New Home Trends You Should Know About in 2015

Is your home ready for the New Year, inside and out? As we get closer to the end of December, many of us begin to crave some sort of change or daydream about making a fresh start.

You'd be surprised how much better you'll feel after transforming your surroundings into a fresh new look. If you're planning on selling your home, it's especially important that you keep it in tip-top shape and stay up to speed with new, popular home trends. You may even attract new home buyers!

An Enthusiastic Color Palette Forecast for 2015

At the beginning of every year, manufacturers and designers announce a new palette of paint color picks that they feature and highlight throughout the coming months. Just like New Year’s resolutions, the new color schemes give us a chance to rethink and refresh our spaces.
So far, the big announcement of the year is from Pantone, the company that leads the design industry with a standardized color matching system that’s used in everything from printing to fabrics to paints. Make the most of them in your own home by thinking like a designer (and we’re not just talking about a fresh coat of paint). Combine and complement your design by bringing color matching in with fabrics, carpet and upholstery.

Know Your Prospect. Build Your Business.

Today, marketers know more and more about their target audiences. They’ve become increasingly proficient in securing information via big data collection and we’ve helped them all along the way by sharing more of our habits through social media, apps, preferences, etc. While some may cite privacy concerns, it could be argued that the better the marketing community knows you, the better they can serve you through advertising and offers that are more closely aligned with your wants and needs. And, conversely, you are presented with fewer ads for things in which you have no interest.
As a real estate professional or small business owner, you may not have big data at your fingertips, but chances are, the profile of your prospective buyer or seller is right there in your head. As I’ve coached agents in designing their marketing campaigns over the years, I’ve found that defining the prospective client very specifically is the first step in a successful and profitable campaign. As you plan, start with these questions.

Minor Winter Repairs Equal Major Savings

According to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Saver Guide, the typical U.S. family spends at least $2,200 per year on home utility bills, and heating and cooling accounts for the biggest portion - approximately 48 percent. The DOE says that those bills could be reduced by up to 25 percent by taking steps to efficiently manage those systems. Make these minor repairs for major savings this winter:

Selling Your Home? Make A Little Color Go A Long Way.

When it comes to preparing your home to sell, color is probably one of the most important aspects. As you re-decorate certain rooms throughout your house, use color to your home's advantage. You'll attract new buyers and make the best possible first impression during a tour. A little color really CAN go a long way!

With uncertainty over mortgage rates

With uncertainty over mortgage rates growing and new Fannie- and Freddie-backed programs rolling out this year, those seeking to buy a home will continue to contend with changing standards. If you're planning to become a homeowner, take these steps before borrowing.