

White is easy to clean and can also be bought very cheaply but made to look expensive. One of my favorite stores to find inexpensive white accessories is Z Gallery.

Using inexpensive white pieces on an expensive table is my favorite trick. It highlights the table while filling the space.

3. Look at what can be recycled. To bring fashion back into your home, you might see if you can re-cover your old upholstered furniture.

Recently, I had a club chair that had just lost its will to live. The fabric was worn and the cushions no longer were able to hold their shape. To replace it would cost more than $4,000 for a comparable chair. But this old chair still had great lines, and I didn’t want to part with it so I decided to recover it instead.

The cheapest way is to have it slip-covered. You can buy one at stores like Bed Bath & Beyond or have one made.

I decided to have it re-upholstered. I needed 10 yards of fabric, and I found a local shop to do the work (driving the piece myself to and from the shop) for less than $1,500 total. The key is to buy a good chair. Then, it will only need a little maintenance over the years. Plus, remember: It’s better for the environment to recycle rather than throw away an old chair.

4. Rotate color. Each season the design world changes the “it” color. This spring is turquoise and champagne; last year it was lavender and fuchsia. A good way to make a home look in-style is to have that in-style color. This can be in a pillow, a throw, a candle, or a vase. Whatever your budget, you always can find something with the fashion “it” color. (Read: Add Some Punch With This Year’s Hot Hue or Pillow Power)

To stay abreast of the latest “in” colors you can look online at Web sites like Pantone.com or home sites like Williams Sonoma Home. I like to walk into a store to get the feel and touch. Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel are good places since they rotate their floor so quickly that it is easy to catch up on the new color.

Then, I go to Cost Plus or Pier One to find accent pieces cheaply. You don’t want to pay full price for these items since this year’s “it” color will be next year’s color.

5. Buy one month after the season starts. It is important to not get lured into buying new things as soon as the new season starts. You can window-shop to get your seasons plan but if you wait 4-6 weeks, it will likely go on sale. I know this can be difficult when you get that first beautiful summer day and you are biting at the bit to set up your garden for that summer BBQ. But in reality, that summer BBQ won’t start for another month.

In Marin, we had a gorgeous few weeks of warmth in March. The flowers started to bloom, the kids started to play outside, and I was excited to let the outdoor games begin. I brought out the outdoor cushions and cleaned the BBQ. But we are still having rain showers and 50 degrees nights. So I had to bring the cushions back in and out numerous times.

If I had bought all of my new outdoor accessories, at full price, they wouldn’t have even been put to use yet. If I wait until school is out for the children and the forecast is clear for the considerable future, I know I will find the same accessories on sale.

Stephanie Decker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Stephanie Decker of Staged Marin Homes in Mill Valley, Calif., has more than 20 years in the interior design industry and has her California Real Estate license. She combines her interior design experience with her real estate knowledge to successfully stage properties, ranging from under a $1 million to over $5 million. Decker is an advocate of home staging, speaking and writing about its value in the real estate community.