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First thing first, reduce the amount of furniture in all rooms. Excessive furniture can make rooms appear smaller than they are. You may need to rent a storage unit for your extra furniture. Tip: if you have hardwood floors, taking furniture away will definitely show them off!! If necessary, strategically place area rugs. Next, once rooms are less cluttered, look to the walls and determine whether a fresh coat of paint is needed. Tip: choose neutrals and lighter colors to make rooms appear larger.

Once you have done these changes, the worst is over. Simply arrange furniture into conversation clusters and try to avoid pushing everything against the walls. Doing this and making use of mirrors can also make rooms look much bigger. Don't forget closet space, buyers do look here! Tip: reduce closet contents by half, they will appear to have larger capacity. Light is also an important part of showing the home. Make sure all lights are switched on and replace bulbs with high wattage light bulbs. Tip: throw open blinds and curtains and let in as much light as possible, natural  light helps rooms appear larger and fresh. Lastly, make beds, clean carpets, hide any exposed cords and you are ready to roll!

Check out what our REALTORS have to say:

Bobbie Reeves: Normal 0 false false false EN–US X–NONE X–NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Clean, neat, uncluttered, beds made. Blinds and drapes open for natural light. lamps on. Windows clean. Arrange furniture for good flow. Clean and neat closets. No dirty clothes/hampers, or shoes lying around. Fresh smelling.

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For a living room:

Make sure to depersonalize the space by removing family photos – especially if there is a large one over the fireplace; a vase of fresh flowers in a living room always helps the home look fresh and formal.

Some tips for a bedroom:

Hide your laundry basket; clear off most everything from your dresser and nightstand to make a clean, crisp look; if you have animals that sleep in your room, make sure to slide their bed under yours before a showing. Lastly, minimize the clothes and shoes in your closet by packing away any clothes you no longer wear and packing away any off season items. 

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Stephen Ogletree:

1) Everything (no matter how small) should look like it was placed there.

2) Flat surfaces (tables, mantles etc.) should have no more than three items. This gives that neat, staged look buyers enjoy.

Tune in tomorrow as we delve into the hearth of it! AKA: Staging the Kitchen.

Typically, the curb appeal of a house attracts buyers. When your home goes on the market, it is critical to look at it from an outside perspective. Take a drive through your neighborhood. Does your home catch your eye? Hopefully, the house lures you in like a fish on a line.              

First of all, make your home easy to find! Your mailbox should be clean with all numbers intact. At this point, stroll down your driveway as if it is your first time. Allow your eye to scan the property from top to bottom. From roof shingles to shutters, make sure all are intact and clean. If your house could use a shower, power washing is a great option. Tip: To remove years of dirt and grime, you can rent power washers by the hour from your local home improvement store. This step alone could be a major enhancement to the exterior by brightening the house and giving it a fresh face.

Next, make sure your lawn and garden are trimmed and free of anything that would not be there naturally. This means that yard work tools, children's toys, garden gnomes and bug traps should all be removed. Tip: Lindsay Monger from Harrisonburg Property Pros recommends, "anything smaller than a football should be taken away." Also, any lawn ornaments or holiday decorations should be removed, no matter the time of year.

Lastly, walk the entryway to your home. Is it inviting? Is there a path leading to your front door? If not, create one! A stepping stone path is quick, simple, and can give character where there was none. Tip: Curved paths build more interest and entice people to walk it. The front door is the final frontier of the exterior facelift. A bright new coat of paint can really spruce up the entryway. Tip: Take off the storm door and get new hardware to make your front door shine.

Overall, preparing your home to look like a house to sell starts with the exterior. Review the list below to see if you need to add any to your to–do list.

   –mailbox/house number visible

   –roof shingles in good shape

   –house exterior washed

   –yard clear and trimmed

   –entryway walkable and inviting

   –front door attractive and bright

Check in tomorrow to find out amazing tips on staging your living rooms and bedrooms!!

First impressions say a lot about someone. Shined shoes and a good handshake can usually reveal character  attributes on a deeper level.  Similarly, the way a house looks the first time a buyer sees it tells them plenty about how previous owners took care of it. This is why prepping your home to sell is a critical part in the marketing process.

Most likely, before touring in person, buyers will have only seen photos of your home on flyers, taken the virtual tour online, and driven by in slow–motion a few times. As anticipation builds, buyers' interest hinges on the showing. Is your home ready?

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Over the next week, our blog will be focusing on tips and information on staging your home to sell! Although staging may seem like a chore, it may be easier than you think. So before you hire a professional stager, consider trying out some of these tricks that can save you time and money in the long run!!

This comes at no surprise given the steady increase in home sales since January. Locally, these findings are being supported. Monthly contracts have been increasing more consistently this year than in years past�

Considering these updates, as the market improves it also gains strength from consumer confidence. Although the market may not be fully recovered just yet, it is clear REALTORS and homebuyers in Virginia are feeling the uptick and regaining confidence.

Meet Nadine DeLuccia Barone!

Over the past two decades living in the Shenandoah Valley, Nadine has played an active role in the local real estate industry. She has built a strong reputation as a REALTOR since her licensing in 1993. Meanwhile, Nadine has won numerous awards for her achievements, most recently were the 2008 Code of Ethics Award and the 2000 REALTOR of the Year Award. Nadine has also been an engaged member of the Massanutten Association of Realtors serving as Treasurer, Secretary and Director and is still a serving member on committees of the Association. Her depth of experience in realty lends herself to be helpful in all aspects of real estate. She represents both sellers and buyers and does Property Management.

In her spare time, Nadine enjoys spending time with her family and has been an avid animal rescuer for many years. She has also worked with charities such as Quota International of Shenandoah County, National Humane Society, Humane Society of Shenandoah County, and Food for the Poor. 

Check out Nadine's website www.NadineBarone.com or contact her by email Nadine@cbfunkhouser.com, or by phone (540) 975–1875.

Meet Susan Phelan!

Susan has over 14 years of relocation experience moving Foreign Service Officers and Military Officers all over the globe. Her understanding of real estate goes beyond professional as well. As an officer's wife, she understands what it feels like to go through a move. Having sold and bought homes by herself while her husband was at sea, Susan has gained unparalleled experience which helps her better relate to her clients' needs.

She likes to find homes for first time buyers, retirees, investors and repeat home buyers. Susan would love to help you if you have any questions, you can best reach her by phone (540) 631–4073 or email her at susanp@shentel.net.You can also go online and visit her website www. sphelan.cbfunkhouser.com.

We are delighted to have Nadine and Susan join our team of qualified REALTORS in our Woodstock office. Their strong work ethic and expertise in the industry will certainly support Coldwell Banker Funkhouser Realtors in our mission to provide excellent service.

1. Recognize the role of the housing industry as a critical economic development engine within the Commonwealth by streamlining regulations, ensuring robust finance and construction sectors, promoting the development of workforce housing, reducing commute times between home and work, and increasing residential access to transportation systems, while furthering public understanding of housing finance and economic literacy.

2. Promote sustainable and vibrant communities through measures that promote mixed use development, increase energy efficiency and use of cost effective green building concepts, support the rehabilitation of substandard housing, clarify the role of community associations in common interest communities, and expand public–private cooperation in addressing affordable safe housing.

3. Ensure that a range of housing options can be provided to  meet the housing needs of a dynamic and changing population, achieve proper balance between homeownership and rental options, promote a continuum of quality housing options for special needs populations, match existing subsidies with areas of housing need, and increase the emphasis on fair housing (eliminating barriers to housing).

4. Increase capacity to address the needs of homeless Virginians by focusing on the reduction of chronic homelessness, ensuring the continued viability of the safety net of shelters and services, and investing in transitional and permanent supportive housing. 
   
   You can review the full policy online @ http://www.virginiahousingpolicy.com/ and make comments to be considered by the committee. 

HARRISONBURG – Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has announced his appointment of Harrisonburg REALTOR� Joe Funkhouser to the Virginia Real Estate Board.  Funkhouser is President and Owner of Coldwell Banker Funkhouser REALTORS�.

The Virginia Real Estate Board regulates businesses and individuals representing others in real property transactions.  The Board writes and enforces state real estate regulations as directed by the Code of Virginia.

"I'm honored to accept the Governor's appointment," said Funkhouser. "This board plays a vital role in governing the actions of real estate licensees, protecting the interests of the public and setting the professional standard in our industry.  Throughout my career, I have been passionate about Professional Standards of the real estate industry and serving the interests of clients and the public." 

Funkhouser will begin his four year term immediately.  He was previously appointed to this board by Governor Allen from 1995 to 2003 and served as Chairman for nearly seven years.  He has also served as President of the Virginia Association of REALTORS� and Vice President of the National Association of REALTORS�. 

"We applaud the Governor's appointment of REALTOR� Joe Funkhouser to the Real Estate Board," said Scott Brunner, CEO of the Virginia Association of REALTORS�. "He understands dual roles of the Real Estate Board in protecting consumers and serving the licensing needs of real estate practitioners, and he'll bring informed, experienced leadership and wisdom to his role in regulating Virginia real estate licensees."

About Joe Funkhouser

Joe entered the real estate business in 1972 after service in the US Military.  In 1975 he started what is now Coldwell Banker Funkhouser Realtors.  Joe has held leadership positions at the local, state and national levels within the real estate industry.  In 1995, Governor George Allen appointed Joe to the Virginia Real Estate Regulatory Board where he served two terms and was chairman 6 � of his eight years on the board.  Joe has served on the Executive Committee of the National Association of REALTORS� (the largest trade association in the United States), and its Board of Directors for over 20 years.  Recently, Joe was only the 69^th person to receive the highest honor given by the 1.2 million member NAR, the National Association of REALTORS� Distinguished Service Award. 

In 2010, Joe was appointed by Governor McDonnell to the Governor's Economic Development and Job Creation Commission.

Within the Harrisonburg community, Joe is serving on the Board of Directors at Rockingham Memorial Hospital and the JMU Board of Visitors.  He has also held positions on the Harrisonburg Electric Commission, Co–Chair of the RMH Capital Campaign, JMU Foundation Board, Rockingham Heritage Bank Board, RMH Foundation Board, JMU Executive Advisory Board to the College of Business and Chairman of the JMU Athletic Performance Center Campaign.  He is a recipient of the Multiple Sclerosis Silver Hope Award and the Harrisonburg–Rockingham Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year.

Coldwell Banker Funkhouser Realtors and Coldwell Banker Commercial Funkhouser Realtors serve the Shenandoah Valley with services in Residential and Commercial Brokerage, Residential and Commercial Property Management and Property Appraisal.  The company has 98 real estate licensees and locations in Harrisonburg and Woodstock.

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For the last two years, Joe Funkhouser, President of Coldwell Banker Funkhouser Realtors, has carefully analyzed the real estate industry in the new economy and came to one conclusion: today's real estate firm must be large enough to provide more tools and services to clients and associates.  Joe looked for opportunities to make this happen and began conversations with Philip Constable, broker and owner of Century 21 Real Estate Unlimited.  "I have always had great respect for Philip and the team of associates he built at Century 21," said Funkhouser. 

After being approached by Joe,  Philip Constable did his own research to see what local firms would be the best fit if he decided to merge his company.  "I talked with several Brokers and realized the firm which had the closest structure and business philosophy of ours was Coldwell Banker Funkhouser Realtors," said Constable. 

This business philosophy is founded on Integrity, Honesty, Professionalism and Knowledge. "Our company is founded on principles that we expect each associate to carry forward in our service to clients and customers," said Joe Funkhouser.  "I believe our business philosophy and the emphasis we put on equipping our associates with proven tools, education and management support is our advantage in today's market". 

The thought of a merger between the two firms began last year and was focused on how to provide better service to associates and clients, "Joe and I met many times over the last year to formulate a merger that would bring our two firms together under one roof and create not only the largest real estate firm in the region but also the most professionally trained associates and the firm with the best cutting edge technology in the industry," said Philip Constable who will now serve as Associate Broker and a Sales Manager of Coldwell Banker Funkhouser Realtors.

Some of the many tools available to associates include websites, virtual tours, social media, graphic design assistance, marketing consultants and a strong management team of industry leaders.  "Our company is here to support our associates.  Whether it is a question about building a successful marketing plan or the effects of new laws on our business,we are here to make our associates successful in helping clients," said Joe Funkhouser, who has served as Chairman of the Virginia Real Estate Board and Vice President of the National Association of REALTORS�.

Over the past 12 months, the combined companies have represented clients in the sale of 662 properties totaling $127,845,895 in sales volume.   The firm will now have 95 full service licensees, making it the largest real estate firm in the region.  "The size of our firm is a great advantage to our associates and our clients.  When someone chooses to work with our real estate firm they are not hiring just one of our associates, they are working with a team of real estate professionals dedicated to their real estate needs," said Funkhouser.

Along with its sister company, Coldwell Banker Commercial Funkhouser Realtors, Coldwell Banker Funkhouser Realtors provides services in Residential and Commercial Brokerage, Residential and Commercial Property Management, Farms and Land Brokerage and  Property Appraisal.  The company was founded in 1975 by Joe Funkhouser and currently has locations in Harrisonburg and Woodstock offering services in Augusta, Rockingham, Page & Shenandoah counties.

For more information about Coldwell Banker Funkhouser Realtors, visit www.cbfunkhouser.com or call (540) 434–2400.