Buying a home is a big decision and can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the process:
- Determine your budget: Before you start looking at homes, it’s important to know how much you can afford to spend. This will help narrow down your options and ensure that you’re looking at properties that are within your price range. Keep in mind that your budget should not only include the purchase price of the home, but also closing costs, moving expenses, and any renovations or repairs that may be needed.
- Get pre-approved for a mortgage: It’s a good idea to get pre-approved for a mortgage before you start looking at homes. This will give you a clear idea of how much you can borrow and can make you a more competitive buyer when you’re ready to make an offer.
- Find a real estate agent: Working with a real estate agent (like me!) can be helpful for first-time home buyers. They can provide guidance and support throughout the process, from finding homes that meet your needs and budget to negotiating the purchase price.
- Do your research: It’s important to do your due diligence before making a purchase. This includes researching the neighborhood, the school district, and the local real estate market. You should also get a home inspection to identify any potential issues with the property.
- Make a solid offer: Once you’ve found a home you love, it’s time to make an offer. Your real estate agent can help you determine a fair price based on comparable homes in the area. Be prepared to negotiate and have a backup plan in case your offer is rejected.
Buying a home is a big step, but with a little preparation and the right support, it can be a smooth and rewarding process.
Living by Design….Lets get Organized
Organizing your home can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can transform your cluttered space into a tidy and efficient home. In this blog post, we’ll explore some practical ways to organize your home and create a more relaxing and stress-free living…
Living by Design….Creating Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is crucial when it comes to creating a warm and welcoming home. Not only does it make a great first impression for guests and visitors, but it can also increase your home’s value and make it more attractive to potential buyers. Whether you’re preparing your home for sale or just looking to spruce…
Living by Design….2023 Design Trends
As we enter 2023, there are many exciting interior design trends to look out for. From new color palettes to innovative materials, these trends are sure to make your space feel fresh and inviting. Here are some of the top interior design trends for 2023: Overall, 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting year…
Local Town Spotlight with Stacey Donadio!
Styling during Social Distancing
April 2020
Sitting at home practicing social distancing….who would have ever thought this would be our new “normal”?! Thank goodness it’s temporary! So now that you’re stuck in your home maybe you have found yourself noticing some things that you would like to change….or perhaps just refresh? I have put together a few “easy” updates we can do while we stay socially distant to help update our homes and hopefully uplift our spirits!
PAINT. Such an easy way to update, refresh or even dramatically change a space. Call ahead to your local hardware store and ask them to mix you a few gallons of paint. Have them put together everything you will need. Our local store put together a box with rollers, painter’s tape, brushes and mixed the paint. I paid over the phone and they brought the box out to my husband! Easy-peasy AND supporting a local business in the process! Not sure of the paint color you want? Call ahead and ask the paint department to pull some swatches for you in the color family you are interested in. Companies such as Benjamin Moore, Pratt & Lambert and Farrow & Ball will mail swatches directly to you. Colors I am LOVING right now: Dark Navy Blues!! Hale Navy from Benjamin Moore is always a favorite. Hague Blue from Farrow & Ball is pricey- but BM will color match it! Benjamin Moore’s Hunter Green is so gorgeous and provides just the right amount of moody drama to a space (we just did a wall in our dining room). White Dove is a personal favorite for spaces where you really want the furniture to take center stage. Tired of your white walls? Try painting your ceiling a dark color like Wrought Iron, Midnight or Hale Navy. If you follow me on IG you know I LOVE this trend and will be implementing it in our Master Bedroom. My next post will detail all the ways I am torturing my husband with projects 😉
Rearrange some furniture. A fun way to change up a space and it’s FREE! Swap the location of your sofa with your arm chairs. Move around some floor lamps. Change out the photos in your picture frames with new ones. If you have children consider having them create some quarantine art and frame it- or create some of your own! Adding some new accessories to spaces is also a great way to change things up. Several local businesses are offering virtual shopping with either curbside pick up or local delivery ( I will link them at the end of this post).
It’s Spring! In this time of self -quarantine getting outdoors has never been more important. Now that Spring has arrived, many of us find ourselves with more free time than we know what to do with. This is a great time to focus on improving the curb appeal of our homes. A great place to start is with our garden beds. Put those kids to work clearing out the remnants of winter and prepare for spring planting. Call your local nursery and arrange for a fresh mulch delivery. Most nursery’s are offering curbside pick up for flats of flowers, potting soil and all gardening essentials. This is a great way to get everyone outdoors, focus on the good and support our local businesses.
I hope this post finds everyone well and that it’s given you a few easy ideas to keep you motivated and focusing on something that will make you happy. Be well.
Consider supporting these local businesses.
http://www.monmouthbuildingcenter.com http://www.nestforeveryone.com http://www.shopcurrant.com http://www.ryserslandscapesupply.com http://www.coastaldecoranddesign.com http://www.citybarncountrypenthouse.com
5 TIMELESS INTERIOR DESIGN ELEMENTS
March 2020
White Kitchens Ahhh…the highly sought after WHITE KITCHEN! What is not to love?! It’s light and bright- and most of all, a white kitchen suits any style. Not feeling the “all white” vibe? Not a problem! Break it up with a base cabinet in a darker hue. Perhaps black or even better…the super trendy ultra dark navy that you have been seeing EVERYWHERE. I personally love an all white kitchen anchored by an island in a bold dark color or a rich walnut stain. Changing the look of your all white kitchen is as simple as swapping out your hardware. Think of it as jewelry for your cabinetry.
Neutral Walls You can never go wrong with a neutral palette. Your walls should provide the backdrop to your space. You are looking for a color that will compliment, not compete with your design. A good greige, warm white or simple grey are all great choices when choosing a timeless wall color, and will pair nicely with any design style.
Antique Elements I have a deep love of antiques. Not in the sense that my home is filled with them- quite the opposite actually. More in the sense that I love antique elements in spaces- especially in a more modern space. A pair of antique French doors leading to your master closet. A 150 year old beam from a barn hanging above your kitchen sink ( a personal favorite in my home). Your Great Grandmother’s china. A beautiful wingback chair….it makes my heart happy.
Black A truly timeless and versatile shade. While studying design in college a professor lectured on the importance of black in a space. “Every well designed space includes at least one black element.” This of course was his opinion, but I couldn’t agree more. I find that black anchors a space. It adds a bit of drama and definition. Something as simple as a black gallery frame on a beautiful piece of art makes all the difference.
Hardwood Floors I think this goes without saying, but we do need to give hardwood floors the respect they deserve….and hopefully never repeat the dark times when we covered them in SHAG CARPET. Dark times indeed. Hardwood floors will always be a highly sought after element in a home. As a Realtor I know that when I show a home- or list one without wood floors it is going to be a major issue. We are always asking “Are there wood floors under here?”. Wood floors are so important to people that we have tile that looks like wood! You can never go wrong with this timeless element of design.
A Design and Lifestyle Blog
I hope you enjoyed my debut blog post. My intention is to keep them short, sweet and hopefully a bit inspirational. If there are any topics you wish for me to explore please send me a message 🙂
“Styles come and go. Good design is a language, not a style.” — Massimo Vignelli, Italian designer
Realtor Stacey Donadio 