Cheryl Karr - Your Solid Source Realty Agent

  It can be intimidating to stand in front of the paint swatches at the paint or hardware store and try to make a decision. Picking a color can be difficult enough—and then you have to choose the finish. Choosing the color is up to you, but here’s a simple guide to choosing the correct finish for your project. High Gloss High gloss paint has the most sheen, and will be the most durable. That durability is best suited for the kitchen, on surfaces like cabinets, door frames, and window trim. It’s best to avoid using high gloss on walls, because it will be too reflective. Semi-Gloss It’s not as shiny as high gloss, but it’s still great for kitchens and bathrooms, because the sheen protects from drips, splatters, and other moisture. Satin Satin has a velvet-like look, but is still a durable finish, and works best in high-traffic areas. Be careful when applying, because satin paint will reveal sloppy brush strokes. Eggshell and flat These finishes have the least a...

    Staging your home is all about putting the best foot forward for potential buyers. By highlighting its most desirable features, you can draw more interest for your home and leave a lasting impression that is sure to help you sell it more quickly. Here’s what you should keep in mind as you prepare for your next open house or viewing! Help them visualize it as their own. Make it easier for buyers to imagine themselves making your house their home by removing personal memorabilia, knick-knacks, and photos. Instead replace them with simple décor, such as paintings, nature images, and plants. Think sleek instead of comfy. Modern-day buyers are leaning toward modern, crisp, clean interiors over comfy, homey looks. When staging your home, keep a minimalist mindset and incorporate bright colors and metal accents. Deep clean the small spaces. It's obvious to say you should clean your home before viewing, but don’t forget to cover your bases by deep cleaning the small ...

  Certain housing trends emerging from the pandemic likely will outlast the virus, real estate professionals predict. “The idea of what is necessary is changing,” Camille Thomas, a real estate professional in Jackson Hole, Wyo., told realtor.com®. “The home has become more than a living space.” The Great Escape The suburbs have become a hot place to be in the pandemic. Some real estate experts have called urban flight a myth, but Americans—particularly millennials—were already leaving crowded cities for the suburbs in the five years prior to the pandemic, according to the Urban Land Institute. Now the trend has accelerated. Housing inventory in the suburbs is shrinking faster than in urban areas, according to a report from realtor.com®. The Urban Land Institute refers to the current booming housing market as “the great American move,” which was ignited by the pandemic, creating a growing desire to live in lower-density areas and prop...

  Anybody who has ever set out to organize their home knows that the hard part is often what comes next: maintaining it. The unfortunate reality is that the Marie Kondos of the world are few and far between, which is why many people end up slipping back into their old disorganized ways after attempting big organizational changes. But that doesn't mean there's no hope. To figure out where most people go wrong when it comes to getting their home in shape, Apartment Therapy spoke with organizing expert Rachel Rosenthal , who recommends looking at organizing not as a weekend chore, but as a lifestyle change. ...

    The holiday season is here and you've set a gorgeous table . While everyone is always on their best behavior, mistakes happen. Glasses can spill, plates can be dropped, and candles can be left burning a little too long. Don't let these messes ruin your night. We reached out to the experts at the American Cleaning Institute to fix many of the stains you might encounter this holiday season. Red Wine Immediately: Soak or sponge stain in cool water; then use a dry paper towel to blot it dry. Afterward: Treat with a prewash stain remover (some are formulated ...

  Is there a home maintenance project that’s been lingering on your to-do list for too long because you’re dreading the trip to the hardware or craft store? There are some projects you can tackle with items that are almost certainly already in your home.  1. Vinegar: There’s probably a jug of vinegar in your pantry right now. You can soak items in vinegar to remove mineral deposits (like in a clogged showerhead), and you can boil vinegar in your microwave to remove odors and make it easier to clean.  2. Cola: A can of Coke or Pepsi can be used to clean many surfaces, including your glass windows, porcelain toilet, or chrome fixtures. Just do some research before using it on metal surfaces, as it can be corrosive.  3. Baking soda: This item may actually be more useful for applications other than baking. A baking soda-vinegar paste is great for cleaning bathrooms and kitchens. Baking soda can also be used to absorb odors.  4. Butter knife: Scr...

  As people rethink how they use their homes, some design trends that were popular in recent years are quickly fading. For example, the open layout is becoming less trendy as homeowners favor more privacy. Apartment Therapy recently asked designers to chime in on which home decorating trends they think will fall out of style in the new year. The open concept. Open floor plans have long been all the rage, but as more people hunker down at home, they want more walls for greater privacy. “This past year, we’ve been confined to our homes for work, play, and relaxation, and people have learned it’s tough for a home to play so many different roles with no physical division of space,” Mary Catherine Murray and Amanda Khouri, co-owners of Murray Khouri Interior Design, told Apartment Therapy. “If your workspace is also your relaxation space and your cooking space, you might find it difficult to shift from one mindset to the next.” More designers are using...

  When you’re getting ready to list your home, it’s of the upmost importance to ensure you are showing it in the best light. Taking time to highlight its strengths and fix up some of its possible weaknesses can make a big difference in how fast it sells. Here are our top four recommended repairs to make before selling your home. Repaint walls. Giving your home a fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce it up, and generally, it can be a do-it-yourself project. Make sure cover any walls with scratches and chips and consider updating any accent walls with a more neutral coat. Repair floors. Hardwood floors are a very desirable feature in a home, so you want to ensure they look their best by fixing scratches or dull areas. If your carpet is worn or stained, consider replacing them. And don’t forget the tile in your kitchen or bathrooms. Re-grouting can go a long way in making dingy tile work look brand new! Refresh the landscaping. ...

  The start of the year is a great time to review your finances. As 2021 gets ready to start  - hopefully better than 2020 - it is an ideal time to take a look at all of your bills. As the past year cruised by you may have added cell phone plans, changed cable and internet subscriptions, and signed up for trial offers (which automatically turned into pay subscriptions). It is a good habit to look at your bills and inspect them for ways to save money. Call your services or check online and see if you can take advantage of new promotional offers or remove services that you are no longer using. Common bills to find new savings on are cell phones, cable TV, internet service, home phone, streaming video services, and any other online subscriptions you may have.