gmhTODAY 06 gmhToday Jan Feb 2016 | Page 66

Preparing for a busy Spring Real Estate Market 2015 has brought prices back near the level they were before the big drop. Sales have been strong and steady all year with the percentage of list price to sale price hovering around 98% to over 100%. Many cash buyers with a quick close of escrow also were prominent in the market all year. Inventory remains low with more buyers than inventory in most cases. Predictions are for a very strong and robust market January through the spring. A rise in the interest rates usually gets buyers that are on the fence to move quicker on their purchase. If you are considering a move this year, getting your home ready is very important in attaining the maximum value for your home. Kids bedrooms and play areas can be a simple fix with- out breaking the budget. Improving the landscape, kitchen, and bath- rooms is extremely important, it helps immensely when the children’s rooms are appealing to the children and adults. Here are some simple ideas that kids will love and help them want to keep their room neat and tidy. It is possible to equip and decorate a child’s room using more imagination than money. Here are a few suggestions: Paint is an inexpensive way to turn a child’s room into a trendy space and in a few years it can be changed to a new trend as the child grows. Add pops of color from your color scheme with throw pillows, rugs and decorative touches. Use trendy but not too bright of colors. Think twice before deciding on a specifi c theme for a movie or character. Kids lose interest quickly and then it has no appeal anymore. You can use inexpensive items from those interest such as pictures and collages without going overboard. Garage sales are a good source for well priced items and a coat of paint can make it look new and is not costly. For larger items such as the furniture search the internet for used items that can be painted to a trend they like. The older child may be able to help in the creating. This is the ultimate form of recycling and a great way to get the look you want for little cash. Adding shelves and bookcases add a way for a child to create ever changing displays and refl ect his new interests. Adding window boxes with prize possessions or sports team memorabilia keeps the child’s interest and the room neat. A chair or reading area creates warmth and a place of their own. With some creativity and resourcefulness you and your children can create personal spaces that they will love and can be changed or updated without spending a fortune. Buyers will also be drawn to the area when it is not to specific on a theme or gender for the use by their own child. Have fun and get the kids to engage in the transformation so they will want to keep it neat while you live there or when you put your home on the market. Teri Nelson, Realtor Intero Real Estate Services 408.425.5200 BRE#00858151