• The Biggest Pet Peeves Home Stagers Have About Your Home,Bob Lucido Team

    The Biggest Pet Peeves Home Stagers Have About Your Home

    When selling a home, you have 20 seconds to make a first impression through your marketing photos and even less when a buyer pulls up to your home.Staged homes are proven to sell faster and for more money.  According to the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, staged homes average 23 days on market. 85% sold for up to 23% over list price. We know that the way you live in your home and the way you market and sell your home are two different things and we’re here to help strategically stage your home for success.We provide a team of professional home stagers to make your home the best on the block, but when it comes to staging, the seller has to do their part. That’s why we’ve outlined our stagers biggest pet peeves, so you know exactly what NOT to do to ensure your home sells quickly + for top dollar. Staging Pet Peeves: Mess- Your home should be sparkling clean for showings and pictures. You can’t stage a messy home effectively, so make sure to clean your entire house from top to bottom beforehand.Clutter- Put away items you use all the time - like cleaning products, tools, and personal items. No one wants to see things like a toothbrush or an electric razor plugged into the wall. Also, put away items you never use - like decorative towels and fake plants. Instead put out some nice trays and top them with jars filled with things you get use out of. In the kitchen, we suggest displaying 5 bottles of Pellegrino/ Acqua Panno on the counter. Heavy Drapery- Let some light into your space and make it shine! This means you should remove heavy drapery from windows, and turn on all lights and lamps for photos or showings. It will make the whole place appear lighter and brighter. Also, remove screens when staging. Otherwise your exterior pictures and overall curb appeal may be dulled. Rugs- Beautiful hardwood floors are at the top of many buyers ‘must have’ lists. Buyers love clean flooring, especially if it’s in turn-key condition. You don’t want to cover up those floors with a rug. In fact, we suggest arranging your furniture to showcase the floors rather than covering them. Trash Cans- Remove trash cans from the front of your home. Curb appeal is very important as it’s the first impression your home will make on a potential buyer. You don’t want large recycling and trash cans on your front lawn to be the first thing a buyer sees.Themes- Do away with “mermaid themed” kid bathrooms when staging. You don’t need a under the water shower curtain, starfish hand towels, and seashell soap dispenser. Eclectic looks are much more appealing in the current market.Too Much Furniture- You want your home to look and feel as spacious as possible. It’s crucial you make sure your furniture is proportionate to the size of the space. If you have too many pieces, this might prevent good flow in the room’s layout. Loud Paint Colors- Bold colors can be beautiful on walls, but when staging you want to appeal to as many buyers as possible. Stick with calm, soft, and light colors. Paint is a relatively inexpensive way to drastically change the entire look of a room. The right color choice can make all of the difference to how large and bright the room can be. Covered Grills- Outside spaces sell homes, but what’s the point of having a stellar backyard patio, deck, or outdoor kitchen if the BBQ is covered? Remove the cover off the grill, it’s an eyesore! Source

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  • What Your Fav Paint Color Says About You,Bob Lucido Team

    What Your Fav Paint Color Says About You

    “Paint color is an expression of your personality,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. People tend to be drawn to 1-2 colors and rarely branch away from them. Depending on if you surround yourself in warm shades, cool hues, jewel tones, or neutrals, it could indicate that you seek closeness in your space, that you're practical, or that you're the life of the party.  Keep reading to learn more about what your favorite paint color says about your personality, as well as some style tips to elevate your paint choices! Warm Shades Do you find yourself gravitating towards colors such as yellow, peach, pink, and orange? Then you probably always have company! People who love living in these colors tend to be friendly and nurturing. There’s a warm fuzzy feeling about these colors that draws you in, the same as you feel when you meet new people or socialize with friends and family. These colors tend to stimulate not only conversation, but also appetite. Hence why you might enjoy throwing dinner parties, or any themed party as an excuse to invite people over and indulge in some delicious food. Warm shade people tend to be the life of the party. *Style tip! Use cool colored decor to bring down the temperature. Try pops of green to go with yellow, and blue to go with orange. Neutrals also compliment the boldness of warm colors well. Try gray or white to help bring down the saturation of your space. These color accents can be added in the form of throw pillows, vases, plants, and more!   Cool Hues Those who opt for shades of blue and green in their homes are usually introverted. People who like living with these colors prefer their home to be quiet and calm. They view their home as an oasis and want being at home to be a soothing experience compared to the hustle and bustle of daily life. Cool hue lovers seek closeness in their space. They also tend to gravitate towards nature. Those who prefer to decorate with shades of blue and lighter greens may be big time beach goers. Those who prefer darker greens may be really into hiking, camping, and exploring. These colors help bring the outdoors inside. *Style tip! Cool colors can very easily make a space actually feel cold. To avoid this, try bringing up the temperature by mixing in just a handful of warmer colors. If yellows and oranges are just too bright for your taste, then try shades of brown, like taupe and cream. It just might make all the difference. Another way to ensure the space isn’t chilly, is by using pastel or lighter versions of the colors. The darker the shade, the colder the space. Seafoam green and baby blue are great options. Jewel Tones Colors that seem plucked from the red carpet on Oscars night (ruby, emerald, sapphire, amethyst, and topaz) lend instant va-va-voom. If any of those are your top choice for paint color, then you’re most likely creative, outgoing, and confident. You want your space to feel glamorous, anything ordinary just won’t cut it- and you probably live much of your life by the same mantra. Jewel tone people value uniqueness and the finer things in life. Even small spaces, such as bathrooms and book nooks have to be elevated somehow. These colors level up the intimacy and coziness of any space in your home. You’re also probably competitive at heart. Your paint color isn’t just chosen because you think it’s pretty, you want others to remember your home.  Style tip: To keep things cozy and not chaotic, pair jewel tones with neutrals. These colors shine the most in places that are usually not show stoppers. Hallways, bathrooms, and dining rooms or anywhere you don’t spend a ton of time are great for these colors. Neutrals Gray, brown, beige, and ivory have a feeling of permanence and a crisp, classic look. If this appeals to you, you are probably a practical person, and not interested in repainting every few years. People who like neutral colors value simplicity and relaxation. They tend to draw inspiration from nature. However, they also value the opposite. Surprisingly, neutral decorators may actually be very fond of color. Sometimes the best interior choices are made with accessories, so paint color should remain neutral to allow for pops of color. Bright objects will shine against the clean backdrop. Neutral color enthusiasts are all about balance in both their life and their interior decorating choices. Style tip: Remaining all neutral can sometimes be boring. Try layering different shades of neutrals to add some depth. Play with the contrast by using both dark and light tones. Otherwise you risk your space giving off the same vibe as being in a doctors office. A big no-no.     Source

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  • Accentuate with an Accent Wall,Bob Lucido Team

    Accentuate with an Accent Wall

    An accent wall can totally transform a room, taking it from boring and drab to bold and exciting. Accent walls create a new focal point in your space, add liveliness and contrast, and are typically an inexpensive, but fun DIY project.   Pop of Color You can easily add an accent wall to your room in one afternoon by applying a new paint color. Deep blues and bright oranges are common choices for accent walls, but choose a color that will complement your existing decor and overall design aesthetic.   Interesting Textures Bright, contrasting paint is a good starting point, but there are other options for accent walls that are even more eye-catching and distinct. Floor-to-ceiling wood planks can make your home seem both rustic and modern all at once and provide a natural, outdoors-inspired feel. It’s more work than simply painting a wall, but it’s still relatively inexpensive. You can source the wood from pallets on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace and stain it yourself before attaching it to your wall. It takes a little extra elbow grease, but it’s worth the effort.   Patterns + Murals Paint and wood are bold enough on their own to transform a room, but they’re still pretty subtle compared to other accent wall options. A chalk paint accent wall is a creative idea for any room and makes for some fun moments when you’re entertaining. There are also endless options for wallpaper and stenciling if you want some patterns, or you can get really bold with a mural or oversized art print. Art Gallery Use your wall to tell your story. A gallery wall not only can add style, but also can be used as a unique way to make a personal statement or document your experiences and travels. Don’t feel pressured or intimidated by uniformity; a gallery wall can indeed display a variety of artwork! Feel free to mix it up by including personal or family photographs, paintings you’ve purchased, souvenirs from your travels, and even personal mementos like children’s artwork. To avoid looking like a haphazard jungle, you should look for some way to tie it all together. Source  

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