Having a Baby? What's Hot in Nursery Decorating Trends.

Nursery Decorating Trends for 2016

by Jacklyn Renz

Whether it’s your first or your fifth, having a new baby is exciting and a cause for preparation. The nursery, where your bundle will sleep and play, is key to creating an atmosphere conducive to sleep and relaxation. You’ll be especially thankful for your nursery amidst the cries and late night snacks. Here are some of the nursery decoration trends to watch for in 2016 that can help make your baby’s new room a portrait of his or her personality!

Pastels Are Back

The sweet gentle colors of pink or blue are still around. Pastels have returned with a bang, offering a calming effect to any room. But don’t feel closed in by the traditional colors. We see others like periwinkle, lilac, and pale green. These soft colors are modernized by blending with newer patterns and modern decor.

The Wonder of Wood

It’s no secret that natural wooden decor has made its way into our homes, from carvings for the walls to natural wooden crates made into shelving. Now that wooden look seeps into the nursery. This year, wood panel wall pieces are big, and often splashed with phrases or names. For cribs, reclaimed wood or natural wood tones are on the rise, but they still compete with the traditional white and espresso tones.

Statement Cribs

Cribs are essential to the nursery, and they’ve got something to say! In 2016, we see statement cribs in the baby’s rooms as more than a sleep place, but an art centerpiece. Crib manufacturers are getting bold, playing with the shapes, materials, and colors of the crib. One maker even uses solid, colored acrylic pieces as one side of the crib’s wall.

Making it Modern

Even with pastels coming back, they are blended in with the sleek, clean look of modern decor. Instead of frills and florals, we are seeing a resurgence of simple and sharp. Geometric shapes can be incorporated in the wall hangings, how the wall is painted, or into a rug. The sharp lines of a modern look helps to balance the fluff traditionally seen in nurseries.

To the Skies

It is typical in the nursery world to have a shape or animal that people gravitate to that they can splash here and there in the room. According to ProjectNursery.com, 2016 will see many nurseries that are zooming to the skies with pictures of clouds or moons as the focus. Having a specific theme to the nursery offers a fun and creative way to decorate the nursery and incorporate that icon in several different places.

Bold With Lighting

Along with cribs as a centerpiece, there is also a trend towards bold statement lighting fixtures. Pendants or chandeliers sparkle from the ceiling, drawing the eye upwards as you glance around the room. Just a quick stroll through Pinterest, and we see large lampshade fixtures, lighting made to look like wood, main lights with dangling mobile pieces (a great way to include your chosen animal or shape), or large modern bulbs.

In the end, the nursery and the decorations you choose are what you love. Don’t be afraid to venture out of the trendy box to make the room a relaxing environment for you and your baby.

sources: Pinterest.com, projectnursery.com, sheknows.com

Shar

MOVING PETS: How to keep your pet healthy and happy while making the move !

Moving Day Madness: How to Keep Your Pet Healthy and Happy throughout the Process By Keith Loria When it comes to moving, there’s no shortage of things to think about as you go through the process, but one thing that many people don’t think much about is the impact a move can have on a pet. Cats and dogs get used to a routine and like familiar surroundings. When they’re yanked from a home and placed in a new environment, it could lead to behavioral changes, loss of appetite or overall sadness. According to the American Humane Association, prior to moving day, pet parents should make sure pets are fitted with collars and ID tags with your name and current cellphone number. Microchipping is also recommended, serving as a backup if your pet loses its collar. Before the move, be sure to check with the City Clerk’s office in your new town to find out about local ordinances. Not only are leash laws and licensing common, but so are limits on the number of pets per household. For pet owners with more exotic pets, make sure you know the pet laws and regulations of the state to which you're moving. For example, if you own a monkey or reptile, you might need a special permit. Zoning laws may prohibit certain animals, as well. When traveling, if your pet is prone to car sickness, make sure you visit your veterinarian a few weeks prior to your move to get any prescribed medications and feeding recommendations. The last thing you want is a sick pet adding to the stress of moving day. For long-distance moves, be sure to identify pet-friendly hotels along your route and reserve rooms ahead of time. Once you arrive at your new house, create a pet-friendly space filled with your pet’s favorite blanket and toys. It’s also important that you spend some time with your pet—whether it’s a cat, dog, bird, rabbit or even guinea pig—to help them get comfortable. Make sure they know where their food is, and for cats, where the litter box is located. Moving with pets doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Most pet owners treat their pets like members of the family, so don’t forget about their needs when a move is made. A happy and healthy pet can make any move go smoother. For more tips to make your move easier on your pet, contact our office today. Copyright© 2016 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission.

Buyers: Tips for Negotiating your Home Purchase

7 Negotiating Tips for Homebuyers

Remember these tips during the deal-making process of your home purchase.  

By: Tara-Nicholle Nelson  HGTV

                        

#Ocean City Md - Susan Antigone-ShoreFun4U with Long & Foster -OC  Beach Resort Property

#1: BE QUICK ON THE UPTAKE

It is critical to respond to counteroffers as soon as possible and to avoid making a counteroffer with any term that is not truly a deal breaker. Delays in responding leave space open for another buyer to step in and create a bidding war, or even more likely, for the seller to perceive that other serious buyers might be out there. A seller's mere perception of a hint of a whiff of the scent of a potential bidding war is a homebuyer's number one nemesis, ratcheting up the possible sales price in the seller's head on an exponential basis.

#2: CUT IN THE MIDDLE (WO)MAN
When you want to ask or tell the seller something, always always always go through your real estate agent, who will communicate your request or concern to the seller's agent. I know it seems inefficient, but it is truly a rookie move to contact the seller directly. It's just not done, mostly because the terminology is tough to master and legally sensitive. Also, some seemingly innocent and minor changes to your agreement with the seller might create problems with your lender; your real estate agent is better equipped than you to see these red flags. You hired your agent, so use him/her! It will prevent the catastrophic misunderstandings (read: drama) that can result when you or the seller says something even slightly different than what you each actually mean!

#3: GAUGE THE SITUATION WHEN DEALING WITH A DEVELOPER/BUILDER
A lot of this talk about negotiating and price and terms, etc. may be moot when you're buying a newly built home. By and large, the builder/developer dictates the terms on which they will sell you a home in their community, and you either take it or leave it. The list price is the price you pay, though in many markets, developers and builders are willing to negotiate if they have a large amount of inventory.

The builder will have a standard contract with a standard required deposit, standard contingency removal or objection periods, and a standard set of disclosures that they make to every buyer. The larger the builder, the more set they will be in their ways and to their price. That said, it doesn't hurt to ask for concessions or upgrades. Furthermore, builders hate getting sued, so they generally try to create a standard contract that affords you most or all of the same protections your real estate agent would build into a contract for you.

#4: GET THE DIRT ON PENDINGS
When the sold comps aren't that similar or sold a long time ago, or there is a very similar pending comp, you can go nuts wondering what price the buyer of that pending comp agreed to pay for the place. Sometimes the listing agents of pending comps can be sweet-talked into giving up the dirt. Your real estate agent can call them up, explain the situation, and ask obliquely for contract price hints, like "Did it sell for over (or under) asking? About how far over (or under)? What was the list price to sales price ratio? And how much competition was there? Did you have multiple offers?" And you can also make some educated guesses; the longer it was on the market, the less likely it sold for the asking price. The opposite is true, too. If it went off the market really quickly, it probably sold at or over the asking price.

#5: CHECK THE COMPS
The more money you offer, the more likely the seller will accept. Your real estate agent only gets paid if the seller accepts, so you can see why some agents tend to include or emphasize the highest priced comparables, even if they aren't the most similar comps for your property. Ask your agent for a copy of your Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) and ask for the full MLS listing details of the several most similar comparables. That way, you can decide for yourself how similar they really are!

#6: MAKE YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT WORK FOR IT
If you are competing with other wanna-be buyers for a property, your real estate agent's prep work and presentation of your offer can be critical to your success. Hopefully you interviewed several real estate professionals and hired one you can trust and know will go the extra mile for you. Always communicate with your agent to ensure you both are on the same page in terms of expectations and deal breakers.

#7: CRUNCH THE NUMBERS
Before you finalize your decision about how much to offer, have your mortgage broker run a monthly payment on your offer price and estimate your property taxes and insurance. Often, buyers inch up in price during the house hunt and in the course of formulating their offer, so it's important to have a final check on the exact monthly and annual obligations you will incur if your offer is accepted.

Also, if you're seriously debating between offering two different prices and are having a hard time making the decision, ask your mortgage professional to run the payment, taxes and insurance on both of the prices you're considering. You might be surprised at how small (or large) an impact a $5,000, $10,000 or $50,000 difference in purchase price has on your ongoing payments, and it may help ease your decision making between the two amounts you are thinking about offering.

Move This, Not That: 10 Items to Get Rid of Before Your Next Move

TIPS & ADVICE / STORY / BY NATALIE WISE ON 13 AUG 2015

Packing Lighter Can Make Your Next Move Simpler

When it comes to moving, deciding what to take with you — and what to leave behind — can be stressful. Spending a little time clearing out dead weight before the move will make settling into your new place much more freeing. Check these 10 areas of your home for items that aren’t worth the square footage in the moving van — or your new home.

1. Dine in

This may seem obvious, but food takes up a lot of space and often gets a bit lost in the moving shuffle. In the weeks before your move, eat anything that isn’t shelf-stable, brand-new or a specialty item. Don’t forget about the perishable foods in the fridge and freezer (steak for dinner, anyone?). Take a break and throw a pantry dinner party with friends who are helping you move.

2. Pass on low-quality furniture

Low-quality furniture, typically made of particle board, is very susceptible to being ripped and chipped in a move. Ask family and friends if they can use any of these pieces or bring them to your local donation center. Upgrade or replace when you get to your new home.

3. Clean closets

Anything old, stained or that no longer fits should go straight into the donation bin. Moving cross-country? Transitioning from a cold climate to Florida will allow you to shed even more weight as you let go of snowsuits and boots that won’t be of use in the Everglades. Donate to a local thrift store or have a garage sale to make extra cash.

4. Tame the bathroom cabinet

There is no sense moving 20 crusty nail polishes and every curling mousse you’ve ever tried and abandoned. Anything expired or unused lately should be tossed. Cull these and only keep your essentials, as anything else may spill in transit and many are flammable.

5. Make a pitcher of margaritas

While you’re throwing your pantry party, be sure to bring out the open bottles of alcohol. Chances are they’re in glass, making them a no-no for most moves, so you might as well enjoy them now.

6. Burn those candles

This may sound odd, but many moving companies won’t take candles. They’ll most likely melt and get misshapen anyway, so give these to friends or use them as décor at your clean-out party.

7. Donate excess kids’ toys

Toys take up a massive amount of space, even if they are lightweight. Anything that has been outgrown or unused should be donated or passed along to friends or family. Bigger items such as outdoor pools, sports equipment and bicycles should also be assessed.

8. Toss old linens

Sheets and towels are bulky to move, so anything that’s seen better days should be put in the donate pile. Choosing fresh sheets and towels after you’ve moved is a fun part of feeling settled in your new home.

9. Clear out garage clutter

This includes outdoor furniture, hoses, planters and trash cans. With garden items, it’s best to start new instead of moving a potentially invasive weed or insect species to a new area. Outdoor furniture often has glass, which is easily shattered, and flimsy outdoor fabric, which is easily torn in a move. Try selling these pieces and using the cash for a new set.

10. Hobby supplies

Excessive amounts of craft or hobby supplies are often not worth the space. Use this as a time to freshen things up and pare down your supply stash. Bonus? An excuse to buy new supplies in the future.

Once you’ve tamed these 10 areas, you should be able to breathe a little easier and pack a little lighter. You’ll be left with high-quality furniture, sentimental pieces and daily-use items, all things that help make a house a home.