ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED INVESTMENTS THAT PEOPLE OVERLOOK

Selling Your House? One of the most underrated investments that people overlook when selling their home is staging. Staging your home helps the next couple, family etc. picture themselves in the space. With that being said, it is important to separate your personal attachments and quirks that you may love about your home because your goal is to appeal to the majority of buyers. Most people want the following: Space, functionality and “cozy” feeling. You want your home to have plenty of storage but you don’t want it to look bulky or take up space. It is key to have certain updates mainly in the kitchen and bathrooms. The focal points are countertops, light fixtures, cabinets and appliances. With these updates alone, the value of your house can be elevated tens of thousands of dollars!

WHEN TO SAVE AND SPLURGE | LIVING ROOM

Stop looking in the “Dream home, luxury tab of Pinterest… When it comes to decorating a home and filling it with furniture, you’ll soon start to ask yourself a couple of questions. Do I need an ottoman and a sectional? Is hand-me-down furniture really that bad? Why are rugs so expensive?! As a first bit of advice, stop looking in the “Dream home, luxury tab of Pinterest “ unless your design budget is healthy, because that super cute modern couch you love can isn’t nearly as cute when you see that it’s $3,000. So here are some tips on decorating when you have ZGallerie taste and a Target budget. Couch- A nice couch can elevate the entire room and is something that you will use often so it should be quite durable. You don’t want to be frugal here and have to spend hundreds later on down the road. Coffee Table- You can find unique (and cheap) coffee tables from many different places such as wayfair.com, target.com etc. The best way to make it stand out is to use small trinkets that you either thrift or find on sale. Below are other areas to save or splurge. Save: Large Paintings Fake Plants Pillows & Throws Splurge: Couch TV/Mount Rugs Key: Anything that you plan on using often that may suffer from wear and tear should be looked at as an investment to be used long term. Anything that is décor or fashion can change with time and should be looked at as a trend.

RENT OR OWN?

Many people are starting to invest in purchasing property; however, some see more benefits with renting. Each has its ups and downs, but lets look through the details to see why purchasing is usually more beneficial. If you ask someone in their early 20’s, “Why are you renting this apartment/home/townhouse”, their main reasons are the following: It’s “cheaper” I don’t want to deal with hassle of finding a home I’m young. I don’t need a house Purchasing a home does not always have to be expensive. The reason why most believe so is because all of the saving that is required before hand. Yes, you do have to put a down payment on a house, but if you save enough or if you can find a good bank, your monthly payment will be much cheaper than your apartment. Not to mention, every time you pay your mortgage it’s going toward ownership and not your landlord’s pockets. Finding a trustworthy agent can ease the process TREMENDOUSLY. Having someone there that knows the business and the market will make you feel more at ease. Usually they don’t get paid unless you’ve found your home and are happy; so don’t be afraid to start looking!

IN THE HOME

Cozy, modern vibes… If you’ve been watching House Hunters, Fixer Upper or any other guilty pleasures that HGTV supplies us with, you’ll find one trend that keeps popping back up. Cozy, modern vibes. Sleek, modern living hit the real estate market hard in the early 2000’s, and since then has not left but has developed. People have begun to find a balance between the cold dull feeling that modern décor sometimes brings and added warmth and cozy flares to their design. Hence why new terms such as “Modern Country” are now more relevant and wood and plant influences are now being introduced. -Stay tuned for our next blog to find out where you should spend the most money in decorating you home!