I was working with an agent who was selling a house that was full of antiques. The client was down-sizing so the obvious question was, "What do we do with all of them?" The homeowner's daughter wanted to take pictures of the items and post them on eBay but I figured this might be a topic worth investigating. I searched my yellow pages and was luck enough to get a gentleman who has been in the antique business for 30+ years. He said that given the current economy, they have become very particular about what they purchase. Bottom line, you can reach out to local antique dealers and if you know what you have, you give them a list. If it's interesting enough, they'll come out to you and see what you have. He also said that you can email all of the antique dealers with pictures of what you h... 01/04/2010

From recycled glass tile, bamboo flooring, textiles, low VOC paints, cleaning products, to home design products, the trend towards green design seems to be growing due to consumer's heightened consciousness of the importance of using items that are good for our environment. Using recycled items is also gaining interest among interior design clients.   There are varying degrees of "green," also called eco-friendly design, but in general a product must be made from a renewable material that was grown organically with minimally impact to the environment; the manufacturing process must not cause pollution.  Green products may be recyclable, hypoallergenic, and biodegradable, and some may even save energy (such as energy star appliances and energy efficient light bulbs). If you were to ask t... 01/03/2010

I just finished this bathroom redesign and I'm really happy with the results! This is a new townhouse so the walls were white and I painted them a light creamy gold. There's no natural light here so the wall color was really important. I purchased coordinating accessories and bathroom furniture that was originally white! The client wanted the furniture, so I painted it a rich deep purple which was the color of the piping in the bath towels. I picked up a more regal mirror and finished it off with a picture I found and here are the before and after photos. I'd love to hear your comments! Need me to redesign anything for you??? 11/12/2009

After 23 years in the banking business, and a salary that my husband says was too good to walk away from, I decided to start my staging & redesign business. I know, I know, you're sitting there thinking what does banking and design have to do with each other? Well I am one of those people that says, "Give me food and drink, and I'll be there!" I've been helping family and friends for over 20 years with home improvement projects. I found as my days in banking got increasingly stressful, (I did work for Citibank!), having a home improvement project to do, gave me an outlet for my stress! So here I am and the passion for work that was missing from my life has returned! Thanks to the support of my wonderful husband Tony, I have been able to take on this new venture and I have never been hap... 11/12/2009

Kate's Home Staging and Redesignis offering a new service to all of their clients. In addition to home staging, vacant home staging, interior redesign, color consultations, custom wood signs and molding, amazing vendor discounts, and organization services, Kate's Home Staging and Redesign is now offering Full Digital Styling Servicesto sell your home quickly. In other words, we will bring in the accessories, we will stage your home, we will re-take all the digital pictures, and then we will load these pictures into a virtual show to help sell your home.  The virtual show is being offered to all our clients FREE of CHARGE to help SELL your home.  Yes, you did read that right. FREE VIRTUAL SHOWS WITH HOME STAGING SERVICES! Once Kate's Home Staging and Redesign is finished cropping and wor... 10/04/2009

NAHB The Voice of the Housing Industry. Remodelers and builders who do renovation or remodeling projects in homes built before 1978 must soon comply with new lead paint safety requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Any company doing work in these homes must be certified, follow specific work practices and keep detailed records.  At least one employee in these companies must be trained in these new requirements by April 2010. Check the website NAHB for more resources to help its members comply with the new lead paint rule.  NAHB is the premier source for information on the home building industry. On the Resources link, you can gain access to a collection of home building information. Browse by clicking through the various topics or narrow in on the article, subject... 08/12/2009

Rockland County Real Estate LLC:  Let us be your Rockland resource.  Feel free to email me with any real estate concerns.  No matter how big, small, simple or complex, I would be happy to help.       I don't like making predictions about the market but I will comment on what I have noticed these last few weeks. All of a sudden most of the properties I have recently shown  have multiple offers pending.  It may be because its summer, it may be due to the 8000 tax credit or dare I say may be the market is turning...   Nanuet Home Sales:  July 2009 Address BED BATH SQFT DOM OLP$ LIST $ Sold Price 2 DORIS DR 4 3    133 674,900 599,900 595,000 34 STURBRIDGE CT 4 2.1 1788 7 419,900 419,900 421,000 11 RINNE RD 2 2 1702 196 499,000 425,000 384,250 1 FOXCROFT DR 4 2 1638 315 470,000 399,900 375,0... 08/06/2009

THE HAMLETS OF NANUET MARKET REPORT Jan - June 2009 Market Update (updated on July 30.09) Visit my website Rockland County Real Estate. Angela Chan is a top Rockland County Realtor and award winner. __________________________________________________________It's wonderful to live in Rockland CountyIt's wonderful to visit Rockland CountyIt's wonderful to invest in Rockland County Real Estate Call A Top Rockland Realtor Today! Angela Fish Chan, Rockland Realtor Rockland County Real Estate145 Main StreetNanuet, New York 1094 ~ (845) 624-3900 Rockland County Real Estate ~ "specializing in Nanuet" and, of course, selling and marketing all over Rockland County       07/31/2009

Marketing" a home means different things to different people. There are many real estate agents that believe all that's needed to market a home is to put it into the MLS. In a ridiculously strong seller's market that may have been true. But the market has slowed, and marketing a home is becoming a critical factor to successful selling.Any agent can put SOMETHING into the MLS. But more and more buyers are accessing the MLS via Internet, 77% of home buyers use the Internet to search for a Home. That means an agent needs to put the RIGHT information and pictures into the MLS and use that information to help market the property. Too many real estate agents miss the opportunity to market to savvy buyers viewing listings on the Internet. Remember your listings competes with other homes for sa... 07/24/2009

Pricing -- it's the single most important factor in selling your listing. And let's be blunt here; it doesn't matter what they (client)  think the home is worth. What matters is what the BUYER thinks the home is worth! With the Internet most buyers are educated buyers, and a dedicated buyers agent would do a CMA for their buyers, buyers could go online and get the value of the home they are interested in.Doing a professionally prepared Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is the critical step in pricing the home. A CMA is what professional appraisers and real estate agents develop in order to determine the MARKET VALUE of the home. Because home values appreciate over time, the CMA maximizes listing prices by looking at Past Sales (TT) / Under Contract (UC) / Present Listing (Active) and Fu... 07/24/2009

You can significantly influence the selling price of your house by preparing it and your property before putting it on the market! Here are suggestions to improve a buyer's first impression of your home. Review the checklist now, before every open house showing, and before photos are taken. Check to see exactly what the camera will see. By all means, look carefully at walls, floors and ceilings for signs or wear, marks or need for repainting or wallpapering. And, don't forget to look at trim, including doors and windows. GENERAL:o Remove clutter, papers, unnecessary itemso Replace burned-out bulbs throughout the houseo Remove cobwebs from ceilings, cornerso Remove paint splash on tile, floor, cabinetso Wash, polish all door hardware, handrailso Reorganize, clean out all closetso Replace... 07/24/2009

Sellers should know that there are certain factors that are within our (Realtors) control and some factors beyond our control when it comes to setting the price. Those factors within our control are: the appearance of the property, how aggressively we market the property and the price. Factors outside our control are: location of property, size and local amenities. It's important to accept those factors that are beyond our control and focus on the pricing and preparation. A property priced at market value will attract more buyers than a home priced above market value. Consider that a competitively priced property will also attract a greater number of potential buyers and increase your opportunity for a quick sale. Please visit my website at www.anthonystokespereira.com For assistance wi... 07/24/2009

    For homeowners aiming to sell their home and buy another, it's the classic real estate question - buy or sell first? If you sell first, you may find yourself under a tight deadline to find another house, or be forced in temporary quarters. If you buy first, you may be saddled with two mortgage payments for at least a couple months. You may need the money from the sale of your original home in order to pre-qualify for a loan for your new home. You may be facing a job relocation and need to sell quickly. There are many variables involved; there is no universal correct answer. It basically comes down to your specific circumstances.If you already own a home, you're probably struggling with this basic question: what do I do first, buy the home that I want or sell my existing home? And t... 07/24/2009

Enlisting the help of a Financial Services before you begin your search will make your journey a more pleasant one and will help you secure a mortgage and help you make credit decision before you shop for your home. An approval will take the mystery out of what you can afford, and will certainly give the prospective seller more confidence in you. When multiple buyers are bidding on the same house, a mortgage credit approval can be the deciding factor in whose offer gets accepted. Using basic information such as your income, debt, assets, and employment history, a Financial Services Manager is generally able to get you a credit decision within minutes. The Credit Approval Guarantee will specify the actual loan amount, as well as the loan type and term. Visit my website: www.anthonystokes... 07/24/2009

As yiur Real Estate Agent I will help you think through all of these issues so you can determine what is the best offer on your dream home. Visit my website http://www.anthonystokespereira.com/ "What's involved in making an offer?" When you have found the house that meets most of your needs and dreams, you'll probably find yourself getting emotionally involved. You may imagine moving your furniture in, planting flowers, and envisioning your first big holiday party. But try not to get too attached prematurely. There are a number of steps you must take before you're holding the keys in your hand, and you need to think clearly and objectively at this point so that the offer you make is a realistic one. What Should I Offer? That is the Question. There are a number of factors that will affec... 07/24/2009

  Benefits of Owning Your Own Home. Buying a home can be one of your most significant investments in your life. Not only are you choosing your dwelling place, and the place in which you will bring up your family, you are most likely investing a large portion of your assets into this venture. The more prepared you are at the outset, the less overwhelming and chaotic the buying process will be. My goal is to provide you with detailed information to assist you in making an intelligent and informed decision. As a fairly general rule, homes appreciate about five percent a year. Some years will be more, some less. The figure will vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, and region to region. Of course, you will be making mortgage payments and paying property taxes, along with a couple of other... 07/18/2009

  The Rent vs. Buy Decision The decision to rent vs. buy is a very personal one. There are many sound reasons to purchase a home: equity build-up, tax savings, capital gain when you sell, and the enjoyment of ownership. The purchase of a home requires a cash investment and taking on debt. Naturally you must have saved enough cash, be able to make future payments, and also have enough time and resources to maintain your home. The cash investment is applied toward your down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items. Some of these items are not easily recouped if you should sell the home you buy in the short term. Buyers need to consider how long they will own the property before selling. If you intend to occupy the property for a short period of time, then the financial benefits of owning... 07/18/2009

    Home Buyers Guide  - Starting The Home Buying Process Your home is probably the biggest purchase your family will ever make, and it involves many decisions that go beyond simply choosing a home you like. As a Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty professional, my experience and expertise can help make your home buying a less stressful process. - You will have full access to ALL homes available on the market, and my expert local knowledge of the Hudson Valley area should be invaluable to you, not just in terms of real estate, but also schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more. As a buyer, it costs you nothing to hire me Anthony Stokes-Pereira as your Real Estate professional to help you find and purchase a home-- I am paid from the commission the seller pays to his Realtor, ... 07/18/2009

Nothing is more exciting to me than the gratifying feeling I get from helping my clients meet their real estate needs. You can count on me to always do what's in your best interest. I pride myself on being honest, trustworthy, and knowledgeable in the real estate market. I know how important it is to find your dream home or get the best offer for your property. Therefore I will make it my responsibility to help you achieve those goals. I am fully committed to providing you with a noticeably higher level of service at all times while demonstrating knowledge, friendliness and professionalism throughout the transaction. The blending of my experience and strength of Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty assures you the competitive edge in today's real estate market. My pledge to you is to us... 07/18/2009

Rockland County Real Estate LLC:  Let us be your Rockland resource.  Feel free to email me with any real estate concerns.  No matter how big, small, simple or complex, I would be happy to help!     Nanuet Single Family Home Sales:  June 2009 Address BED BATH SQFT DOM OLP$ LIST $ Sold Price 6 BLUE HERON RD 5 2.2 3490 129 749,900 749,900 693,000 5 S LEXOW AV 3 2.1 2524 81 575,000 549,900 536,400 113 HIGHVIEW AV 3 2.1 1888 88 519,900 499,900 476,000 10 amarillo DR 4 2 2700 10 479,900 479,900 475,000 26 VAN NOSTRAND AV 4 3.1 2300 95 489,000 489,000 450,000 180 N MIDDLETOWN RD 3 2 1845 271 530,000 449,900 435,000 18 PIGEON HILL RD 3 1.1    3 389,900 389,900 389,900 21 PALMER AV 4 3 2305 58 389,000 389,000 370,000 6 S LEXOW AV 3 1 0 54 389,875 389,875 369,000       Nanuet Condo Sales:  June 2... 07/14/2009