Flooring Options When You’re Selling Your Home
Your home’s flooring is an important factor in buyer’s minds. Floors that are old, dingy scratched or frayed will leave a negative impression on b...Nov 5, 2019
Design/Stage
Welcome Home | a blog by the Pujals Team
Top Home Staging Tips for Sellers
A Special Report from The Pujals Team, Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley If you want to sell your home fast, home staging is vital. Think of home...Sep 2, 2019
How to Stage a Child’s Room
When selling your house, you know home staging is important; but is it necessary to stage a child’s room? The answer is yes! Of course, as any paren...Aug 27, 2019
Go Green! 5 Eco-Friendly Home Staging Tips
Concern for the environment … being eco-friendly … a desire to go green … Whatever you prefer to call it, making earth-friendly choices is a pri...Jul 2, 2019
Tips for Choosing the Best Paint Color to Stage Your Home
What’s the quickest and easiest way to update your home’s design or better stage your home? A quick coat of paint! In fact, new paint color is one...May 7, 2019
Stage the Perfect Master Bedroom Retreat
Having a master bedroom retreat is a key selling point for any home. When buyers tour your home, you want them to see your home as a relaxing oasis, f...Apr 9, 2019
Create an Outdoor Living Room
To make your home appeal to more buyers, consider creating an outdoor living room. Why? One thing home buyers like is ample living space, both inside ...Mar 19, 2019
Maximize Your Home’s Curb Appeal to Get Top Dollar
If you’re selling your home, you likely know how important home staging is. But just as you stage the interior of your home, you also need to stage ...Dec 25, 2018
Home Staging Tips for Your Kitchen
When it comes to home staging, it’s important to spend ample time on your kitchen. Staging your kitchen properly can make the difference between sel...Oct 9, 2018
Home Staging Tips for Your Living Room
If you want to sell your home fast, your home staging is vital. And while all the rooms in your home are important to buyers, your living room is a fo...Sep 11, 2018
3 Inexpensive Home Staging Ideas that Yield Big Results
If you’re selling your home, you know that home staging is vital. You want your home to look updated and modern, no matter when it was built or the ...Aug 14, 2018
3 Inexpensive Home Staging Ideas that Yield Big Results
If you’re selling your home, you know that home staging is vital. You want your home to look updated and modern, no matter when it was built or the last time you did renovations. Unfortunately, home staging can often be expensive and time consuming. If you’re short on both cash and time, here are three simple home staging ideas that will give you the most bang for the least amount of money. 1. Change out your wall plates. Those covers that surround your light switches and outlets may seem small and insignificant, yet they can make a big impact on a room. If your home has builder-grade dingy wall plates, or mismatched plates throughout each room, update them now. You can choose something neutral so all the plates in the home match (and thus buy them in bulk), or you can go for a room-by-room color palate or theme. It’s amazing how simple wall plates can pull a room together and give it an updated feel. 2. Pay attention to your lighting. Whether your home feels warm and inviting or cold and unapproachable depends a lot on your home’s lighting. Make sure the lights in each room match. In other words, don’t have “soft white” bulbs in one lamp and “bright white” in another. For home staging, “warm white” or “bright white” bulbs are best because they cast a warm yet neutral glow. Also, make sure you have the appropriate wattage to adequately showcase your home; look for 750 lumens or more. 3. Replace bathroom faucets and fixtures. Bathrooms are a ...Aug 14, 2018
Home Staging Tips for Your Living Room
If you want to sell your home fast, your home staging is vital. And while all the rooms in your home are important to buyers, your living room is a focal point that can make or break a sale. This is the room where people relax; chat with friends and family; and watch TV, movies, and the big game. It’s a room that buyers need to “see themselves in.” Here are our top home staging tips for your living room. 1. Keep the walls neutral. Even though you may love bold or bright colors on the walls, buyers prefer to see spaces that are light, airy, and neutral. If your living room walls are painted colors like crimson red or eggplant purple, repaint them to a neutral light color, even if you think it’s boring. Living with boring walls for a few weeks will pay off big later. 2. Remove personal items. Get a jump start on packing and remove all the family photos or other highly personal things, like your collection of rooster statues or your kids’ clay handprints. Also pack up the clutter and knick-knacks, keeping only a few key items to decorate shelves. You want your buyers to focus on the space and not what they perceive as clutter. 3. Show off your windows. Don’t hide your windows behind heavy drapes or drawn blinds. Make sure the windows are clean and unobstructed so the natural light shines in. Buyers prefer spaces that have lots of natural light, as it makes a home feel open and inviting. 4. Make the most of seating. Arrange the furniture so it forms a conve...Sep 11, 2018
Home Staging Tips for Your Kitchen
When it comes to home staging, it’s important to spend ample time on your kitchen. Staging your kitchen properly can make the difference between selling your home quickly (and for your asking price) or having it linger on the market. The fact is that all buyers want a home with an updated kitchen. Unfortunately, few sellers have the resources or time to do a full kitchen remodel prior to selling. That’s where home staging comes into play. With some creativity and elbow grease, even an older kitchen can look appealing. Following are the key tips for staging your kitchen. 1. Clean everything … and we mean everything! Scrub the counters, cabinets, floors, baseboards, and walls. Polish chrome fixtures and hardware, dust ceiling fans, and replace burned-out light bulbs, even over the stove. Scrub or replace the stove drip pans. Clean inside the stove, dishwasher, and refrigerator. In other words, make the kitchen sparkle like it never has before. A thorough cleaning will make any kitchen more appealing to buyers. 2. Clear the countertops. When your countertops are cluttered, your kitchen looks smaller than it really is. Therefore, have no more than two countertop appliances out. Also remove canisters, dishracks, and other knick-knacks. If your kitchen is very small, consider removing all countertop appliances. If you’re still living in the home, this can make cooking inconvenient, but remember that it’s temporary. 3. Display only a few things that make sense....Oct 9, 2018
Maximize Your Home’s Curb Appeal to Get Top Dollar
If you’re selling your home, you likely know how important home staging is. But just as you stage the interior of your home, you also need to stage the exterior. That’s called curb appeal, and it’s vital to ensuring that you get top dollar when selling your home. Why is curb appeal so important? Think about it. The exterior of your home is the first and last thing potential buyers will see. No matter how beautiful your home’s interior is, the exterior will be the last picture they have in their mind. That’s why you need to pay attention to your home’s curb appeal. While you may not be able to do big ticket items, like repaint your house or put on a new roof, there are many small things you can do that make a big impact. Easy Curb Appeal Ideas 1. Clear the clutter. If your front porch is overcrowded with potted plants and furniture, thin it out. Show off the space with a simple seating area and one or two plants. The same goes for your front yard. Remove lawn décor, kids’ toys, and anything else that detracts from the house itself. 2. Add some color. Bright colors attract the eye. So plant some colorful flowers around the mailbox or near the entry. If you don’t have a green thumb, consider painting the front door a vibrant red, blue, or other color that compliments your house. 3. Power wash the walkway. Give the path leading to your home a bath. This will make your home feel inviting and clean. 4. Change out the front door hardware and exterio...Dec 25, 2018
Create an Outdoor Living Room
To make your home appeal to more buyers, consider creating an outdoor living room. Why? One thing home buyers like is ample living space, both inside and out. And since Napa Valley has a year-round moderate climate, an outdoor living room is something you can use the majority of the year. Realize, though, that creating an outdoor living room involves more than just setting up some patio furniture. Here are some tips to make an idyllic Napa Valley outdoor space that will “wow” potential buyers. To Make a Great Outdoor Living Room... Start with the foundation – Your outdoor living room should have a defined area. If you have a patio, deck, porch, or even gazebo, your flooring is already done. If not and you don’t want to build or install one, consider defining the space with concrete pavers, stone, or gravel. Make it shady – No one wants to sit in the blazing sun. So if you don’t have natural shade from trees, install an awning, retractable shade, or use a large patio umbrella. Furnish it tastefully – Your outdoor furniture should be comfortable and weather resistant. Seating and tables are the key essentials. As your budget allows, you can add a grill, outdoor sink and refrigerator, a bar, and a fire pit. Decorations go a long way – Make the area interesting with plants and trees, statues, outdoor art pieces, and water features. Stick with one theme or color palette, just as you would with an indoor area. Light it up – In order to enjoy y...Mar 19, 2019
Stage the Perfect Master Bedroom Retreat
Having a master bedroom retreat is a key selling point for any home. When buyers tour your home, you want them to see your home as a relaxing oasis, free from the stresses of daily life. No room can help convey that feeling like the master bedroom can. That’s why staging a relaxing master bedroom retreat is so important. Here are five ways to help stage a master bedroom retreat that will delight buyers. 1. Paint the walls a soft, neutral color. By simply changing the wall color you can change the entire feel of a room. To create that master bedroom retreat feel, choose light and airy colors like soft whites, beiges, soft grays, pale blues, and muted greens. A satin finish is easy-care and also picks up natural light. 2. If you have a view, show it off. Heavy drapes can make a room feel dark and uninviting. Instead, opt for light sheers that let in light. And if you have a nice view from the master, keep the windows clean and unobstructed so buyers can enjoy the scenery. 3. Create a sitting area. If space is limited, you can add a comfortable chair and small side table to create a cozy spot for reading or drinking the morning coffee. If you have a spacious master bedroom, consider adding a second chair or even a loveseat to make a conversation area. 4. Remove clutter. Don’t fill every wall and surface. Give the eyes a chance to rest. Think of what a posh hotel room looks like. The décor is elegant yet simple. Too much clutter can evoke a stressful or chaotic fe...Apr 9, 2019
Tips for Choosing the Best Paint Color to Stage Your Home
What’s the quickest and easiest way to update your home’s design or better stage your home? A quick coat of paint! In fact, new paint color is one the most common staging suggestions we make for home sellers. A fresh of coat paint instantly livens up a home, makes it feel fresh and new, and shows buyers that you care about the property. Before you run to the paint store and pick a color, consider these tips for choosing the best paint to stage your home. 1. Narrow your choices. Go to any paint store and you’ll see a wall of paint colors to choose from. It can be overwhelming, even to experienced home designers. For staging purposes, look for the muted or neutral curated color palettes (colors that are already grouped together as complementary) rather than browse all the individual color samples. Then, pick just one light and neutral color, such as beige, and only look at the palettes in the beige category. This narrowing approach can help you feel less overwhelmed. 2. Sample first. Rather than immediately purchase a few gallons of the color, get a small sample size jar of the color first. Or, if the store offers peel and stick color samples, get those first. Paint a small area of the room and let the paint dry. Does the color look how you imagined it would? If not, try a different sample. Also, shine a light on where you painted, or let the sun shine on the spot. How does the paint look in different light? Once you’re satisfied that you made the right choice, t...May 7, 2019
Go Green! 5 Eco-Friendly Home Staging Tips
Concern for the environment … being eco-friendly … a desire to go green … Whatever you prefer to call it, making earth-friendly choices is a priority for many right now. They’re concerned about the earth and want to reduce their carbon footprint in all aspects of their life – even in their home décor and staging. Fortunately, there are a number of eco-friendly home staging ideas that anyone can implement, and that won’t break the bank. 5 Ways to Go Green 1. Go green … literally. The simplest way to avoid manmade home décor items is to use natural elements instead. Place a cluster of potted succulents on the coffee table. Display a bowl of lemons and oranges on the kitchen counter. Add a lush potted tree to that empty corner in the dining room. Such natural elements easily blend into any décor. 2. Use recycled materials. Choose decorative fabrics, such as for pillows and curtains, that are made from vintage, upcycled materials. Another option is looking for eco-friendly organic hemp, linen, and cotton fabrics dyed with soy-based inks. 3. Paint green – in any color. When choosing paint, look for low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) or water-based paints. No only do the carbon-containing chemicals evaporate, but you’ll also notice little to no paint odor. 4. Add some glass. Glass is highly recyclable, so it’s the perfect choice for green decorating. From a display of vintage glass bottles in the kitchen to some cool glass lamps in the bedroom, a...Jul 2, 2019
How to Stage a Child’s Room
When selling your house, you know home staging is important; but is it necessary to stage a child’s room? The answer is yes! Of course, as any parent knows, keeping a child’s room in pristine and showable condition is a challenge. Between toys, sometimes erratic sleep schedules, and bursts of playful creativity, chaos in a child’s room is common. This is why staging your child’s room is so important. Since few children like to see their personal space disrupted, here are some suggestions to stage a child’s room that keep both the child and the potential buyers in mind. 1. Declutter wisely. When you declutter your child’s room, you don’t have to pack up or get rid of everything. Having some toys on display is fine. But look for toys your child no longer plays with, or toys that can easily fit tucked away in a decorative bin or storage box. Get as much out of eyesight as possible, while still showing your child that their toys are safe and there for playtime. 2. Remove your child’s name from décor. It’s common for children’s rooms to brightly display the name of the child who lives there. For security and privacy reasons, take that décor down. Additionally, it’s hard for prospective buyers to envision their own child occupying that room when another child’s name is prominently on the wall. 3. Paint the walls a neutral color. If your child’s room has a distinctive and loud color, like Barney Purple, paint it to a neutral tone. The same app...Aug 27, 2019
Top Home Staging Tips for Sellers
A Special Report from The Pujals Team, Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley If you want to sell your home fast, home staging is vital. Think of home staging as a marketing technique that makes your home appeal to the highest number of potential buyers. The goal is to highlight your home’s strengths, minimize its weaknesses, and enable people to picture themselves living there. But is home staging really worth the time, effort, and money? Yes! According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), for every $100 invested in staging, the potential return is $400. Additionally, the NAR study cites that good home staging can increase a home’s selling price by up to 15%. Of course, to realize a return like that you need to stage your home correctly. Following are some key home staging tips that will yield big rewards. 7 Tips for Successful Home Staging 1. Pack away personal items. Get a jump start on packing and remove all the family photos or other highly personal things, like your collection of rooster statues or your kids’ clay handprints. In addition, remove any décor that can be divisive or even offensive to others, such as religious or political pictures or statues. Remember that even something as common as a taxidermy collection can turn off potential buyers. 2. Remove the clutter. Pack up the clutter and knick-knacks, keeping only a few key items to decorate shelves. For example, if your bookshelves are jam-packed with books and other collections, eve...Sep 2, 2019
Flooring Options When You’re Selling Your Home
Your home’s flooring is an important factor in buyer’s minds. Floors that are old, dingy scratched or frayed will leave a negative impression on buyers. While you might be able to look past your old and worn flooring, your prospective buyers are seeing dollar signs as they think of the added expense it will be to redo the floors. While flooring is often a big renovation that not all sellers can undertake, there are things you can do to stage your floors for a sale. Here are our top suggestions. If your floors are wood or laminate For wood or laminate that is scratched and unsightly, you can repair light and deep scratches with a repair kit found at most home improvement stores. Once the area is fixed, and if it’s a high traffic area, consider using an area rug or throw rug to protect the flooring. If your floors are tile Before you mop that dingy tile and grout, realize that dirty mop water can actually make your tile and grout appear dirtier than it is. Instead, steam clean the tile. If it’s just the grout that needs a facelift, make a paste of ¾ cup baking soda, ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tablespoon dish soap to clean the grout. Of course, test the mixture in a hidden area first to make sure there’s no negative reaction on your tile. If your floors are carpeted If replacing the carpet isn’t an option, get them professionally steam cleaned. Opt for upgraded services like deodorizing and sanitizing the carpets too. This will help remove any odors an...Nov 5, 2019