Monday, November 16, 2015

Most Memorable Christmas . . .

Usually when we think about our most memorable Christmas it is the anticipation of a gift or an event that happened in our Christmas past. The anticipation of waiting for that perfect gift made it even sweeter than when Christmas morning arrived. Are we waiting in anticipation this Christmas . . . The people of God waited through the ages for His promise to be fulfilled . . . thousands of years went by in anticipation for the birth of the Messiah - Annointed One. In order for people to recognize the Messiah, God in his infinite wisdom prepared them by providing hundreds of prophets to reveal what was to come. The Lord masterfully orchestrated history in order to fulfill His word to His people. Christmas is gloriously undeniable evidence that, no matter how long the delay, God always keeps His promises. God said to David "Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever." 2 Samuel 7;16 Did David understand what was to come from his lineage. Gabriel said to Mary "You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end." Luke 1:31-33 Kind of gives you goosebumps. Christmas is unmistakable evidence that you can take heart even in the most impossible situation because God always fulfills His promises. The Lord has never failed any of those who trusted Him. We can rest in the truth that God is faithful and will accomplish all He has said He would do . . . if only we will wait on God. "Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord" Psalm 27;14 As we wait for the Christmas season to approach and we start to prepare, let our hearts trust God completely and allow Him to fill our Christmas wish with a most memorable Christmas.

Monday, October 12, 2015

10 Simple Techniques For Staging Your Home on a Shoe String Budget

Making the decision to stage your home and going all out to make it looks its best can make an enormous impact on your sales price and number of days on the market. The good news is, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to make it work. Here, our best staging tips on a shoe string budget – many of which are DIY! traditional multi-level home with pristine landscaping 1. Got Curb Appeal? Your home could look gorgeous on the inside but if the outside doesn’t match, you can lose the interest of serious drive-by buyers scouting your area. Give your front yard landscaping some extra TLC- keep grass cut, bushes trimmed and clear away any lawn debris. For a spot of color, plant some flowers. Check your mailbox and house numbers to see if they need cleaning or replacing. If you aren’t planning on exterior painting, wash the stucco or siding to brighten things up. 2. Cut Through The Clutter Home on the smaller side? Instantly make it appear more spacious by removing any clutter, including photos and any odds and ends that are simply taking up space or detracting. Your home will look larger and newer in no time. a neat and tidy brightly-lit modern living room enhanced with colorful flower arrangements 3. Spring Cleaning Any Time of Year It’s time for a deep cleaning session. If you’re not a fan- you may want to hire a professional for this one, but it’s not necessary. You won’t want to miss cleaning the furniture if it needs it. Windows and grout are other essentials that if left untouched can blemish an otherwise spotless presentation. 4. Dip Into Some Fresh Paint Color Speaking of cleaning, nothing can make your home look brighter and smell fresher quite as quickly as some new paint. Choose a trendy yet neutral color. For added curb appeal, consider painting your front door while you’ve got those brushes handy. Don’t forget to catch the kids’ rooms with a great neutral as well. open concept foyer with traditional architectural accents and centerpiece bouquet 5. Musical Chairs Most of us can stand to cut back on the amount of furniture in our homes. Look for your home’s great focal points, such as views and fireplaces and remove or rearrange any furniture that gets in the way. If you’ve got any clunky, large pieces that aren’t in the best of shape, it may be time to donate or store them away. Instant light and bright! 6. Fine Tune the Details Light fixtures and cabinet hardware are small details that can either add or detract from bathrooms and kitchens (both strong selling points for buyers). Replace them if they look old or outdated or simply give them a good cleaning if they are still current. rendering of a modern living room with vaulted ceiling and bold accent colors 7. Replay with Purpose Make sure each room presents a well-defined usage. If your spare bedroom looks like half bedroom, half office, choose one or the other functionality and go with it. Consider putting up tent cards that suggest the multiple uses of any one room. 8. Soft Touches So far you’ve spent very little! Purchasing a few new home ware items, such as accent pillows and matching bathroom towels can set things on-trend at a small cost. Not to mention, pops of color can really set off your new neutral paint tones. a de-cluttered kitchen table setting with a bouquet of tulips artistically displayed in a pitcher 9. Get Creative Need towel storage? How about using the wine rack? Dining room table looking bare? A mirror with a few candles and decorative stones makes a quick and elegant centerpiece. Tablecloths can double as drapery panels too! Always look at your own inventory before spending more than you have to. 10. Indulge the Senses You’re almost there! On Open House days or before an appointment heads your way, consider playing soft music, lighting some vanilla or cinnamon scented candles and setting the table. Fresh flowers are always a nice touch. Welcome prospective buyers home!