Your home for open houses
Stay informed with tips, updates, and helpful articles to assist you in your home buying journey.
| 10.25.2018
Are Open Houses Necessary in Today’s Market?
Both real estate agents and sellers are wondering whether open houses are still necessary in today’s market. And the simple answer is? Open houses still serve a purpose, and data proves that more homebuyers are visiting them. With all the access homebuyers have to online inventory, the true freedom of attending open houses on their own time and browsing before they buy will never go away. Open houses have been a proven marketing tool for real estate agents for over a century due to what they offer to potential buyers. They offer the freedom to go look at homes without a real estate agent. Since the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) rule changes of 2024, many buyers want to begin their home search on their own and do not want to hire an agent until they find the right house to buy. Since 2024, the number of homebuyers using open houses during their home search has jumped from 3% to over 53%, and yet only 5% of homes are ever held open every weekend, according to findings by NAR. Due to this recent change in buyer behavior, sellers have a much higher chance of selling their home if they have an open house. Open houses also allow buyers to find and view homes that they missed online. As much access as these buyers have to online search engines, their search criteria are very limited, which can cause them to miss out on potential homes that may be what they want but didn’t show up in their online search. There are many things you cannot search online, and many things that a buyer “thinks” are must-haves until they walk into their dream home by following an open house sign, and the house is missing just one thing that caused the home to be deleted from their online search. This is very important in markets with high and low inventory. In areas with a high inventory of homes, buyers have to narrow their search criteria to not miss out on potential homes that they didn’t find online. In areas where inventory is on the lower end, buyers are led to having to look into unfamiliar communities that fit their new budgets, given high interest rates and unavailability. This is the true power of open houses. There is no doubt that open houses sell houses in today’s market and that they are one of the most effective ways for real estate agents to get in front of potential buyers and sellers. The problem lies with our sellers not being comfortable having open houses due to them not feeling that they are safe and that their home is being protected. Tech tools like Open Houses Direct, which verify all open house visitors instantly, have changed the way open houses can now be run. For agents using a system that verifies the information of every visitor, now, agents and homeowners can rest assured that they are hosting a safer and more secure open house. This also allows the agents to capture visitor information that they can now follow up with for crucial feedback that was not shared during the open house visit. By treating open houses as a purposeful and technologically-enhanced strategy, a seasoned agent can secure a continuous stream of new buyers, transforming a simple showing into a foundational pillar of their business.
OpenHousesDirect
| 10.25.2018
The Perfect App for Coming Soon, Off-Market and PRE-MLS Listings
Listings that are not on the MLS give an air of exclusivity for both the seller and buyer, especially in areas that have very few homes on the market. PRE Open House allows potential buyers to enjoy elite access to homes that are not on the market yet and cannot be found on any other site. This PRE-MLS, or Coming Soon, feature allows agents to hold an open house for a property that is not yet on the MLS. This gives agents a chance to “PRE-market” a listing prior to it going on the market. This opportunity to PRE-market a home is a great way to allow interested buyers to see the home before it goes on the market. This allows buyers who are interested in homes in a popular neighborhood that has very little inventory a chance to get ahead of other buyers and PRE-view a Coming Soon, Off-Market or PRE-MLS listing.    Coming Soon, Off-Market and PRE-MLS Listings with PRE Open House Real estate agents can now advertise their Coming Soon, Off-Market and PRE-MLS listings and hold “PRE-view” open houses for potential buyers. The PRE Open House app will now allow agents to PRE-market a property before it goes live on the MLS giving potential buyers a chance to see it first.    Agents will finally be able to advertise Coming Soon, Off-Market and PRE-MLS homes to potential buyers without having to pay exorbitant fees on other platforms. This will allow agents to now hold a PRE-MLS Open House open to potential home buyers. Home buyers that have saved a search that match the criteria of the home will get an email notification of a new PRE-MLS open house once it is posted on the site, giving them a head start to other interested buyers who may be interested in attending the open house as well.  The instant messaging feature on the app will allow interested buyers then to have the ability to message the listing agent and possibly set up a private showing prior to the Open House, again getting ahead of any other competing home buyers. Do you have questions about Coming Soon, Off-Market and PRE-MLS listings through the PRE Open House App? Click here to learn more. Courtesy of Cuselleration Photo Credit: Shutterstock/divanov
OpenHousesDirect
| 10.25.2018
Want to Know About the PRE Open House “Available for Showings” Feature?
Two ways home buyers can view a listing in-person is by an appointment with a real estate agent or through an open house that is open to the public. Open Houses on Your Time Open Houses are great for home buyers driving around looking for homes in a potential neighborhood, but sometimes agents aren’t available to sit at a home all day on a weekend due to other obligations.  The “Available for Showings” feature will now allow buyers to see homes that are available, at the same time that they are driving around looking at Open Houses. This makes viewing a property very convenient for buyers who don’t have a lot of time to set up a private showing during the week only to have the seller only allow showings at certain times inconvenient to the home buyer. This opens up so much more inventory for buyers who enjoy spending their Saturdays or Sundays driving around looking at homes on their time.  An Available for Showings appointment is also uninterrupted, private, and more convenient for both potential home buyers and real estate agents. Benefits of Available for Showings The “Available for Showings” feature allows agents to hold an open house without having to sit at the open house.  By creating an “Available for Showings” open house event, agents can post a time range in which they are available throughout the day to show the home, and buyers can now message agents directly with a time that works for them to meet at the property.  This is a great way to have open houses in guard gated or gated communities, or open houses that are located in exclusive neighborhoods as well. Available for Showings open houses will display as an open house, but with a specific range of time that the agent will be available to show the home on short notice. Buyers who are looking at open houses in the same area will see an Available for Showings open house and can contact the agent directly for a time that works for them. Buyers out looking at open houses now will not miss the opportunity to see an available property just because the agent did not have the time to sit at the house all day. Do you have a question about the Available for Showings feature? Click here to learn more. Courtesy of Cuselleration Photo Credit: Shutterstock /fizkes
OpenHousesDirect
| 10.25.2018
Why PRE Open House is a Better Way to Find Open Houses
Times have changed when it comes to selling and buying homes, but one thing that hasn’t changed is that agents still hold open houses and that open houses still prove to be a very effective way of allowing buyers to preview homes in person without having to make an appointment with a realtor. Home buyers still enjoy previewing a neighborhood or homes at their leisure months before actually hiring a realtor to help them with their home purchase. Home buyers wanting to visit open houses used to have to check local newspapers, get flyers attached to their door or follow signs in order to find them.  Nowadays, the search for open houses is mostly done online through property search websites leading buyers down a line of confusing miscommunication and misdirecting them to agents that know little or nothing about the property they are inquiring about. Why PRE Open House is a Better Way to Find Open Houses Instead of Other Platforms Home buyers can look for open houses on other sites and are only given a time and a date about that open house.  Open House Agents are currently not allowed to enter any other information regarding an open house nor can they be contacted directly by a home buyer for questions regarding that property.  Information such as gate codes, special directions or any changes to the open house in real time can not currently be communicated to the buyer given the current platforms. PRE Open House is revolutionizing the open house experience by allowing agents to enter detailed information regarding the open house event, and update that information in real time, as well as provide a direct point of contact for pertinent information such as gate codes or questions needing immediate attention regarding the property.  On other platforms, a buyer that clicks on a "Contact Agent" button is unknowingly sending their contact information to numerous agents who have all paid for the “buyer lead”.  The agents paying for these leads often have little or no knowledge of the property which leads to frustrated buyers.  The majority of the time, the actual listing agent or open house agent is not the one being contacted at all and has no knowledge of the inquiry, again leading to a frustrated buyer trying to attend an open house.    PRE Open House is Different PRE Open House is the first website and mobile app created with a direct line of communication between the buyer and the agent. Whether it be the listing agent or the open house agent, buyers can click on the contact agent button and are directly connected with the agent holding the open house. This makes for an easier and much more enjoyable open house experience for both the buyer and the agent. Buyers can instantly message about gate codes, directions, running late, private showings, or simply to ask questions about the property that are not displayed online.  This information is all communicated in real time which allows for a more enjoyable open house experience for both the buyer and the agent. Do you have questions about how you can use PRE Open House to find your open houses more easily? Click here to get in touch with PRE Open House today! Courtesy of Cuselleration Photo Credit: Shutterstock/ sirtravelalot  
OpenHousesDirect
| 10.25.2018
PRE Open House Gives You a Stress-Free Open House Experience
PRE Open House gives you an open house platform built for today’s buyer. With an easy way to find and attend open houses, our free app makes open houses and showings convenient for both the real estate agent and buyer. Open house information can be updated in real-time and consumers now have a direct line of communication with the open house agent for the first time.   What is PRE Open House? PRE Open House is creating a seamless, more relaxed open house experience for both agents and buyers. Built to streamline the relationship between buyer and agent, our app makes it easy to find, map, book a private showing, RSVP, and save a list of favorite properties for future reference.  Our app also allows “direct” engagement with open house agents with an instant messaging feature that allows agents and consumers to communicate directly in real time via the easy to navigate mobile app. Buyers can also now attach themselves to their real estate agent on the app when creating their account,  allowing them to visit more open houses with less pressure from the open house agent. Buyers can check in to an open house online and the open house agent will be notified that they are currently working with another realtor. Buyers who save an open house in their list will also be notified in real time of any changes or cancellations related to that open house. We DID IT! Finally! What everyone has been waiting for has finally arrived! The first open house platform that is dedicated “exclusively” to finding and attending open houses. PRE Open House is the first online open house platform to have direct consumer to agent instant messaging. Home buyers can have real-time communication with the listing agent and/or open house agent for the first time ever! Home buyers can instantly message an agent, via a ping notification, through the messaging feature in the mobile app regarding any questions they may have.  There will be no more sitting at a gate trying to find a gate code, or driving around trying to find a house with signs that have fallen down only to leave a buyer lost and frustrated. Buyers will be able to receive up-to-date information about the open house as well in regards to things such as time changes, earlier showings, special directions, last minute cancellations, etc. We are truly dedicated to creating a more enjoyable open house experience for both home buyers and agents. Would you like to know more about our innovative PRE Open House app? Click here to learn more. Courtesy of Cuselleration Photo Credit: Shutterstock / Roman Samborskyi  
OpenHousesDirect
| 10.25.2018
Prepping Your House For Winter
Nobody is looking forward to the months when a bone-chilling cold settles everywhere, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to prepare for it. One of the most important things you can do is make sure you home is sealed against extra costs that rear their heads during winter, when it’s easy to leak money. Here are some low-cost ways to save in the long run and be protected against winter’s brutality.   Insulate, Insulate, Insulate! You need to insulate more than you think if you want to be fully prepared for the winter months. This includes your attic, your hot water heater, and your hot water pipes. If your attic has any air leaks, this can lead to a much large electricity bill due to lost heating. If you properly prepare your top floor, you can save tons of cash. You can also save fuel by insulating your hot water heater, unless it is already insulated or specifically prohibits insulation. And lastly, your hot water pipes need protection, too. Pipes get cold externally and cool down hot water as it runs through them, which means you’ll be spending more than you need to to heat up your shower. Insulation, although sometimes complicated, can be a huge money-saver in the winter months.   Change your ceiling fans for winter By switching the direction that you fan blows from counterclockwise in the summer to clockwise in the winter, you’ll have better warm air circulation, since your fan will now suck cold air up and push warmer air down. This is an easy fix that will help you save on your electricity bill, just like it does in the summer months as well.   Lower your water temperature There’s no reason to have your water heater set at 140˚. Lower it by 20˚-25˚, and you’ll still have water that plenty hot enough to use for showers and dish washing, but you won’t scald yourself accidentally.   Fix leaks Go into your basement and all around the inside of your house with a tube of caulk and seal up any cracks you find. These could be indications of potential heat-wasting areas, so it’s important to seal them off before the get too dangerous or expensive. Make sure you check the edges of windows as well. You want your house as airtight as possible before the intense and bitter cold sets in and you’re left wondering why your house won’t heat properly.   Change your furnace filters Forgetting to change your furnace filters can be a dangerous mistake. Not only do dirty filters make your furnace less effective, but they can also potentially pose a fire hazard to your home. Make sure you let your heating system stay as effective as possible without putting your home in danger.   Extend gutters Add extensions to your drain pipes that diverts water as far as 20-30 feet away from your house. Because there is excessive water in the summer due to snowfall and melting ice, it is important to protect your house’s foundation. If you let the water drip down right at the base of your house, you risk not only leakage into your home but also serious damage to your foundation that could be expensive and detrimental to your home. Buying water diverters is a cost-efficient way to protect your foundation from the excess of water drainage that occurs during the winter and early spring months.   Tree safety! Check around your home to see if there are any large trees that have branches hanging over your roof. This can pose a potential threat to your roof in the winter, since ice and snow can weight it down and cause it to snap and damage your roof. Make sure you take the precautions you need to remove any such branches so your newly weather-proofed roof won’t collapse.  
OpenHousesDirect
Uncategorized | 10.25.2018
Rental-Friendly Easy DIYs
If you’re renting a place for the foreseeable future and you aren’t allowed to make permanent changes (as is common in rentals), check out these easy DIY ideas that will let you spice up your space without creating any permanent changes (or damage) that will cost you in repairs.   Furniture Choose interesting furniture! In rooms that feel bare because of blank walls, consider adding furniture that is exciting and colorful. Go thrifting and paint some of the furniture you find with bright, cheery colors that will add character and quirk to any room. Furniture is also key when it comes to creating more storage space. If your rental feels small, consider investing in pieces that have lots of extra room, like hollow ottomans or benches with cubbies in them. These are also items that you can choose to have tons of character and add dimension and taste to your home.   Removable wallpaper You may not be able to paint your walls, but removable wallpaper is an easy and cheap choice to decorate empty rooms. Choose a print you like and cover an entire room, or maybe just an accent wall. Wallpaper has changed from the days your grandmother had tacky flowers in every single bathroom, so don’t worry. A unique pattern or solid bold color could completely transform a space, and when you leave, all you have to do is peel it off!   Strategic hanging Even though you can’t drill holes in the wall, removable plastic hooks have utterly dominated the temporary decoration arena recently. There are transparent ones, tiny clasp hooks, and even enormous ones that can hold up to a few pounds of weight. Get creative with these! Hang artwork, drape tapestries, and even put up hanging potted plants with the help of these impermanent devices. They’re not exclusively for dorm rooms anymore!   Plants Speaking of plants, invest in some! They are a fantastically impermanent way of adding life and color, and drastically improve your living space as well. With their air-purifying properties, your household will be clean even in terms of the oxygen you inhale. Another option is to start your own small herb or vegetable garden. You don’t need a yard for this, just a few pots and a space with plenty of sunlight. If you have a small balcony, this would be a great option for both decor and sustainability. Consider it a money-saver in the long run!   Fun carpets Who said you need to have boring, beige carpets plaguing your home? Think in color! Have an unexpectedly exciting carpet or throw in areas of your house that could use it, like in your kitchen or bathroom. This will throw drudgery out the window and make you happy to spend time in your home. If you’re feeling brave, buy a big colorful rug for your living area or dining room! Coordinate the colors with the furniture you have, or buy a rug and then plan the furniture around it. Either way, branch out and explore different color palettes that you wouldn’t normally expect in a home, and see just how much fun you can have with it!   Throw pillows Accent pillows on your sofa are an amazing way to both decorate and tie the room together. As mentioned above, if you have a colorful rug or carpet, try coordinating details and colors to make the room feel whole and also extremely comfortable, depending on how soft the pillows look. Don’t hold back, and add as many as you want (as long as people can still fit on the couch).   Decorative shelving (also storage) Cute shelving is a great way to add both decor and storage space in a rental. Invest in cute but affordable pieces that you can transform in any way you want. Ikea pieces are generally very easy to assemble, and you can customize them in interesting ways, like adding your own handles or painting them a different color. Shelves can hold a great many things, and you can diversify and make them cute by adding your own small decorations or mini potted plants that will break up the monotony of rows of books and the like and add character and taste.   Washi tape If you know what washi tape is, consider yourself lucky. It’s an easily removable tape that comes in countless colors and patterns and is great for decorating smaller spaces or adding color accents that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to. If you have a small piece of wall, add colorful stripes or cut out cute patterns from the tape to decorate. You can also outline and accent your doors, drawers, and shelves with washi tape, adding just the right amount of depth and dimension to your spaces.   Leaning mirror If you have always craved an enormous mirror to admire your outfits in but you now have nowhere to hang it, never fear! Just lean that big old thing against a wall and let it serve as both an outfit trial-and-error spot as well as its own definition piece of interior design. Mirrors add a modern twist to spaces and also make them feel a lot bigger, since they reflect the space they’re in and add to it. You can choose a great frame, and even use the top edge as a small shelf to put cute little ornaments or mini plants on. Or, hang your next day’s outfit from the edge so you’ll be ready to roll in the mornings.   Leaning pictures/art On the same trend of leaning large frames, do the same thing you did for your mirror for large art pieces! Tastefully leaned works of art or photography can do wonders for your space. Consider propping them up on dressers or shelves that you already have so that you can avoid hanging them from the wall but still display them in a place that will catch people’s attention. And if you really have your heart set on wall art, try pinning up prints without frames in a fun pattern on a wall to create a sort of mini-art gallery that won’t ruin your rental.
OpenHousesDirect
Uncategorized | 10.25.2018
Best Housewarming Gifts For Your New Neighbors
So the open house next door finally resulted in new neighbors. Everyone wants to make a good impression since, well, they’ll be living next to you. The best way to do this is to bring them a small gift when you pop in to say hello for the first time. Unsure of what to get them? Keep reading for easy ideas that will take the people next door from neighbors to friends!   Good Olive Oil One of the best yet most overlooked kitchen products is olive oil. From frying up an egg to making a salad dressing, a nice bottle of olive oil can make the world of a difference when it comes to taste. Why not impress that new couple next door by gifting them a bottle of olive oil with an elevated zest? Try this gorgeous bottle from Williams Sonoma? They’ll admire both the gift and you, for thinking of it. https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/house-olive-oil/   Tea Not sure if your new neighbors are coffee-lovers? Never fear! Try these adorable and delicious tea samplers. It can’t go wrong! Once they find one they like, they’ll thank you for introducing them to their new favorite warm drink! http://www.adagio.com/gifts/samplers.html   Candle There’s no better way to make a new house feel like home than with a refreshing, captivating scent. A new candle is the perfect way to make your neighbors feel welcome, and also helps add a personal touch to an unfamiliar space. Make sure to stick to something that’s well-loved and generic, so your friends next door will be sure to love your gift. https://www.yankeecandle.com/browse/gifts/gift-sets/_/N-8ew   Plant (real, fake, succulent set, herb garden, terrarium) The possibilities when it comes to plant-gifting are endless. You can buy them a plant that helps clean the oxygen in the air (yes, they exist!), or a gorgeous fake plant if you know they’re busy-bodies and don’t have time to keep their green friends alive. Another great option for people like that is to buy them succulents - they require very little care and thrive in warmer climates! And if you know they like to cook, why not buy them a mini herb garden that they can get started for themselves? This gift can be easily personalized, so branch out! https://www.succulentlyurban.com/product-category/succulent-gifts-and-more/succulent-gifts/   Cookbook There’s nothing worse than eating the same few meals in rotation. So instead of buying your neighbors a cookbook with simple recipes, why not buy them a cookbook that teaches them how to cook for themselves? Salt Fat Acid Heat teaches about the different ways to combine different flavors, so anyone can learn to experiment anyway they want and still produce a delicious meal! It’s the perfect gift for a newly-moved-in family, too. They’ll love you for this! https://www.amazon.com/Salt-Fat-Acid-Heat-Mastering/dp/1476753830/?tag=bonappfig-20   Wine glass charms Give a gift and a subtle hint by gifting your neighbors wine glass personalizers! These little charms hook on to the stem of wine glasses so no one will lose their glass at the next small party or dinner your neighbors may host. Here are two great options: https://www.sears.com/the-wine-glass-marker-the-original-wine-glass/p-SPM9131936502?plpSellerId=zabiva&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2 https://www.sears.com/true-3164r-wine-glass-charms-home-dining-entertaining/p-SPM8681442903?plpSellerId=UnbeatableSalecom%20Inc&prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3   Coasters There’s nothing worse than water rings in a brand new coffee table, so help your neighbors avoid that easy mistake by giving them a set of coasters! Here’s a hint: pop by their house first, welcome them, and get a sense of their style as much as you can. That way, you can choose coasters that you think will suit them best! So many stores have great options, but the ones below are gorgeous, relatively style-neutral, and still show that you’re glad to have them next door. https://www.target.com/p/marble-stackable-coasters-white-set-of-4-threshold-153/-/A-52324519 https://www.target.com/p/lipper-international-acacia-tree-bark-coasters-set-of-4-hemp-tie-4-5/-/A-50027587   Vase Along with your plant gift, a vase is a fantastic option. They’re great for decor, and if your neighbors aren’t plant-friendly, they can always stick a few fake leaves in them and call it a day! One of our favorites is this gorgeously simple yet practical option that also holds your smartphone (since, as we know, phone comes first these days). You can also get them a personalized vase, if that’s how you roll. Check them out! https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/bedside-smartphone-vase https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/personalized-champagne-wedding-vase   Serving platter A serving platter isn’t often considered a great gift, but if you pick the right one, it sends just the right touch of warm welcomes. And if your new neighbors had to pair down to make their recent move, they’ll especially be grateful for a gift as thoughtful as this one. Choose one from the options below to get started exploring! https://norafleming.com/product/serving-piece-bread-tray/ https://www.oliveandcocoa.com/product/coppered-fleur-tray/serveware-gifts   Nice throw A cozy throw is not only a great addition to decorate a couch, but it’s also a cozy option to cuddle up under during the colder months (or if you keep your AC on too high!). These beautifully soft throws might have the new family fighting over them, so choose wisely! https://www.westelm.com/products/solid-basketweave-throw-t3995/?pkey=cthrow-blankets&isx=0.0.295 https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/nordstrom-at-home-cuddle-up-faux-fur-throw-blanket/4328272?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FHome%20%26%20Gifts%2FHome%2FBedding%2FBlankets%20%26%20Throws&color=green%20cypress   Table cloth Plain kitchen? Bare table? Easy fix! A fun, classy tablecloth adds a world of character to any table, but be sure to stick to semi-neutral colors so they get a lot of use. Another option is a table runner, which can be more fun without being as overwhelming as an entire tablecloth. These options below are cute, colorful, and fun! https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/colordrift-painted-stripe-tablecloth/3347815?categoryId=10536 https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/paint-petals-table-runner?category=kitchen-table-linens&color=000   Salt n peppa It is an undeniable fact that everyone uses salt and pepper, so why not make it a good experience? These affordable electric salt and pepper grinders are classy and take away the frustration of having your spices clump. They’re sure to be a crowd-pleasing gift! https://www.wayfair.com/kitchen-tabletop/pdp/modernhome-2-piece-electric-salt-and-pepper-mill-set-mdhm1005.html   Picnic basket Do you know your neighbors love the outdoors? Or do you love the outdoors? A picnic basket is such a classy yet underrated essential to any home. Maybe the new couple next door can go on an unforgettable date, or that new family can spend some quality time outside! Never underestimate the power of a picnic. https://www.thepicnicworld.com/picnic-bags-454349.html   Bookends Bookshelves can be overwhelmingly bare when someone first moves in, so give them the option to spice it up a bit! A cute or classy (or both) set of bookends is the perfect gift for someone you know loves to read. Try this fantastic set! https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/majestic-forest-bookends   Nice bottle opener Spare your neighbors from using the edges of countertops or keys to get their bottle tops open. The days of slicing their hands on a sharp cap are over! Instead, they can use their brand new (courtesy of you) bottle opener to pop open those bottles easily and painlessly! And best of all, you can personalize it to send a lovely message to the new family next door. https://www.homewetbar.com/bartenders-pal-stainless-steel-personalized-bottle-opener-p-3822.html   Spice set Open up a whole new world of flavor for your new next-door best friends! This spice set comes with spices from all around the globe, and they’ll be sure to love experimenting with the way these add dimension to their meals. And hey, maybe you’ll even buy one for yourself so you can push your own boundaries a little bit, too! https://www.worldspice.com/gifts/around-the-world   Cute jar with chalk label? There is never enough storage anywhere, and we know from experience. This glass jar is a fantastic way to store anything, from cooking essentials like, flour, sugar, or dry rice, to even bathroom items like cotton balls or swabs. The best part? It comes with a chalk label that they can erase and reuse as needed! https://www.containerstore.com/s/kitchen/food-storage/jars/bormioli-hermetic-glass-jars-with-chalkboard-labels/123d?productId=10036768   Set of napkins Add character to a table setting with a set of nice, beautiful napkins. These go a long way when it comes to messy eaters, children and adults alike. Spare your neighbors from painful food stains and sticky fingers with these napkins below! https://www.wayfair.com/browse-by-brand/pdp/birch-lane-mariana-napkins-bl6144.html   Cocktail set Caution! This gift is only good for people that like to have a little fun in the bar area. This spiced old-fashioned cocktail kit is the perfect introduction to making these popular drinks! Anyone of legal drinking age will adore these concoctions, as well as the gorgeous kit that comes with it! https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/spiced-old-fashioned-cocktail-kit
OpenHousesDirect
Uncategorized | 10.25.2018
Easy Ways to Transform Your Living Room
If you’re looking for ways to brighten up your house, look no further. Using colors, details, and simple changes allows you to open up your living room which is probably the most used room besides the kitchen. From hosting guests to watching a movie with the family, having a comfortable yet functional space where you can sit back and relax is essential. Keep reading to find easy ways to spruce up your living room.   Reupholster your couch Has your couch survived kids, pets, and guests? Chances are, it’s been through some tough times. Stains and spills can discolor your couch over time, and too much exposure to sunlight can make the color fade. Instead of buying a new couch, which can get expensive, consider simple reupholstering the couch you already do have. Choosing a durable fabric may be a smart idea if you still have children, and try switching up the color. Go for a brighter shade if the rest of your living room is leaning towards neutral, and use it as an accent piece. Brighter colors also hide stains better, which is a secret hidden benefit.   New Carpet If your couch is in good condition, take a look at your carpet. It tends to wear down or get dirty quickly, especially if you wear shoes in the house. If you have an area rug, try buying a new one. A different style or color could instantly transform the room. Intense, darker colors tend to hide dirt far better than neutral, pale colors, which is something to keep in mind if you have kids, pets, or simply like to walk around with shoes on. However, a lighter rug can make your living room seem more open and cheerful, so take your pick!   Change the finish of your coffee table/side tables If you want a simple change but don’t want to commit to anything big, change the finish of your wooden coffee table and side tables! It’s an easy project to do yourself, since all you have to do is strip the original finish and replace it with something to your liking. It’s a subtle change that will make the world of a difference in the big picture of your living room, and it’s less of a commitment than some other changes!   Add a new hanging light If you have a central light that hangs in your living room, try changing the fixture. For example, if it’s a fan that you’ve always hated, why not find a new one that works better with the rest of the room? You can even have a small, classy chandelier instead of a single light bulb, which will draw the eye upwards and make the room feel bigger. Finding small ways to change up lighting can also add brightness and overall change the entire atmosphere of your living room.   New tabletop decor Do your side tables and coffee table feel empty? Add some personal details, like books you love or trinkets from places you’ve travelled. In a pinch, even a fancy paperweight will do. A conglomeration of small things generally looks better than a single, enormous table topper, and it also makes it easier for those sitting in the living room to talk to each other without being distracted or blocked by a giant bouquet, for example. These small changes let you add your own personal style to your living room so you can avoid a generic feel and make it feel like home.   Change lampshades If you have lamps in your living room, don’t change the actual lamp bases. Instead, freshen them up by replacing the lampshades. Choose a new shape or color, since the ones you’ve had for a while will most likely be dusty and stained, anyway. Make sure you stick with shades that suit the style of the lamp you have, but there are still multiple ways that you can change it up. If you’re feeling brave, try a colorful lampshade, like a yellow or light pink. This still allows light to shine from the bulb underneath, but also gives it a nice glow that can totally transform the atmosphere of the room.   New curtains Sick of curtains that look like they belong in your great-grandmother’s house? Then just change them! You don’t have to stick with the same style that may have come with your house, and it definitely doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s easy to get curtains made from a fabric of your choosing, so go with a color and fabric that bring out the best in your living room. If you want to let more light in, choose a thinner fabric that will let the sun shine. However, if you have enormous windows and want to limit the extent of natural light, a thicker, darker shade may be best to block the glare.         New sleek frames for art Did you know you can transform the art hanging on your walls without changing the art itself? It’s easy to do. Just find new frames! Some frames become noticeably dated as styles change, so be on the hunt for sleeker, more modern cuts that still work well with the pieces you have on your walls. However, don’t be afraid to mix and match. Sometimes, a contrast can be fun!   Add storage A cluttered living room is never a pretty living room. Add extra storage to your living space but keep it stylish and hidden, if you prefer. You can always use ottomans that have storage within them, or pretty floor baskets to catch all the throws you want to keep tidy but on hand. This way, no one will ever trip on a blanket on the ground again, and it’s easy to find them when you need them.   Paint Finally, a fresh coat of paint can make your living room feel brand new. Be brave and try changing it up as much as you can handle. If your living room is already very light, throw in an accent wall to make it seem cozier and more intimate. This works well for rooms that get lots of natural light. However, if your den tends to feel like an underground hole because it’s so dark all the time, opt for a more cheerful color like yellow or lavender. These colors will make it a welcoming, open spot for all your guests to enjoy.
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