Sell Your Home With Ambient Aromatherapy

Staging a home visually with a thorough cleaning and appealing decorative touches can help make a sale, but why stop there? Use essential oils to infuse a property with a pleasant background aroma to stealthily ply the senses and break down the defenses of potential buyers.

Shopping malls and upscale boutiques use the technique of applying ambient scents in retail spaces to not only make the place smell good, but to elicit a planned psychological response that is meant to transform all of those “no thanks, just browsing” guests into cash paying customers. You can do the same to propel sluggish real estate sales.

Known as ambient fragrancing or scent marketing, the practice has spawned a whole subcategory of experts and products within the traditional fragrance industry. The result is an exciting new diversification of a category of goods and services that has been limited to perfume and scented body care applications.

Ambient fragrance started to trickle into the real estate market years ago with savvy agents baking cookies or cinnamon rolls in the homes they were showing to create a comforting, deliciously scented atmosphere that was meant to entice buyers. If you are struggling to sell a home in today’s frozen real estate market, you may have tried this technique. But with the dismal state of the economy and the glut of available homes, you are surely going to have to bake a lot of cookies before a buyer will be impressed enough to make an offer on your house.

“The essential oils that are used in the practice of aromatherapy offer a more practical and potent way to use scent marketing to move a tired property,” says Tom Havran, branded products developer with Aura Cacia. “Using even tiny amounts of familiar, tempting aromas like the oils of cinnamon, clove, vanilla and orange can fill a whole house with pleasant ambient fragrance and make it an attractive purchase for potential buyers.”

An added bonus is that since essential oils are all-natural and distilled from plants, they are less likely to illicit the kind of adverse reactions that often come with harshly synthetic wall socket plug-ins or spray fragrances. Learn more at www.auracacia.com.

Create a warm, comforting atmosphere that can help put potential property buyers at ease with Vanilla Amber Aroma Crystals. Use real vanilla (such as Vanilla Precious Essentials oil from Aura Cacia).

Ingredients:
1 cup coarse-grained, chunky sea salt
1 teaspoon jojoba or grapeseed oil (just enough to make the salts glisten and gleam)
20 drops vanilla Precious Essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops sweet orange essential oil

Directions:
Mix salt and oils, pour into a classy-looking dish or bowl and set out on a table. Placing the crystals in a warm sunny window or near a heat register will help diffuse the delicious aroma throughout the room. Stir in additional essential oils to boost the scent as needed. This recipe sets a restful and romantic mood in the bedroom area.

The light floral/citrus scent of Fresh Flowers and Bergamot Vacuum Powder will create a cheerful, friendly and clean atmosphere to impress visitors. Since you need to vacuum before each property showing anyway, this is a great way to turn the chore into a smart real estate marketing move.

Ingredients:
1 cup baking soda
35 drops bergamot essential oil
5 drops ylang ylang or neroli essential oil

Directions:
Mix baking soda and essential oils in a canister and lightly sprinkle over carpets then vacuum.

If baking cookies or apple pie sounds too involved, simply create an Apple &amp Spice Simmer. Here is an easy way to fill a house with the alluring, homespun fragrance of baked goods without the toil and mess of baking.

Ingredients:
5 dried apple slices
5 sticks cinnamon bark (or 2 to 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon)
1 vanilla bean
1 tablespoon whole cloves
Medium size pan of simmering water (approximately 5 cups)
30 drops cinnamon essential oil
5 drops clove essential oil
5 drops lemon essential oil

Directions:
Toss apples slices, cinnamon, vanilla bean and cloves with essential oils. Place in simmering water on the stovetop. Add more water and oils as needed.

Natural, familiar aromas of essential oils are more recognizable and appreciated than the harsh and strange scents of many synthetic fragrances. Using essential oils to craft your own bit of psychological scent marketing could provide a big return on a small investment when you finally sell that home. The home you need to sell is one of thousands available in the current market and aromatherapy may give you a much needed unique and surprising edge.

Designer Tricks For The Do-It-Yourselfer

Ever watch those TV design shows and wonder how to replicate the look in your own home?

It’s easy to incorporate designer tricks into your space, no matter the style or existing decor. Focus on adding layers of color and texture, and notice how hues flow from room to room to create a cohesive design.

Choosing coordinating colors is easy when you have the right guide. Look for color palette cards that group colors by design themes to incorporate a favorite style, from traditional to rustic to contemporary. Then draw these hues into all elements of the room, including flooring, fabrics and light fixtures.

For example, the new HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams line of interior paints and supplies features eight designer-inspired color collections – each with 20 colors that work well together, no matter how many or how few are selected – along with expert design tips to help do-it-yourselfers create harmonious room-to-room color transitions.

“Many homes today have open-floor plans that require close attention to how colors flow between spaces,” says Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams. “Our collections are designed to take the guesswork out of coordinating colors, and to give consumers the confidence and creative spark to find their personal color style.”

Pull together a well-designed home by taking cues from the overall color palette to add decorative accessories. For example, a spicy orange vase on the dining room table can play off a bold accent wall in the kitchen. Or update the look of furniture with a glossy coat of paint. Personalize with family treasures and modern, metallic or glass finishes for an eclectic, yet timeless look.

Designers aren’t afraid to make a statement with a signature space. Why not play on the high-impact contrast of black and white in a foyer or infuse an electric jolt of pink in a master bath? There are no wrong choices, because color is personal – and doesn’t have to be permanent.

Prime Time Design

Another popular design technique is to turn flooring into a flexible decorating element. Flooring can significantly impact a home’s overall decor by enhancing the warmth and beauty of a room. To liven up a space, try layering a vibrant area rug over a hard-surface floor or a neutral carpet –  it’s easy to change as design preferences evolve.

Looking for flooring that fits your personal design style? The HGTV HOME Flooring by Shaw collection makes floor shopping simple with displays that include how-to tips and trend information. Choose from 20 unique area rugs featuring transitional and modern patterns. Or, take on a bigger project with one of the collection’s fashion-forward carpet, hardwood and laminate products.

Try these designer tricks to bring a dramatic new look to any home. For more design inspiration and decorating advice, visit sherwin-williams.com/hgtvhome and www.shawfloors.com/HGTV.

Simple Summer Steps To Sell Your Home

If you plan to put your home up for sale this summer, or if it has been on the market for some time, you might consider investing in a few key updates to improve your odds of attracting a buyer. Of course, you don’t want to sink a load of cash into a place you aren’t going to stay in, but focusing on a few influential fixes can drastically improve the home’s overall appearance – and your chances of selling.

Freshen up
Potential buyers often look for obvious signs of neglect, such as leaky roofs, water damage or crumbling foundations. But even without these problems, making your home look like new again can be as simple as applying a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Cooking, smoking and everyday living can discolor and fade your ceilings and walls, making your home seem old and unattractive. It’s amazing what a fresh coat of color can do to improve a home’s appearance. You want potential buyers to see your home as updated yet comfortable. A single coat of paint in a warm neutral like Soft Charmeuse or Havana Cream will give your home an open but inviting feel. And don’t forget to touch up your white baseboards, trim and ceilings to make each room look its best.

Stay grounded
As much time as they spend looking up, potential buyers also spend time looking down. Flooring has a drastic effect on a home’s selling power, and an outdated or poorly maintained floor can ruin a room’s appeal. Old, dingy carpets can overshadow any other improvements you make and give the home an unkempt feel. If your home has hardwood floors, remove old carpeting and refinish the wood beneath it. This is a great selling feature you should invest in highlighting. If you do not have hardwood floors, update your old carpeting with a neutral shade. Replace any cracked or chipped ceramic tiles in kitchens and bathrooms, and thoroughly clean or replace the grout on all tiled surfaces as well.

Shower power
You may have heard that bathroom updates have some of the biggest returns when it comes time to sell a home, and it’s true. According to CBS MoneyWatch.com, homeowners can expect to recover about 75 percent of minor bathroom remodel costs. So invest in a faucet, showerhead, cabinetry and a new light fixture to add to your “new” bathroom’s appeal. Have a half-bath? Consider adding a shower to make it a full; this will make your home much more marketable.

Curb appeal
First impressions can have a huge impact on buyers’ decisions, so make sure your home is as attractive from the street as possible. If your cement sidewalk or patio areas have cracks, patch them with a kit from your local hardware store. Resurface an asphalt driveway and make certain your garage doors and exterior are freshly painted. Remember, your front door is the first thing a buyer will see. Consider repainting it a bold color that invites them in, and don’t overlook replacing your doorknob if it is in poor shape. Summer means color, and adding bright flowers to your front entry or garden will make any visitors feel welcome.

With a few updates around your home, you can greatly increase its perceived value and appeal to buyers. Put some time and resources into these key areas and you’ll soon reap the benefits of your investment.

Five Tricks To ‘Summerize’ Your Home

Temperatures are rising, flowers are blooming and chirping birds greet us in the morning. It’s official, summer is here. Are your yard and home ready? Here are five surefire tricks to help you prep them for sun and fun:

1. Create sensational seating. With summer get-togethers, you’re always looking for more seating for guests. But that doesn’t mean you need to buy new. If you’re like many homeowners, you probably have miscellaneous chairs throughout your home. It might be a desk chair, a decorative one in the corner of your living room or an old one buried in the attic.

Now is the perfect time of the year to brighten it up with a vibrant, new color – such as lime green, poppy or lilac. All you need is a can of spray paint. And the best part is that you can always easily change the color again for fall with some additional paint.

2. Embellish with accessories. Does your living area look as dreary as the past winter months? Before you say replace your sofa for a refresh, consider the power of accessorizing. Summer is the perfect excuse to hit your local home goods store or even thrift shop for a whole new cadre of vases, throw pillows, framed pictures, baskets and more.

Go in with a game plan. Determine a couple of colors you would like to add and have a set budget in mind. This will help you stay focused and allow you to come home with a whole new look for your living room.

3. Paint for patio perfection. With the summer months, your social calendar may already be bustling with a number of parties and get-togethers. Now is the perfect time to update your deck or patio. If you have a bench, table or planters that have seen better days, consider using a spray paint-primer, such as Krylon’s Dual Paint and Primer, which allows you to prime and paint in one single step – even on weathered metal. To create a more distinctive look, consider constructing a planter bench, which will provide added seating and a home for your stunning flowers.

4. Create lush landscapes. For a truly manicured yard, it’s the small details that make all the difference. For areas where you tend to walk, add large stepping stones to make the path more inviting and help ensure you don’t damage your plants and mulch. If you have large trees in your backyard, consider adding a plant bed covered with mulch around the base to provide a cleaner look and make mowing easier.

5. Find a fun and festive fire pit. Making s’mores over a campfire or creating ambiance for evening drinks is a great way to spend a summer evening. Depending on the layout of your backyard and local ordinances, there are a number of options for adding an evening fire to your summer plans. For a more casual feel, you can dig a pit in a dedicated area of your backyard and finish it with decorative stones and seating. Or, for a more formal fire, try a metal fire pit or chiminea. With the wide variety of styles and colors, you’re guaranteed to find one that matches your backyard beautifully.

These few easy and cost-effective modifications will guarantee you’re ready to celebrate the summer solstice in style. For more projects and ideas for your home, visit www.projectsinacan.com.

Public Service Announcement

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Don’t pave paradise, create a landscaped lot!

Edmonton, May 17, 2011 – As the May long weekend approaches, many Edmontonians have landscaping in their future. But before you dig into that yard work, remember that there are some rules to keep in mind.

Under Edmonton’s Zoning Bylaw, any front or side yard visible from a public street must be landscaped. While most people landscape with grass, there are many alternatives like washed gravel, shale, shrubs, flower beds, and decorative stones.

“Many people don’t want all the maintenance that comes with traditional grass and flower beds,” said Gail Hickmore, Senior Development Planner with the City of Edmonton. “Using materials like shale and shrubs can give homeowners an attractive but low-maintenance alternative.”

However, it is important to remember that only the driveway leading to the garage and the walkway to the door can be paved with continuous asphalt or concrete. Paving other areas of your yard could result in the City requiring that you remove it and landscape with something else.

“Paving over everything is a definite no-no. Whether it’s to create more parking or get rid of yard work, it really takes away from the look of our city,” Hickmore adds.

Residents should also remember that some projects require permits. A permit is required to build a fence taller than 1.2 metres in the front yard and 1.85 metres in the back yard. Permits may also be required if you are building a deck, shed, gazebo, hot tub or water feature in your yard.

For more information on landscaping bylaws or other permits, visit www.edmonton.ca/LandscapingRegulations or call 311.

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About Edmonton:

This is a city alive with energy and boundless opportunity – a growing economic powerhouse

where business thrives and more than a million lives enjoy the freedom to explore,

experiment, experience, excel and expect the most out of every day. A place like no other,

Edmonton is filled with surprises great and small and a calendar packed with artistic, sporting, theatrical and cultural celebration.

For more information on Edmonton, please visit www.edmonton.ca and www.edmontonstories.ca

Think Outside the Box – Literally – To Improve Your Home Value

For years, the conversation about strengthening your home’s value has revolved around interior projects. However, by keeping the focus inside, you might be ignoring one of the most effective ways to bring your property value up: the garden.

When discussing home value, “garden” means more than just flower beds. It includes your lawn, gathering spaces on your property, paths and walkways, in addition to the trees, shrubs and flowers that decorate the space. In a housing market where it’s still difficult to stand out, turning your attention and efforts to these areas might be just the thing that will attract buyers.

It’s a simple concept: A more attractive house is a more valuable house. And since your yard and garden are often what buyers see first, it’s your best opportunity to set the tone as they consider your property and what they’re willing to pay for it. In fact, well-designed landscaping was shown to raise perceived residential property value by as much as 18 percent, in a study recently released by Swedish power tool maker Husqvarna.

In terms of return on investment, maintaining an attractive lawn and garden was shown to return $1.80 per dollar spent. For those who want to improve their home’s value but can’t afford to hire contractors for major interior repairs, garden improvements can be an affordable alternative.

Armed with the right tools, most homeowners are capable of tackling garden projects that can improve their property value, and at a relatively low cost. To get a better understanding of what lawn and landscaping equipment would be most beneficial to your yard, visit an outdoor power manufacturer website like www.husqvarna.com. Simply edging your yard with a string trimmer helps create a clean, finished look outdoors and can be achieved for less than $200.

While many people are reluctant to spend much on their yards – some 65 percent of people spent less than $400 on it annually – keeping return on investment in mind can help you make better smarter decisions. If you want to call in the pros, consider projects that are highly sought-after, like in-ground irrigation systems.

Those not sure where to start can look to the wide variety of gardening websites, television programs and magazines for inspiration and practical tips. Some of the top-ranked garden attributes for improving home value included:

• A well-maintained lawn
• An inviting social area
• Stone paths and walkways
• Decorative trees, bushes and shrubs
• Well-kept hedges
• Nicely designed flower beds

Gardening season and the high real estate season coincide for a reason: Houses look their best surrounded by growing plants and blooming flowers. As the warmer months progress, remember that not only can investing in your garden give you a good return, it could also be the deciding factor in drawing a buyer to your property.

Heat Up Your Kitchen With Spring’s Top Color Trends

The kitchen is the heart of the home: a place to cook and share a meal, to entertain friends, gather as a family and even pay bills or do homework.

“From a decor perspective, the kitchen is the perfect place to get colorful,” says Ginny Bean, publisher of Ginny’s catalog and founder of Ginnys.com. “Vibrant colors are a great way to reflect and reinforce the high energy of your home’s central gathering place.”

Energizing your kitchen doesn’t take a major decor overhaul. Some strategically selected splashes of color in countertop appliances, cookware, dinnerware, candles, placemats and other linens can do the trick.

“Among this spring’s hottest colors, warm hues like tangerine and butterscotch are perfect for kitchens because they’re comforting and actually stimulate appetite,” explains Bean. “A lot of the fun comes in blending old favorites and new shades in fresh, innovative ways.” Color palettes that Bean recommends for spring 2011 include:

Rustic revival: Relaxed and informal, this palette is inspired by nature and features colors pulled from the outdoors. Shades such as basil, eggplant and copper help create a cozy space reminiscent of the past and simpler times. For a new spin on a traditional rustic color scheme, Bean suggests pairing a deep, earthy hue with accents of cool pink.

Bold expression: Exuding optimism, this palette creates a look that is both unconventional and energetic. Unique color mixes, such as intense purple combined with butterscotch and Capri blue, or sunny orange with dark red balanced against a soft neutral like champagne, create a space that’s eclectic, yet warm and welcoming. Bean recommends mixing patterns, textures and styles for a one-of-a-kind look.

Classic elegance: Evoking the look of 17th century Versailles, this color palette will give your kitchen a serene, elegant look. Traditional shades like lavender, turquoise, antique pink and bronze can be combined with touches of richer colors like peacock, charcoal and delicious red for a more contemporary look.

World market: With the explosion of technology, the world has suddenly become a much smaller place. This modern palette reflects the new global outlook with cookware and other accents in colors from other cultures, such as the calm oranges and yellows of India, the bright reds of the Far East, and the Capri blue of the Mediterranean. Bean suggests grounding these bright colors with black, white, silver or brushed stainless.

“In the final analysis, it’s all about doing what you like and surrounding yourself with the colors that make you happy,” says Bean.

Long recognized as a leader in the colorful kitchen revolution, Ginny’s has recently entered into agreements with top kitchenware manufacturers, including Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Rachael Ray and Paula Deen, to offer their products in exclusive designer colors.  To request a catalog or place an order, log on to Ginnys.com or call (800) 693-0809. You can also find Ginny’s on Facebook.

Shaping up for selling? Tips for making your home more attractive to potential buyers

First impressions are important and the same holds true when you are showcasing your home for a potential sale. While larger home improvement projects are often necessary to catch the eye of someone in the market for a new home, they require a great deal of time and money. Sometimes simple cleaning and organization is all that is needed for your home to become more appealing to potential buyers.

Home staging expert and TLC host Lisa Lynch says giving the perception of clean home is of utmost importance for people looking to sell or rent their homes.

“Presenting a sparkling clean property gives the impression that it was well maintained,” says Lynch. “This gives potential buyers and renters a feeling of security. Often they will pay a premium for a place that has been well-maintained and has a clean appearance.”

Lynch offers these tips to impress your guests and convince potential buyers that you took outstanding care of your home:

Simplify
Begin by de-cluttering your home. By removing personal items that might distract prospective buyers, you’ll help them focus on how they think the home might look when they move in. You don’t want buyers to focus on possessions that you’ll be taking with you when you move.

Neutralize
When showing your home to others, it’s best to set your personal tastes aside by decorating in a way that will appeal to a broad range of people. Think about replacing strong patterns with solid colors on items like bedding, carpets and drapes. It might also be a good call to store that dramatic piece of art somewhere out of sight. You can show it off again when you move into your new house.

A photogenic home
Many potential buyers will make decisions on which homes they would like to look at by looking at photos posted online. Do whatever you can to make your home sparkle in the images you and your real estate agent select for your listing. Focus on glass and metal surfaces that will add shine to your photos. For other bathroom surfaces, a bath scrubber like Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber should be used to remove easy-to-spot and unappealing grime and scum from bathtubs and showers. Thoroughly cleaning these surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens can make your home look fresher and newer.

Areas that must sparkle
While it’s important to keep the entire home spotless, there are two rooms in particular that require special attention: the kitchen and the bathroom. In a recent survey, Mr. Clean asked consumers which room they would clean first if moving into a new home. Of the more than 1,000 participants, an impressive 41 percent responded the kitchen and 38 percent said the bathroom. When selling your home, it is always important to make the extra effort in these two rooms; you’ll never know if it will be a make or break a deal.

Scent
Whether they know it or not, people entering your home will notice more than just appearances. Attractive scents can create good feelings. Candles, diffusers, potpourri and cookies all offer inviting and familiar aromas. Use a cleaner with a pleasant scent to keep your home smelling fresh.

Details matter
Eliminate any small imperfections that might cause uneasiness with potential buyers by replacing broken light bulbs, fixing loose doorknobs or getting your closet door moving smoothly on it tracks. Even something as minor as a little mess in the microwave could turn off a prospective renter or buyer, so make sure every place you can think of is squeaky clean.

Since first impressions are so important, having your home properly cleaned and staged will help you make a sale or rental more quickly and net the price you deserve.

When It’s Time For a New Deck, Details Count

Backyard decks beckon this time of year. They are the perfect place for spending lazy summer days or for entertaining on blissful summer nights.

Today’s decks offer homeowners a comfortable place to spend time. As a home improvement that offers return on investment, a new or upgraded deck ranks near the top of the list, behind only kitchen and bath remodels.

What’s the biggest trend in decks this summer? “Homeowners are asking for more add-ons, including different styles of outdoor lighting,” says Mick Feduniec of Deckscapes, LLC, in Charlotte, N.C.

Feduniec says requests for deck lighting have skyrocketed in the last few years and that his clients appreciate the wide variety of lighting that is available today. Unique styles, like tiny, recessed LEDs for the edges of decks, LED strips for running underneath a rail, or lights with remote control dimming, tend to get customers excited about the finished product.

“Not every customer is building the elaborate dream deck, but every customer is concerned about value. That translates to quality in the materials and the special touches that make a deck special day and night,” Feduniec says.

Deckscapes has found that lighting really sets their decks apart. The company recently received the National Illumination Award from the North American Deck and Rail Association for a deck the company built that featured lantern-style post cap lights by Aurora Deck Lighting and a glowing gas fire pit.

Aurora is one of the nation’s leaders in the design and manufacture of deck lighting, and the company says their business has remained steady even during the latest economic downturn, thanks to offerings featuring state-of-the-art LED bulbs.

“Customers want to get the most for their expenditure, and energy efficient lighting is is functional and adds value,” says Jay Savignac of Aurora.

New styles of LED deck lights are virtually foolproof. Installation is simple and the bulbs last for years, saving both energy and money while remaining maintenance free.

Easy installation means homeowners can add Aurora’s deck lights themselves on existing structures. To encourage that trend, the company packages some of its most versatile lighting styles, like the Odyssey LED strip lights and Phoenix Recessed LED lights, in kits designed specifically with the do-it-yourself homeowner in mind.

Savignac says customizing a deck is easy with lighting, because there are so many colors and styles to choose from.  He says homeowners like convenience, so this spring they introduced a dimmer system that works with a remote control to allow you to dim the LED lights when just a little accent light is needed.

Aurora Deck Lighting’s website, www.auroradecklighting.com, features dozens of different styles of lights, including low voltage LEDs, solar LEDs, and traditional line voltage systems.

For inspirational ideas for your new deck, visit www.deckscapes.com.

Spectacular River Valley

This architecturally custom designed home with over 3800 sqft. is nestled on a huge lot and offers ultimate in luxury living in a private setting. Extraordinary finishings and quality are noted throughout this home from the solid maple doors and cabinets to exquisite heated hardwood, tiles and slate flooring. The Chef’s gourmet kitchen will be enjoyed with the large granite prep. island, many built-in stainless steel appliances and for the Wine Connaisseur an expansive 2500 bottle custom designed wine room. A unique mezzanine landing offers a theatre viewing area overlooking the family room and offers giant screen entertainment. Escape the day in the palacial master suite with stunning views of the river valley, private balcony, incredible custom designed wardrobe room and a luxurious 6 piece ensuite with 2 skylights. A private wing offers 2 large bedrooms with shared ensuite and access to another private balcony. Finished lower level with additional bedroom and oversized triple, heated garage add to the extras in making this home truly one-of-a-kind. 5022 154 Street. To view this property or for more details call Marcel Tessier 780-406-4000