Walls are a key element of home staging. They are the canvas showcasing the greatest attributes of a house. But where do you start when preparing a home for sale? Staging Diva Debra Gould, president of Toronto-based Six Elements Inc., offers up five rules of thumb for handling walls in home staging.

Sometimes a brighter color is appropriate. In this dated bathroom, the wall color, towels and shower curtain make the 1920s bathroom tile work. A much cheaper solution than a renovation. Photo Courtesy of Debra Gould, stagingdiva.com. 

1. Remove personal pictures: Those wedding portraits and baby pictures have to come down, as do diplomas and awards. Personal items such as these are distracting to potential buyers. You want them to focus on the home itself, not who the current home owners are.

2. Pay attention to the condition of the walls: If the walls are beat up, dirty or chipped, it can distract a buyer and negatively impact the sale price. “Paint is the cheapest, easiest, and fastest fix you can do on a house,” says Gould. The colors, she says should be fairly neutral, but not to the point of boring.  Select an interesting neutral color palette with three to four tones, or colors that compliment the existing features of the room.

3. Hang mirrors: Big or small, round or square—there is a mirror out there for every style of home. “Mirrors are a great way to visually enhance a room and to help the room appear brighter,” says Gould. Mirrors can provide subtle stylish appeal or an anchoring focal point. Another benefit: they don’t cost a lot! But it is important to think about what the mirror will reflect—avoid unattractive or cluttered areas of the home.

4. Get some art: Select art work that accents the best qualities of a room. No controversial pieces, violent scenes, or religious art. “With staging, what you want to do is enable the buyer’s eye to move around the room and take in everything,” says Gould, and the art should help achieve that goal, not hinder it.

Don’t hang art too high. It must visually relate to the furniture under it. Photo Courtesy of Debra Gould, stagingdiva.com. 

5. Stay in proportion: Small pieces of décor get can get lost on large walls, while giant prints can be overbearing in an area with only a little wall space. Mirrors, paintings, and other elements of décor should relate to the furniture around it, Gould says. Consider the composition before you get out the hammer.

Internationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould is president of Six Elements Inc. and creator of the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program. An entrepreneur for 20 years and author of several guides, Debra has staged millions of dollars worth of real estate and uses her expertise to train others worldwide. She also offers a Directory of Home Stagers and a free home stager locator service. For more information, visit www.stagingdiva.com.

Comments 0 | Recommend 2

Amanda Keim, Tribune

December 7, 2009 – 3:53PM , updated: December 8, 2009 – 4:18PM

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For Most Borrowers Trying for a HAMP Loan Modification is a Race They Lose Against the Foreclosure Clock

With the US Treasury Department announcing this week that they will be cracking down on lenders who have not followed through on loan modifications, they are still asleep at the wheel. Most borrowers are in a race to try and modify their loan at a lenders snail pace, as the same lender accelerates the foreclosure of their home.

HAMP benefits far outweigh any desire for the lenders to want to modify. The program in its current form is just another way for banks to receive additional funds even after being bailed out by taxpayer money. First, lenders are rewarded dollar for dollar in the reduction of DTI from 38% to 31%. Second, they are rewarded and paid money through short selling and ‘cash for keys” directly from the US Government. This means your tax dollars pay for the lenders to have people leave their homes. Third, HAMP rewards through money lenders who do “any type of” modify, (including a non-permanent modification), by give them $1000 dollars upfront and then payments for several years ahead.

Most lenders, do not slow down the mortgage foreclosure process when a borrower applies for HAMP. Instead, many like IndyMac, also know as OneWest Bank, accelerate the foreclosure process without every slowing down. So, for most borrowers, the foreclosure happens even while they are still on the phone trying to work out the loan modification. As Lenders, did their best during the housing boom, to find ways to prostitute the banking system to their benefit, they continue to do so through the beauty of HAMP. This is done by “approving” the borrower for a trail period modification, thus securing the reward money from the US government. Once the trial period is over, most borrowers, who had made the trial period payments on time find themselves stressed. They receive a denial and a foreclosure acceleration at the same time.

Emails received from one lender, IndyMac Bank,prove that this is the game that lenders are playing against the government. The borrower discussed in the emails, has put in for a loan modification at the beginning of the year and according to HAMP guidelines had meet all of the qualifications. As the modification department told him his loan was under review, at the same exact time IndyMac was accelerating the foreclosure and had set a auction date. Through family he was able to bring the loan up to date but his financial position has not changed. Then almost immediately received a letter IndyMac stating he didn’t qualify through HAMP because his loan was not “seriously delinquent.” He stated to me, “So what is the answer?”

The Treasury Department needs to do more in the way of not allowing lenders, who brought us to the near collapse of the US economy, to access loopholes that prostitute the system. Here are several recommendations that should be enacted.

First, the loan modification should be pre-qualified from the borrower, just as they do loan packages. If it initially meets certain requirements,

Second, lenders should not receive any funds until the modification is completed. A reasonable deadline for a modification to be completed from beginning to end needs to be applied.

Third, all trial modifications should cease. There is no reason for them and they serve no purpose other than to allow the lenders to once again scam the system for additional bailout money.

Fourth, severe fines should be imposed upon lenders/servicers who do not show adequate participation based on a schedule of required amount of modifications that must be meet monthly. Penalties should be severe, immediate and would require a assignment of a government board placed within the lender/servicer to oversea.

Fifth, creation of a consumer hotline to report lenders abuse of HAMP system and lack of cooperation. Upon a certain number of complaints, government would have to intercede.

Until such actions as the ones described are done, Obama’s Home Affordable Modification Program will continue to fail homeowners and reward lenders for using the system as another form of bailout money. Once again our government has created another program to fail for the American public and to reward those that have raped the financial system. So much for Robin Hood, who stole from the rich to give to the poor. Seems that “Robbin From The Hood” is more in tune with today’s government and financial institutions polices and actions. The reality is millions of borrowers qualify, but only the chosen ones from lenders get the brass ring.

www.tarrasellsqueencreek.com

Are you dreaming of a ‘green’ Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa?

The holidays are just around the corner — an exciting time for families and especially youngsters. Many of us will shop, decorate our homes and enjoy the festivities. Why not make your celebration “green” this year? It’s easy: Here are some ways to enjoy this holiday season while helping cut global warming pollution at the same time: 

	Do your online and catalog shopping early. Shopping early lets you request ground shipping. Ground is more efficient than overnight, uses less fuel and helps reduce the pollution that causes global warming. It’s good for the environment and your pocketbook.
	Buy a live, potted tree. After the holidays you can plant it outside or donate it to a local school or park. Or buy a small potted tree that you can keep in its pot and use again next year. If you use a cut tree, go to www.Earth911.com to find a tree recycler in our area.
	Use energy-efficient LED lights. Holiday lights use a lot of energy, especially when left on 24/7. So, when you’re ready to decorate, start by replacing your old lights with LED bulbs. They are small, solid lightbulbs which are extremely energy efficient. New LED bulbs are grouped in clusters with diffuser lenses which have broadened the applications for LED use in the home. Then only use the lights when you are going to enjoy them — in the evening. Another green idea: Try solar LEDs — they use no electricity at all.
	Look for the Energy Star label when buying electronics or appliances as gifts. They’re more energy efficient than conventional models. Also look for an Energy Guide yellow sticker to check the energy use rating. The higher the number, the more energy efficient.
	Use less paper and recycle. Send e-cards to friends, reuse last year’s wrapping paper and save this year’s unused paper. And remember to recycle all those cans, bottles and cardboard boxes.

You don’t have to choose between enjoying this time of year and becoming an environmental stick-in-the-mud. As you can see, there are many simple steps that you and your family can take if you are dreaming of a “green” holiday season.

Who should consider a will?

In a word — everyone. Regardless of age, regardless of wealth — we all should consider preparing a will. It could help you to control who receives your property, who will be the guardian of your children and who will manage your estate upon your death.

One-size-fits-all
Wills are typically simple to create and we all have good intentions, but many die without a will — I see it happen all too often. People who die intestate — without a will — default to the one-size-fits-all will provided by the state. Our state’s distribution formula may not be appropriate for your family’s situation, but your survivors will have no choice in the matter. You can avoid that and protect your loved ones with an appropriate will — then your property will be distributed according to your wishes.

A guardian for your minor children
In many states, when you die, your will is the only means of stating who you want to act as legal guardian for your minor children. The court has final approval, but courts usually will approve your choice of guardian unless there are compelling reasons not to. The greatest peace of mind that parents of minor children can have is to know for sure who will care for their children if something happens to them.

If you don’t have a will, consider preparing one sooner rather than later. (I suggest that you consult an attorney to discuss your individual circumstances and options.) And, if you have a will, update it every time there is a major change in your life — such as the birth of a child, adoption, marriage or divorce — or changes in the lives of those mentioned in your will. Make sure that your hard-earned assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes. And make sure you know who will take care of your minor children if you can’t. Share this with a friend or loved one so they, too, can understand the importance of being prepared. Please contact your attorney, accountant or tax advisor for legal or tax questions.

If your thinking of buying or selling a home in Queen Creek, please contact your Queen Creek Realtor, Tarra Christensen,

www.tarrasellsaz.com

The Villages

The Villages of Queen Creek is one of the first subdivisions started in this rural farm town.  This lovely subdivision is surrounded by the Las Colinas golf course, a 6,650 yard, 18 hole course.  The Villages not only offers track homes, it also offers custom homes and lots.  It is also centrally located, right in the heart of Queen Creek.  Within miles is Serranos Mexican Restaurant, Target, Queen Creek Park & Recs, Circle K, QuikTrip, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, Pizza Hut, Tuck Hollimons Insurance, Paradise Bakery, Subway, Quiznos, Serenity Tanning & Massage, hair salons, post office and much more.  You also have a straight shot to the US-60 down Ellsworth which has now been widened to four lanes, and you aren’t far from the 202.
The average price of a home for sale in this subdivision is $146,528.  The average sale price of a home in this subdivision is $147,834.  The average square footage of a home in this subdivision is 1,981 square feet.  The average list price per square foot is $74.61 and the average sold price per square foot is $72.16.  This data was taken from 9/14/2009-11/16/2009 and includes short sales, lender-owned and traditional sales.

For more detailed information about buying or selling a home in The Villages at Queen Creek, please contact your Queen Creek Realtor, Tarra Christensen at 602-380-8300 or tarra@tarrasellsaz.com or visit my site at www.tarrasellsaz.com

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View Villages, Queen Creek, Arizona in a larger map

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View Villages, Queen Creek, Arizona in a larger map

I found this wonderful site www.zenhabits.net where I found this article that has some simple steps.

Obsessive- Compulsive’s Guide: Top 12 Organizing Tips, Plus Resources

Is your life in disarray? Do you have trouble finding things? Do you constantly forget stuff? If so, don’t worry — you’re like most of the human population.

Disorganization is a natural state of order. It takes an obsessive-compulsive (like myself) to get the chaos of the universe into some form of organization.

If you have a desire to get organized, here are my favorite organization tips … stuff I’ve learned along the way, from other sources and from experimentation. And a list of some

useful articles at the end, for those who need more.

1. Everything in its place. If you just followed one tip on this list, this would be it. Practice this, and you can skip the rest of the tips and articles listed in this post. Seriously.

So how do you do it? It’s simple. For everything that you own, designate a place for it. You can even label some of those places, to make it easier to remember. Find something that doesn’t have a place? Designate a place for it. Then simply put things back where they belong when you’re done using them. It sounds simple, but it actually takes a lot of practice to get this habit down. Read this article for more.

2. Start small. If your life and your home and your office are all incredibly disorganized, don’t try to conquer all of it at once. Choose a small chunk (maybe the top of your desk, or at least one part of it?) and organize that. Then come up with a simple system to keep it organize, and try to practice that system until it becomes habit. Now expand your “zone of organization” further, to a new area. One chunk at a time, you can get organized.

3. Create routines. One of the best ways to keep your life organized is to make routines for everything — for errands, laundry, finances, etc. And if you do this one at a time, and make it a habit, you can optimize your life this way.

4. Clean as you go. This is a great habit … instead of having big cleaning binges, clean things as you go. Done using some dishes? Wash them right away. Clean the toilet when you finish using it, so it never gets dirty. Read more.

5. All info in one place. Use a text document, a wiki, or some other type of system to keep all the information you regularly use and need in one place. You’ll never look for it again. Read more and also see how to organize your family with a binder.

6. Put it away now. Done using something? Most people will put it down somewhere nearby, with the intention of putting it away later. But messy houses and offices are full of these intentions. Instead of letting things pile up, put them away immediately. Right now, no exceptions.

7. Use an inbox, and empty it. Instead of having papers all over the place, have one inbox for all incoming papers. Well, one for your office, and one for your home. Now you’ll never lose a piece of paper again. Empty it regularly (at whatever regular intervals work for you — daily, weekly, every other day, etc.). Here’s how to process your inbox.

8. Keep a simple filing system. If your filing system is too complicated, chances are you won’t use it. Use this simple system to keep your files in order.

9. Google Calendar. It really doesn’t matter what calendar system you use, but I’ve found that Gcal works best for me. It’s so simple and fast, and as an online calendar I can access it from anywhere (as can my wife). We share a Google Calendar, and we put everything on it: work stuff, personal stuff, our kid’s school and extracurricular events, birthdays, family gatherings, reminders to follow up on things, school holidays, and much more. It keeps all our scheduling in one place, and we never have to worry about remembering again. Other good calendar options: 30 Boxes and Outlook are also popular.

10. A simple system for pending items. One reader recently wrote to ask me how she should organize her pending items, such as plane or theater tickets. I suggested she create a “Pending” folder to hold those items, and make a note of each item on her calendar. For those that are attached to a specific date, she could note the item on that date (”Theater tickets for 8 p.m., in Pending folder”). For items that she wants to remember periodically, she could make a note on the first of each month (for example) … so on the first of next month, there is a “Pending items” notation on her calendar, with a list of items in the Pending folder she wants to reminder herself about. If she doesn’t need to remember them yet, she can move that item to the first of the next month.

11. Make your system usable. If you’re having problems with your organization system, take a careful look at what’s tripping you up. Sometimes there’s a difficulty or complication that makes the system too difficult to use. If it’s too difficult, you won’t use it. Keep it simple and usable — if possible, even fun — and you’ll be more likely to stick to the system.

12. Create a landing strip. When I get home, I empty my pockets and put everything onto a tray near my doorway. My wife does the same. Keys, purse, my ID and cash, cell phone, anything. This way it doesn’t get tossed on our counter or table, and we never have to look for it or forget it when we leave. See Unclutterer’s article on The landing strip.

You can also check out this website www.organizedhome.com they have some great articles and some handy printable forms to get you organized.

And I found this great info on a blog by By Erica Christoffer, Contributing Editor, REALTOR® Magazine

Unclutterer.com

This Web site is all about organization, plain and simple. Organizing your life; organizing your home; organizing your office. The Washington, D.C.–based author Erin Doland is a recovering pack-rat who once “held on to objects like her third grade math assignments and every note she passed in high school.” Her book Unclutter Your Life in One Week, which went on sale this week, is a testament to her reformed, uncluttered lifestyle, and a helpful tool for anyone looking to declutter their home.

Jdorganizer.blogspot.com

Jeri Dansky of Half Moon Bay, Calif., has been a professional organizer for seven years and her blog is filled with fun, whimsical, and aesthetically pleasing ideas that are also all about decluttering. If you are looking for great storage ideas, book recommendations, and organizing trends you’ve never thought of, check out her site.

Zenhabits.net

Zen Habits is a site that takes decluttering to the next level. Author Leo Babauta describes it as “finding simplicity in the daily chaos of our lives.” Some of the best nuggets of advice I found on this site are the 72 Ideas to Simplify Your Life and 18 Five-Minute Decluttering Tips to Start Conquering Your Mess. But all the posts were inspiring with the mantra that less is not only more, less is also healthy.

www.tarrasellsaz.com

-The bill would extend an $8,000, first-time home buyers’ tax credit on all house contracts entered into before April 30, 2010, and closed by June 30 the same year.

-It would create a new, $6,500 credit for existing property owners who sell their home and buy another during the same period of time.

-On top of including current home owners, legislators opened up the credit to more buyers by raising the income caps — from $75,000 to $125,000 for individual taxpayers and from $150,000 to $225,000 for married couples.

       About 1.4 million first-time homebuyers have qualified for the credit through August. The National Association of Realtors estimates that 350,000 of them would not have purchased their homes without the credit.  Many critics say that these buyers would have bought anyways, I say they are absurd.  Before the tax credit our housing market was only falling and for the past many months home sales have been on the rise.  I believe the tax credit is the sole reason for this.  I am also very excited about the extension.  While in the Arizona market the $150,000 and under market has been doing very well, the over $150,000 has still been in dire straits.  I believe we will see big changes in the $150,000 and up market. 

Tarra Christensen

Realtor for DPR Realty

www.tarrasellsaz.com

Below is a summary of recent sales in the Queen Creek area.  I will also be covering the Gilbert, Chandler & Mesa areas in upcoming blogs.  Below I have a taken the recent sales in three different areas of Queen Creek in three different categories–short sales, bank owned homes and traditional sales (no bank involved). While I am amazed at the low prices of homes I am even more amazed at the difference in the prices between short sales and traditional sales.  The difference is over $20 per square foot in some areas.  In the south east area of Queen Creek in subdivisions like Pecan Creek, Circle Cross Ranch, Skyline Ranch, San Tan Heights, Johnson Ranch etc, the average sale price per square foot is $47.36  for a short sale and $72.26 per square foot for a traditional sale (no bank involved).  So a 2000 square foot home that is a short sale would go somewhere around $94,720 and the same home that is a traditional sale could look to sell somewhere around $144,520.   This is a difference of over $48,000 FOR THE SAME HOME.  So you can see where many investors are making money by buying short sales or foreclosures and turning around and selling them in just a few short months.  I just recently sold a home in this southeast area where the buyer paid $85,000 for a foreclosure and just sold it for $119,900.   Let’s take a look at the Queen Creek market.

     We will start with the southeast area of Queen Creek.  I have provided a map below of the subdivisions I used to compile my information.  The first area includes subdivisions such as Pecan Creek, Johnson Ranch, San Tan Heights, Circle Cross Ranch and a few more.

South East Queen Creek

Keep in mind the data I compiled only included homes in track home subdivisions on city lots.  This did not include custom homes on acreage.

Short Sales in Souteast Queen Creek 

The average asking price per home in this area is $101,942

The average sold price per home in this area is $98,019

The average square foot of a home in this area is 2087

The average asking price per square foot in this area is $49.13

The average sold price per square foot in this area is $47.36

Lender owned homes in Souteast Queen Creek

The average asking price per home in this area is $100,084

The average sold price per home in this area is $105,357

The average square foot of a home in this area is 2131

The average asking price per square foot in this area is $48.28

The average sold price per square foot in this area is $51.02

If you notice, lender owned properties tend to go more then what the asking price is.  One of the major factors for this is that lenders tend to price it very competitively and end up getting multiple offers and end up in a bidding war.  It is a great strategy, though it is not the only factor.  Sometimes lenders are willing to pay buyer’s closing cost but roll it into the sales price.

Traditional Sales in Southeast Queen Creek

The average asking price per home in this area is $135,803

The average sold price per home in this area is $133,965

The average square foot of a home in this area is 1910

The average asking price per square foot in this area is $73.14

The average sold price per square foot in this area is $72.26

Central Queen Creek

This area includes the Villages, Indigo Trails and Queenland Manor subdivisions.

Short sales in Central Queen Creek 

The average asking price per home in this area is $126,088

The average sold price per home in this area is $125,965

The average square foot of a home in this area is 1809

The average asking price per square foot in this area is $70.30

The average sold price per square foot in this area is $70.27

Lender (bank) owned homes in Central Queen Creek

The average asking price per home in this area is $153,591

The average sold price per home in this area is $155,681

The average square foot of a home in this area is 2245

The average asking price per square foot in this area is $69.64

The average sold price per square foot in this area is $70.71

Traditional Sales in Central Queen Creek

The average asking price per home in this area is $192,552

The average sold price per home in this area is $184,674

The average square foot of a home in this area is 2190

The average asking price per square foot in this area is $89.33

The average sold price per square foot in this area is $86.19

West Queen Creek

This area includes subdivisions like Sossaman Estates & Cortina

Short Sales in West Queen Creek

The average asking price per home in this area is $200,890

The average sold price per home in this area is $199,650

The average square foot of a home in this area is 2416

The average asking price per square foot in this area is $84.00

The average sold price per square foot in this area is $83.96

Lender (bank) owned homes in West Queen Creek

The average asking price per home in this area is $182,244

The average sold price per home in this area is $188,395

The average square foot of a home in this area is 2563

The average asking price per square foot in this area is $74.21

The average sold price per square foot in this area is $76.28

West Queen Creek Traditional Sales

The average asking price per home in this area is $213,262

The average sold price per home in this area is $211,823

The average square foot of a home in this area is 2481

The average asking price per square foot in this area is $86.88

The average sold price per square foot in this area is $86.26

I am sure as you noticed that the homes definitely get more expensive as we went further west.  We all know the saying location, location, location.    The hugest jump in price was from the Southeast area to the Central, which in some parts is just a couple of miles a part.  Also did you notice that the West area of Queen Creek was the only area where the lender owned homes sold for less then the short sales?  I believe that this is because many investors who buy foreclosures are not willing to buy at more then $120,000.  The $150,000 and under market is really hot right now due to many first time home buyers and all the great loan options being offered right now.  Once you get over that price range, things really start to taper off.  So in areas where most homes are over $150,000 you have a lot of homes that don’t get bought at the foreclosure sale and go back to the lender.  Which means the bank’s last option is to sell it in an area that already most likely has many bank owned homes on the market, so they have to price it very very competitively. 

Well I hope this has been very helpful and please let me know if you have any questions or if there is an area you would like a market summary of.  And as always if you would like a market summary on your neighborhood I would love to be of service.  Please check back soon for a market summary of Southeast Gilbert.

Tarra Christensen

Realtor at DPR Realty

www.tarrasellsaz.com

602-380-8300