How To Brighten And Transform A Space

With so many people spending more time in their homes due to Covid, the way you live in your space has definitely changed From parents working at home to children being homeschooled rooms have become much more multi-purpose. We thought it might be good to discuss: How lighting can transform your space so you are not in the dark.

When you start on a home project, how do you begin to think about lighting?

Lighting is one of the first items to look at for a new home. Get the furniture flow and plan developed, then look at what areas to highlight, meaning to light really well. It’s good to have some shadowy areas, or negative space, as it helps to control how people navigate through a home and its use. Next, look at each room, how will it be used, and what the mix of task and ambient lighting should be used. Once chandeliers are installed, then think about adding some of the “star” or special fixtures. Consider where they need to serve as the exclamation point for a room. Always use dimmers on all chandeliers and recessed cans, so that in different times of day and evening the light can be controlled. In addition use 3000k bulbs for recessed cans as it gives off the closest to natural lighting within a space.

When do you use natural lighting?

Whenever possible. When I walk into a house and see plantation shutters blocking light, the first thing I do is recommend taking them out. Mother Nature knows her stuff when it comes to lighting. I let her take the lead and we support from there.

Let’s walk thru the house…. For the entryway, what is important to know when you determine what is needed? When do you use chandeliers vs recessed lighting?

I typically use a mixture of both. In large homes, the entry and the foyers tend to be large have a lot of depth. This is the perfect place for a mixture of lighting. A fantastic chandelier that sets the stage for the feel of the home, coupled with recessed lighting and typically a lamp on the entry console.

On a foyer console should you use singles or pairs? Why?

Both can be used as It depends on how large the space is and how large the console is.

Sometimes balance and symmetry are key for the proportion.

In the dining room, should the ceiling lighting be making a statement, or should it blend into space? We’ve heard that in dining rooms that you need to have appropriate night lighting.

Is that true?

Ceiling lighting it the star in the space. Do take into account the amount of light needed for evening vs day time. Everything is on a dimmer for easy control. The lighting you would want for a dinner party is different from that in a cocktail party with a buffet set up on the dining table. For the ceiling lights, do use recessed cans to blend into the ceiling allowing the chandelier to be the statement for space.

Living Rooms have more than one seating area do you combine, floor, recessed, table lights.

On end tables do you use lamps? When are sconces important to use?

Remember a lot of activities can happen in a living room. It is all about the blend of lighting and options for how multi seating is being used. There are times that sconces above a fireplace work well, but not often. It does tend to limit the size of art if you go that way. You can use a table or task lighting by couches on end tables and recessed cans to direct other lighting as well.

Do you try to use lighting to create shadows and moods? How do you layer lighting?

Absolutely. It is one of the first things we work on within a home. Shadows within a space help control how the eye moves through space. Think of how your eye moves across a billboard advertisement. It is very controlled by the layout. The way you light a room is very similar. It is to think not only about the space within the room but how do you want people to move through it as well.

How do you use ambient lighting?

It’s used to create mood and a feeling within a space. And again, all on dimmers.

Do you ever use the new “shadow dancing” type of lighting that casts patterns and creates an atmosphere in space?

I have used this type of lighting for years in chandeliers or better yet, sconces in a formal powder room. It helps turn add drama to a little jewel box of spaces.

Lampshades are there any advice on when to use vs. not?

I rarely use chandeliers. But do use on sconces.

With everyone working from home, there are more areas in the house now be used to work both professionally and school. Let’s discuss what is good task lighting.

One of the most important things is the temperature of the bulbs. Use a 60 watt so that it isn’t too bright and distorts coloration.

Bedside or reading lights. Do you add reading lights to the beds? How high should the light be vs. nightstand?

Mount them between 24-30” above the nightstand depending upon the nightstand height and ceiling height. I love reading lights for the direct light it gives without having to light an entire room in the evening.

Tish Mills Kirk of Tish Mills Interiors, a preferred vendor of The Meridian Real Estate Group, is an award-winning interior designer who has been working with clients in their homes for more than two decades. She believes that it is essential to put together a cohesive plan for your home renovation before you get started that can be carried out by the team of experts you assemble. www.harmoniousliving.net

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Images & Details, Inc.
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Photos provided by Chris Little.

How to (Practically) Guarantee Your Home Has a Bidding War in 7 Steps

Atlanta’s 2020 residential real estate market perseveres as one of the most vibrant and competitive in the nation due to tight inventory and historically low interest rates. Savvy sellers are taking advantage of this time and getting more for their homes than ever before. But not all homes will enter into a coveted bidding war. Price, condition and marketing are the primary factors in how fast and for how much a home sells for. We offer the following tips that have proven to be effective and within most seller’s control.

Assure it’s as ‘move in ready’ as possible. What does this mean? Well, basically this entails checking off as many items on the ‘honey do’ list you have probably procrastinated on for years. Fix leaks, squeaks and creaks and anything else which will be one less item a new buyer has to worry about or negotiate in the offer.
Spend some money. The last home we moved out of was practically my dream home by the time we pulled out of the driveway the final time. We had painted the interior, replaced the carpeting and installed upgraded countertops and a tile backsplash. And although it cost time and money completing those items, it was well worth it as we had multiple offers within days. Plus there are now concierge type services that will actually pay for renovations upfront and you pay them back when the home closes. Check out www.curbio.com for details.
Clean and de-clutter. There is nothing that is more of a turn off to a prospective buyer than a dirty and overcrowded home. The eyes will immediately be drawn to dust bunnies, carpet stains and Hummel figurines. Either knock this out yourself or hire a professional cleaning and/or de-cluttering service. As precious as your family photos are, take them down. Love collecting knick- knacks from all your exotic travels? Time to put them in storage. Remove as many items as you can from countertops and organize your closets, cabinets and drawers as they will likely be opened in showings to gage the space. The cleaner and more spacious your entire home feels, the better.
Stage the home. This not only involves furnishings but also other elements that subconsciously play into the decision making. The first home I ever bought was a cute ranch that needed a lot of work. But my first impression was one of peace and joy. Why? The owner was baking bread. Brilliant!! I fell in love. The second time we came out there was no bread baking and I definitely felt less enthused, though we still bought it. Burn a candle in a glass jar if you will only be gone for a short time in between showings. Or use a plug in with a seasonal or vanilla scent. As far as the furnishings go, you may need to store some items along with your knick-knacks mentioned above. Minimalism is your ultimate goal and if you don’t know where to begin, hire a professional stager. They can either work with what you already have, or bring in some of their own furnishings and decorations. This will make a huge difference in how your home shows.
Curb appeal. First impressions are critical in this market. Paint your front door, replace your doorknob if it needs updating, and don’t overlook a simple doorbell replacement if your old one is cracked. Remove all the screens on the front of your home (store them in the garage or attic) and pressure wash the windows. Add some inviting color to the front either with seasonal flower beds or potted plants. And if your welcome mat is faded or dirty, by all means replace it. This is probably one of the cheapest upgrades you can do that has the highest return on value.
Price it competitively. Research the homes that are comparable to yours in the same or surrounding neighborhoods that have sold within the last 3 months or less. Compare the condition, upgrades, lot, etc. to determine a starting list price. A real estate agent familiar with the market can be invaluable here as there can be some tricky adding and subtracting for different features per comparison. If you price it too high, not only will there not be a bidding war but it might not appraise and then you may be forced to either lower it or refund the buyer’s earnest money and start all over again. Homes that sit on the market for too long or go off the market and then come back on can carry the stigma that something may be wrong with them. Price it too low and you could be leaving money on the table. Priced just right AND you’ve done all the aforementioned work to make it ‘move in ready’? That leads us to the last step…
Put it on the market later in the week, on a Thursday or Friday as most showings happen over the weekend. You should have professional looking pictures showcasing all your hard work entered into a listing service as well as a glowing description of your home with the price and any terms you wish included. If you are using a local Realtor, this means FMLS and GAMLS (First Multiple Listing Service and Georgia Multiple Listing Service), and as soon as your home is ‘live’ on the market other real estate agents and their clients will know about it in real time. If you choose to list your home For Sale By Owner, be aware oftentimes services such as Zillow lag behind sometimes by days. In today’s Atlanta real estate market, if an agent knows they have a ‘move in ready’ home, they may include in the listing remarks something to the effect of ‘Offers will be accepted by Monday at 9am. Bring highest and best!’

And then it gets fun! After many showings over a short period of time, you are likely to enter into a multiple bid scenario for your home and then you will have the enviable job of deciding which offer works best for you. Sometimes it may be an all cash offer for the listed sales price with no appraisal contingency, or other times it may be a conventional loan offer for over asking price and the buyers waive the due diligence period. Whatever you choose, congratulations and job well done…you have sold your home faster than most people can imagine!

By Holly A. Morris, Realtor

The Meridian Real Estate Group

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Changes in Amenities Coming to Luxury Real Estate as a Result of the Coronavirus

“Here are some great insights about some of the changes in amenities coming to Luxury real estate as a result of the CoronaVirus Pandemic we found in an article written by Dima Williams titled “Coronavirus Pandemic Prompts Developers to Rethink the Future of Homes”

“Homes would probably grow in square footage, a result of a new crop of shoppers currently cooped up and seeking additional space to unfurl all aspects of their lives—work, children and socialization—in their residences…

In the five luxury houses that make up Case, a Malibu community Mr. Gillen is preparing for a 2021 debut, he is “adding freezers in the garage and much more storage for dry goods, whether that be more first-aid kits or masks or medical supplies…

While most developers concur that layouts are likely to expand, there seems to be disagreement whether the contemporary open-floor plan would emerge unchanged from the pandemic. Some see it as a means to promote air circulation and, thus, minimize viral contamination. Others say that flowing layouts eschew the privacy that families might desire in order to carry out disparate obligations such as school work, conference calls and meal preparation.

Regardless of the level of room separation a post-pandemic lifestyle might call for, air and water purification systems, generous kitchens and comfortable home offices are already arising as must-haves.

“I believe we will see people designing new homes now incorporating areas such as libraries or studies where they can go and get work done, or engage in video conferencing,” said Roderick Anderson, CEO and design director of Costa Rica-based boutique firm SARCO Architects. “Previously, owners just wanted time away from everything and to relax.”

With that comes the requirement for high-speed internet at home, which also supports a deeper integration of technology into daily life. Because of the coronavirus, smart homes would probably get even smarter with voice-enabled and face-recognizing applications that control not only appliances but the availability of amenities and package-delivery schedules.

South Florida-based development firm Shoma Group is already integrating “next generation” technology in its projects through a partnership with ButterflyMX, a smart intercom company that caters to both residents and property managers.”

“Everything is keyless, and you are able to control everything with your phone,” said Shoma Chief Marketing Officer Stephanie Shojaee. “You don’t have to touch everything as often as you used to.”

In a post-pandemic world, though, the nature of amenities would likely change as well. “Amenity spaces will be fundamentally altered, encouraging more elbow room,” said Dan Kodsi, developer of PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter.

Gyms, for example, would spread out and bundle together disparate types of equipment—as opposed to the current approach of clustering the same machines nearby—for semi-private workout sessions.

Some amenity areas, such as exclusive clubs, could take to balconies, where patrons would be able to physically distance with less fear of infection in the open air. Private parks, where residents can escape the confines of their homes, may also become a sought-after perk of new developments.

Some wellness amenities could retreat from the common spaces and into private abodes so that owners can avoid close contact with others but retain access to conveniences. In Kohanaiki, an exclusive club community on Hawaii’s Big Island, Chuck Cary, vice president of sales and marketing, is already assisting home buyers who wish to bring more amenities into their residences. One client is adding a cold plunge spa, Mr. Cary said.

“They’re putting that in their house now so that if [shared amenities] get shut down during these types of times, they want to make sure that they’ve got that in their house as well,” Mr. Cary said.

Whether they are in shared spaces or individual homes, the materials with which developers cloak their projects are also changing in light of a virus that has proven to linger on surfaces. “You are going to see closed-pore wood finishes,” said Mark Mantione, CEO North America of German luxury interior design company metrica. “You’re going to see a lot more metal finishes that have low microbe growth.”

Because home buyers would be able to add even more upgrades to their units in order to create a design that enhances health and comfort, Mr. Kingston anticipates prices to rise. “When dealing with sophisticated buyers, there is a layer of customizations to address specific demands,” he said. “We are inserting another layer on top of that [in response to the coronavirus]. It would not have an impact across the board but just to the clients who elect to upgrade”

Shared amenities fortified against the virus, though, are unlikely to further inflate price. “We are already dealing with the best-in-class amenities, features and facilities,” Mr. Kingston said. “Any change is really incremental at this level of luxury.”

Nonetheless, as new developments often take several years to materialize, some of the coronavirus effects on homes could be slow to emerge. Others that sound appealing today may fade as the country regenerates its social fabric.

“We’re not designing for tomorrow; we are designing for three years from now,” Mr. Defortuna said. “We need to be very careful on what is appreciated today versus what will continue to be appreciated in the future.”

Thank you www.mansionglobal.com for this article. For the whole article, Click Here.

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Agents in the Know: What Do Buyers Want Most in a Home? Best New Home Features of 2020

Here are some excerpts taken from a Better Homes and Garden real estate blog written on July 13th, 2020 entitled, Agents in the Know: What Do Buyers Want Most in a Home? Best New Home Features of 2020.

These are the best new home features for 2020, and the products and amenities you should keep an eye out for when viewing properties…

Walk-In Master Bedroom Closets

The walk-in master bedroom closet is one of the most sought-after new-home features this year. Ranked in the top five of essential amenities for a new residence, the walk-in master closet offers more space and storage flexibility, with the ability to easily organize clothes, shoes, jewelry, luggage and more in one convenient area. Homes that have walk-in master bedroom closets are generally easier to sell when buyers need to move, a big plus down the road.

Stainless Steel Appliances

Buyers are picky when it comes to their appliance’s colors and features. Stainless steel beats out black and white for refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, microwaves and range hoods. While there isn’t a consensus on kitchen cabinet colors among home buyers, stainless steel appliances that go with any type of decor are where it is at among trends for new-home kitchens.

Open Floor Plans

Open floor plans are not new, but they are very ‘now.” These expansive and airy spaces provide a visual connection between the kitchen, dining area and family room, bringing people together and keeping interiors looking bigger and cleaner. Open floor plans are ideal for entertaining and they offer a casual atmosphere that is perfect for today’s buyer who wants comfort above almost all.

Bringing the Outdoors In

Entertainment today is not confined to inside the home. Outdoor spaces that double as places to relax, dine and socialize are a must among new-home buyers. Your clients will likely desire houses that offer a seamless transition from indoors to out, with areas in both spaces for comfortable and functional design elements like plush sofas and large dining tables.

Hideaway Spaces

Finding privacy to work is essential for buyers with home businesses. Laundry areas that can be out-of-sight when company comes over are ideal. Hideaway spaces to section off desks, unsightly appliances and other parts of the home that the homeowner does not want to be used as the main living area will be must-haves in new houses throughout 2020.

Buyers are also partial to having features like high-tech lighting, large windows, marble countertops and floors, modern architectural elements, spa-like bathrooms, and any feature that gives them the ability to customize a home in their own way…

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Tips for Staging a Home to Sell

Anyone who has sold a home before knows just how important staging is to the selling process. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2019 Home Staging report, 83% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for buyers to visualize the property as a future home. When people are looking for a home, they are looking for new beginnings and a fresh start. Here are some tips on how to show buyers your homes’ true potential with home staging.

Stage where It Counts

Home staging can turn around a sale that was otherwise slow to sell. For the biggest impact, it’s best to stage before your listing photos are taken. This brings in more buyers from online listings photos since your home looks like something from a catalog. The NAR Home Staging report states that the living room, kitchen, master bedroom, and dining room are the most common rooms that sellers stage. Similarly, buyers thought staging the living room, followed by the master bedroom, then the kitchen were the most important when viewing a listing. Both buyers and sellers felt the guest bedroom should be last on the priority list. It’s important to find the right balance between cleanliness and looking lived in to help buyers imagine that they could live there; an experienced realtor will know just the right touch to apply.

Go Neutral

If your home is filled with bright colors, patterns, or designs on the walls, you may want to consider re-painting to create a new space that is neutral for buyers. Stick with sophisticated neutral and earth-tone colors to appeal to the widest audience possible. Even though buyers may want bright colors themselves, a neutral home provides more flexibility to change it (or not). Re-painting can give new life to a room that can make it feel bigger and brighter.

Walls aren’t the only aspect of the home that can serve as a distraction to home buyers. Keep the kitchen and bathrooms clean and clear of too many appliances or products on the counter. If you have any bold or colorful bedding, try replacing with a neutral fluffy comforter with pillows to create a new comfortable space that a buyer can see themselves in. When selling your home, it’s important to keep your own style out of it. Remember that buyers may investigate the nooks and crannies of your home that you overlooked, so be prepared and clear out overcrowded closet spaces and junk drawers. And speaking of “junk” …

Declutter

Although every room may not need professional staging, it’s still a good idea to have every room deep-cleaned from top to bottom. Even the cleanest of houses can benefit from a little organization. You want buyers to focus on the abundance of space, not the collection of clutter. Creating this new space helps buyers see that they will have room to grow. The key to home staging is to show off your home’s space, not your personal belongings. So, try to put yourself in the shoes of a buyer and walk through your home to see what you can put in storage or out of the way. Part of the decluttering process should include removing family photos, religious or political symbols, and other personal items from view; these types of items can distract potential buyers. Buyers also love to see a home with natural light, so be sure to open the blinds and push back heavy draperies to reveal the natural light your home provides. You can also replace any outdated light fixtures and add lamps to any dark areas in the home.

Outside Spaces

Buyers polled for the NAR Home Staging report placed more importance on staging the yard and outside space than the bathroom, children or guest bedrooms. Even if you are selling a property with limited yard space, you can always make a good first impression with a decorated front door. Pools, fire pits, outside kitchens, and patios should be thoroughly cleaned and maintained for the appropriate season. Eliminate dog signs, kids’ toys, branches, and leaves from the property. It also may be a good idea to power wash your home’s siding and walkways, wash the windows, and hang easy to read house numbers if you haven’t done so already. Adding a hammock or sitting area to your otherwise barren outdoor space can help buyers visualize themselves relaxing on the porch or in the backyard. The goal is to impress buyers with your curb appeal and make visitors feel invited and welcome to your home.

By our Preferred Vendor, Choice Home Warranty.

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Fall Home Maintenance Guide

Fall is finally here, which means winter is right around the corner. In the colder parts of the country, those winter months can reap costly damage if homeowners aren’t prepared. Below are some tips on fall home maintenance you should focus on this season.

1. Trees, Shrubs, & Garden

Falling tree limbs could be a major hazard in the winter, and fall is the perfect time to address them. A professional tree service will be able to examine the trees on your property for signs of failing health to help prevent tree loss, and prune correctly to avoid any branches falling off. Take extra care with any limbs that are growing close to the roof or power lines.

In the northern regions, fall is actually a great time to fertilize and reseed the lawn. Although the grass may appear to stop growing this time of year, its roots are actually growing deeper into the ground to prepare for the snowy months. Now is also a good time to prune any shrubs; after the leaves turn, a careful pruning will encourage healthy growth. When you’re finished, make sure to clean off your gardening tools before putting them in storage for winter.

2. Leaves

The changing leaves are synonymous with autumn, and can look beautiful covering the lawn. However, if not taken care of before the snow, those leaves can prevent growth in the spring. When large layers of leave get wet, then can become compact and suffocate the lawn beneath. This also facilitates an environment ripe for infestation and germs. By making sure to regularly rake the lawn, particularly before any snowfalls, you can help keep your lawn healthy for spring.

To make the job as easy as possible, put on some gardening gloves to protect your hands, use a lightweight rake, and scoop the piles into bags. However, you could also consider putting those leaves to good use in your garden. Leaves are rich in nutrients, and can be used for composting, insulating your garden, and enriching your soil. Just make sure to shred the leaves first. A leaf shredder will be most efficient, but a lawn mower will achieve the same results.

3. Gutters

All those leaves coming down can also clog your gutters and downspouts if left unchecked. When it rains, or the snow melts, clogged gutters will cause the water to pool which can cause damage to your siding or roof. It can also create ice dams To prevent this, make sure to regularly clean them out during the fall months. The drainage areas should be completely unblocked by leaves, twigs, or other debris.

For the roof, you’ll probably need to break out a ladder. Use extreme caution when doing this, or hire a professional if you’re unsure. And to save yourself headaches in the future, consider installing some gutter guards to prevent clogging.

4. Safety

Those of you that live in seasonally cold regions know how dangerous it can be just to walk to your front door when it’s icy out. To prepare, make a point in the fall to look for wobbly railings or loose stairs, and refasten or replace anything that doesn’t feel sturdy. Also take a look at your driveway and walkways- smooth surfaces make for much easier shoveling, so repair any cracks or consider repaving if needed.

If you’ve never checked for radon, fall is a good time to do so. As the weather gets colder, you’re more likely to keep the windows and doors shut more often- and trap radon in, which is very harmful at high levels. While you’re at it, test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace any batteries as needed. Finally, if you own a wood-burning fireplace, be sure to inspect and clean it before the cold weather sets in to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and chimney fires.

5. Plumbing

An commonly known but easily forgotten rule is to shut off the water to your exterior faucets before temperatures drop below freezing and the pipes freeze and burst. In case the pipes do freeze, make sure you know where your shut-off valve is located. Any hoses should not only be drained, but also stored indoors before the winter- leaving them attached could cause water to back up in the pipes and freeze.

If you have an irrigation system, this will also need to be drained. Irrigation lines, even if buried, can freeze in the winter and leave you with busted pipes and sprinklers. The process to drain the system will differ depending on whether it is a manual or automatic valve, so research carefully.

6. Insulate

According to Energy.Gov, between 25% to 30% of residential heating use is due to heat loss through windows. To save on energy this winter, weatherstripping is an easy, low-cost solution. Apply the stripping around windows and doorframes to seal the heat inside. Door sweeps can also help along the bottoms of drafty doors. For additional energy saving, grab some exterior caulk and take a trip around the exterior of the home to seal any cracks between the trim and siding.

Next, journey up to the attic to make sure the insulation is still in order. If installed correctly, the vapor barrier should be facing down; if it’s facing up, it will trap moisture and cause water damage. Also, make sure the insulation isn’t covering any vents, which could cause ice dams on the roof.

7. HVAC

If you have window air conditioning units, fall is the time to take those down. If that’s not possible, use an insulating wrap to cover the exterior of the unit to prevent drafts. For central units, it’s not necessary to wrap the entire unit for the winter- doing so can actually cause condensation, which could corrode the unit. However, it is smart to place a piece of plywood on top of the unit for protection from falling icicles in the winter.

Now for your furnace or heating system. Make sure to replace the filters before you start using it regularly. This is something homeowners should do every 2-3 months regardless, but if you’re behind on the maintenance, now is the time. The system should also be inspected and cleaned by a licensed HVAC technician- this is important to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, and ensure peak performance through the winter.

By our Preferred Vendor, Choice Home Warranty.

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Halloween Isn’t Canceled! Here’s How To Celebrate the Holiday Without Getting—or Spreading—COVID-19

In a year full of canceled vacations, socially distant celebrations, and postponed events, we’re all desperate to hold on to any festivity and sense of normalcy we can get our hands on—including Halloween.

The tradition of going door to door for candy or inching your way through a haunted house is a sketchy proposition in a pandemic world. But if the idea of sacrificing Halloween altogether this year is just too spooky to endure, we talked with health experts about ways you can celebrate while keeping a safe distance from others and minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. We’re here to save Halloween, folks!

But just because you can’t do Halloween the same way this year doesn’t mean you have to forgo your favorite activities. Take haunted houses, for example: An indoor haunted house would be a real nightmare during a pandemic. But with a little creativity, you can still enjoy the experience.

“I’ve heard of groups putting together drive-through haunted house experiences, which seems like a fun but safe way to get into the Halloween spirit,” says Dr.Jean Moorjani, a pediatrician at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

And let’s face it: Halloween wouldn’t be the same without candy. But trick-or-treating is tough to pull off without making contact with the neighbors. One solution? Give your Halloween candy the Easter egg treatment.

“You may choose to skip trick-or-treating completely and do a scavenger hunt with your children to find Halloween-themed items as they walk through the neighborhood looking at the decorations from a distance,” says Dr. Kavita Shanker-Patel, a family medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. “A socially distanced Halloween costume parade is also another fun way to help kids enjoy the holiday.”

Get creative about doling out candy

Trick-or-treating inherently comes with some risk of spreading the virus; any activity where social distancing is hard to maintain presents a moderate risk, Shanker-Patel says.

If your neighborhood is intent on keeping the trick-or-treat spirit alive this year, you’ll need to rethink the traditional method of handing out candy from your doorstep.

You might be tempted to leave a bowl of candy in front of the house so kids can help themselves, but this isn’t a good idea either—it just creates a free-for-all for germs to spread.

“I don’t recommend leaving candy in a bowl where many hands will come into contact with it,” Moorjani says. “I’ve heard of people creating ‘candy chutes’ where they slide treats to trick-or-treaters in a contactless, but fun way.”

Another candy bowl alternative is to spread out pieces of candy on a table (or in individually wrapped goodie bags), Shanker-Patel says. “As the children walk by, they can pick them up on their own.”

No matter how you dole out the sweet stuff, it’s important for all treats to be individually wrapped or sealed. Don’t forget to thoroughly wash or sanitize your hands before handling treats.

If you go trick-or-treating, plan your route

As you traverse the neighborhood, avoid gathering in large groups or making contact with anyone outside of your household. You may need to zigzag across the street more often than usual, or set up parameters in your neighborhood to limit trick-or-treating routes. For example, if you have an even-numbered address, maybe you trick-or-treat only on the even side of the street.

Homeowners can also do their part by clearly marking what a safe distance looks like.

“It may be helpful to draw markings along the sidewalk and driveway indicating 6-feet distance,” Shanker-Patel says.

And don’t leave home without this year’s hottest Halloween accessories: a bottle of hand sanitizer and a mask that covers your mouth and nose.

Mask up (costume masks don’t count)

Speaking of masks, you can’t rely on a mask that’s part of your costume to do the job of keeping you and others safe.

“A Halloween costume mask does not suffice, unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face,” Shanker-Patel says.

Encourage proper hygiene before kids chow down

Resist the temptation to start snacking on your candy before you get home. This year, you’ll want to be extra careful before diving into your hard-earned loot.

“Right now, we don’t have any research or data that would suggest that kids need to wait a certain amount of time before eating candy,” Moorjani says, but “we still encourage proper hand hygiene for everyone before consuming Halloween candy and treats. And just like any year, don’t let your children consume candy that is not properly wrapped or sealed.”

Embrace new traditions

Sure, it’s going to be a little different from last year, but that doesn’t mean Halloween is canceled.

“Families have the opportunity to create new Halloween traditions,” Moorjani says. “Kids can still dress up in costumes at home, they can watch family Halloween movies together, and they can create Halloween-themed treats or arts and crafts.”

And remember: Outdoor activities like hayrides and pumpkin patches might still be open in your area, but that doesn’t mean they’re 100% safe.

“As always, limiting exposure to others is the most effective way of containing the spread of this disease, so if you don’t have to do these things, then we recommend you don’t,” Shanker-Patel says.

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How To Crush It As A Buyer In A Seller’s Market

I’ve held a real estate license for 20 years and have never faced such a competitive seller’s market as the one in North Metro Atlanta right now due to the combination of historically low interest rates and tight inventory. We are seeing time and again ‘A+’ to ‘B+’ homes going under contract in as little as 1-3 days. If you’re okay with a fixer upper or a home that is not considered ‘move in ready’, you have more flexibility. If not, these tips are for you.

We tell all our buyers to put their game face on and get ready to be QUICK and AGGRESSIVE. This market is not for the timid and frankly I have had to up my game as well. I like to take my time and analyze a decision thoroughly before making a move. Nope, not in this market. Act first, think later (don’t worry, there are safety nets). When you see a home come on the market you really like, call your agent immediately. You should be set up on a search that allows you to see homes become active in real time…if you’re on Zillow you’re behind the curve. A good agent will give you access to the same search engine Realtors use.

Schedule a tour of the home asap, same day if possible. If you don’t move to see an ‘A’ property quickly, your agent will need to call to make sure the home isn’t already under contract when your schedule opens up.

Testimony: Our client sent me her list of 10 homes she wanted to see and I noticed some of them were showing as active for longer than 3 days. Since sometimes agents don’t immediately update the listing sites, I knew to call and confirm. 8 out of 10 were already under contract and the remaining 2 were ‘C’ properties. Moving forward she knew to act quickly and we found the perfect home for her and her family a couple weeks later.

Therein lies the ‘quick’ part of my recommendation. Next comes the ‘aggressive’ part which may be a little challenging for some. When an ‘A’ property meeting your criteria comes on the market (even more so for the rare ‘A+’ unicorn home), you decide to make an offer. Great! How much over asking price are you willing to go, because a bidding war is about to begin.

Testimony: Our clients put in 2 separate offers on’ A’ homes and increased their price by $5,000 each over asking price, however both times stronger offers came in from other buyers. The third home was the charm, more of a B+ property so they didn’t need to be as aggressive. A client we started working with today asked me to check on an ‘A+’ unicorn home. It already had 9 offers submitted, one which was 10% over asking price and still wasn’t the winning offer. This market can be brutal!!

Unfortunately, some buyers experience regret losing their first choice in a home. Keep in mind every $1,000 added to your mortgage on a $300,000 home is only going to increase your monthly payment by approximately $7 (confirm the exact amount with your lender). Ask yourself if your first choice isn’t worth $35 more per month (less than the cost of a gas station coffee per day)?

Here come the safety nets, a couple tricks of the trade that can make this decision easier. The first is the appraisal. Don’t worry about buying a home for more than it is worth because that is the appraiser’s job. If the home doesn’t appraise, the seller will have the option to lower the price (assuming you don’t agree to pay over the appraisal price) or they can refund your earnest money and hope an all cash offer comes in. In our experience, most sellers lower the price of the home to match the appraised value because they want a quicker close.

Another means to aid you in a bidding war is something my husband (Tony Morris, the founder of The Meridian Real Estate Group) isn’t thrilled I’m about to share as not all agents employ this. You can add an ‘escalation clause’ to the contract. In effect it states that you are willing to increase your original offer by a set amount to surpass any other bona fide written offers up to a designated cap sales price (eg your original offer is $350,000 and you include an escalation clause to increase by $1,000 over the highest offer, up to and not to exceed $360,000). You can rest assured that the other offer will be bona fide as a Realtor would risk losing their license if they lied. Real estate law is quite serious when it comes to shenanigans by shady agents.

And the ultimate quick and aggressive move? Putting a competitive offer in on a home before you have toured it. Most contracts have due diligence periods which essentially states that you have a set amount of time to make sure the home is right for you. This ranges from 7-14 days and allows you to have all inspections completed and to get any estimates from contractors on work you might want done after closing. If at any point during that window you decide the home isn’t right for you, for ANY reason, you can walk away and get your earnest money back. The earnest money you put down doesn’t have to be physically turned in until 2-3 days after the binding agreement date as well. This means if you are unable to view the home as soon as it comes on the market and you and your Realtor recognize it is an ‘A’ property, you can still be a contender as the future owner.

Now that you know tools to wield in order to crush this seller’s market, make sure your real estate agent is as aggressive and motivated as you are or your efforts may not be enough.

The ‘A+’ unicorn home I mentioned that went under contract yesterday? The buyer was using Zillow as her search engine and the agent she was using didn’t return her phone calls in a timely manner. Now she’s with us, and GAME ON!!!

Good luck and happy hunting!

By Holly A. Morris, Realtor

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Third Quarter Results Show Mixed Results for Atlanta’s Commercial Real Estate Market

Metro Atlanta added approximately 24,200 new jobs in August according to the most recent jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Currently, Atlanta has added back nearly 60% of the jobs lost during the initial pandemic shutdown. Local job gains have been largely reflective of the spread of the virus in the area with a slow down in jobs added during June and July when Georgia became a national hotspot for the virus.

Now, with cases declining, job growth is once again picking up. The trade, transportation, and utilities sectors posted the strongest gains in August while leisure and hospitality continue to struggle. The impact of these job numbers are resulting in notable trends within the commercial real estate industry in Atlanta. The Atlanta multifamily market has improved recently while the office sector is starting to show the effects of the pandemic. The industrial market has been the bright spot and retail has struggled in Atlanta as well as nationwide.

Industrial

Atlanta’s industrial market continues to be a bright spot in the Atlanta commercial real estate market with vacancy rates declining from the previous quarter and demand outpacing supply. Leasing activity was strong during the summer months as tenants showed confidence in signing new deals for added industrial space. Major move-ins are expected in the fourth quarter which should help to hold off supply side pressure.

Multifamily

Atlanta’s multifamily market has proven resilient so far in the midst of the pandemic and all key indicators showed growth in the third quarter. Leasing activity has picked up over the last few months helping to increase rents in more affordable suburban locations. And while the high-end urban market is struggling to maintain rents the metro market as a whole is outperforming the national benchmark for rent growth.

Office

Wework’s CEO recently promoted the new trend of hub-and-spoke office systems and is now opening another center in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur. CEO Sandeep Mathrani said a hub-and-spoke office plan with a central headquarters and multiple locations would promote high levels of productivity and innovation which has been challenging since people started working from home in high numbers since the start of the pandemic.

“You want a hub for collaboration purposes, but you need a spoke system for where people live,” said Mathrani.

Errol Williams, vice president of WeWork’s Atlantic region, said, “We were drawn to Decatur’s dynamic environment from day one, and we look forward to providing the city’s purpose-driven workforce with flexible workspace solutions that will allow companies to pivot and grow with ease.”

Retail

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted Georgia’s retail sector more than any other type of commercial real estate. An expected wave of permanent retail closures will continue to have a negative impact in the coming months. Georgia has not seen the current level of vacancies since the second quarter of 2011 when the economy was still recovering from the Great Recession and currently the forecasts for the immediate future show many more negative months for this downturn.

We Can Help

Whether you’re looking to lease, buy, or sell commercial property, now is still the time to do it in Atlanta. The Meridian Real Estate Group has been assisting commercial clients for well over a decade and would love the privilege of earning your business. Our goal is not just to help our clients with a transaction, but to support the building of financial legacies through real estate. Call us today at 678-631-1723 or visit us online at www.themeridianway.com. We look forward to serving you.

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What to Expect in the New Office Ownership Landscape

Cushman & Wakefield’s recently released Global Office Impact Study & Recovery Timing Report has some fascinating conclusions on how the office space market may evolve over the coming years. According to the report, vacancy will reach an apex in Q2 2022 with rents bottoming out slightly before then in Q1. Cushman & Wakefield expects both vacancies and rents to return to their pre-outbreak levels by 2025.

While this is hardly the end of the office world as we know it, such a prolonged period of price depression and heightened vacancy will require new approaches and strategies from office landlords and managers alike. Many of these new strategies can be seen in our Commercial Building Manager’s 2021 Budget Priority Report. For instance, most managers expect to take a more conservative stance with their properties in 2021, focusing on cutting costs and keeping occupancy up, versus making substantial upgrades or big investments.

We may see this perspective last quite some time. PropTech investment has been high for a long time, but over the next half-decade, it may be those companies and services that help property owners defend their market positions rather than those promising the next, coolest thing that sticks around longest.

Propmodo September, 29th, 2020

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An Interior Designer Guide on What You Need to Know Before you Renovate

1) Don’t skimp when picking your team.

You need to put a full team in place. This means the designer, architect and builder/contractor. Get the team together early in the process so that everyone can work together. This allows for continuity and better workflow. Also, you’ll want to check the experience level of the key team members and be sure they are as qualified as you need them to be. Additionally, see if the team has worked together previously? Finally, investigate and find out how much construction experience the designer has.

2) Always expect the unexpected.

No matter how much planning there is in place, something always happens that isn’t expected during a renovation. Be open to changes. You never know what is lurking behind the walls!

3) Selections.

If at all possible, make all the material selections before starting. The more preplanning you do, the more efficient everyone can be. Order early, as soon as the true measurements are taken by the professional. There is nothing worse than a project stopping while waiting on materials to arrive.

4) Budget.

Always allow for a 20% surprise fund. Something unexpected will happen along the way. It is better to have the funds set aside than have to scramble to find them during the project.

5) Will you stay or will you go.

In the early planning process, decide how long you plan to stay in this residence. It will drive timeless vs trendy selections.

6) Plan with the end in mind.

Definitely think about how you use a home. Where you are in your life is very important. Things to consider are whether you are planning a family, near-empty nesting, working from home or needing to renovate for your elder parents who are coming to live with you. Do you use a formal dining room? Need a library or study area, etc.?

7) Initial Time Investment.

Really spend some time with the architect and designer. This is a relationship business. Their job is to get in your head and interpret what the homeowner wants but may not be able to truly communicate or create.

8) Ongoing Collaborations.

Construction meetings are a must with the team and homeowners. That way nothing falls through the cracks. And the builder/contractor is never waiting for a decision. Renovations are a process and the more you act like a team the better the results.

Tish Mills Kirk of Tish Mills Interiors, a preferred vendor of The Meridian Real Estate Group, is an award-winning interior designer who has been working with clients on their homes for more than two decades. She believes that it is essential to put together a cohesive plan for your home renovation before you get started that can be carried out by the team of experts you assemble. www.harmoniousliving.net

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Photos provided by Chris Little.

Air Filters And MERV Ratings

Air moving through most any building has to pass through an air filter. Most air filters will capture larger particles. Some filters catch the smaller particles, but not all. Your air filter alone can improve the quality of the air you breathe. The MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating of a filter tells you a lot about how well it’s going to filter your air. The higher the MERV rating, the more it filters your air.

Homes, commercial buildings, and hospitals generally have MERV 16 and below filters. Operating rooms and anywhere that requires a completely sterile environment use MERV 17-20.

Your first thought maybe that you want a filter with the highest possible MERV rating, but that’s not always the best answer. Furnaces and air handlers have a recommended MERV rating, however, HVAC systems are only built to handle a certain amount of airflow resistance. The higher the MERV rating, the more difficult it becomes to push air through the filter.

Air Quality

Utilizing a filter with the highest MERV rating that your system is rated for will improve your air quality. Beyond that, an air cleaner, an air purifier or a UV light will help you achieve your air quality goals. Room air purifiers are a good start, but a whole-house air purification system will work a lot better than anything free-standing.

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