Pam Oster - REALTOR

Spring is coming-have faith!

The winter thaw is here and even with the risk of a little more snow or ice, the worse should be behind us.

With Valentines Day approaching this weekend, thoughts of love is in the air- and also SPRING FEVER. Some of us head south for a little touch of warm weather and get inspired to get the warm weather wardrobe ready when we return. Others do the home wardrobe change.

The best way to welcome the season change is do a little home decor change. Add some fresh spring colors to your home. Go meek or wild. Done right, it will wear well right into the end of summer. Subtle changes are all you need. Fresh colors do not have to mean bright colors, either. And it can be done on a budget! No need to hire a personal decorator. And if you need that guidance, take an afternoon off (even a Sunday afternoon) and turn on HGTV or similar. It is not hard to find inspiration. Even an afternoon at Border's Books can add just enough super power to your confidence to try something different. There is so much potential for change, in every home. READ ON....

One of the easiest and fun season alterations is your window treatments. Retailers have so many design/print/color options available;many by famous designers at discount prices. Martha Stewart and Rachael Ashwell are just a few of my favorites. Retail competition has brought prices down to a range that you can afford to rotate your purchase selections every 6 months. Lightweight fabrics allow a easy breezy warm weather feel. Have some fabric laying around? A no-sew iron on tape hem and use of clip-style curtain rings over rods are an easy project, too. Lampshades do well with a seasonal face lift as well.

Slipcovers are another great idea. Have 2 sets on hand. Pet owners like myself, have washable slipcovers as part of the plan already! The convenience of change is great for decor and also keeping the furniture fresh and clean through out the year. The best thing I ever did was purchase furniture with slipcovers. My splurge was to buy trendy yet practical furniture from Arhaus. The slipcovers were on my "must" list. Previous to that, I bought after-market slipcovers to best fit my old furniture. They have improved greatly through the years, I have noticed. Add a shabby chic summer print for the upcoming season. If none of this is possible-just change out your pillows or pillow covers. A great option is to get vintage fabric from the Goodwill or similar (old curtains perhaps) and create new pillow covers. You might even be surprised who you know that sews and will offer a hand. It is a great "girls night" project. A friend of mine often brings wicker furniture into the home during the summer months-a terrific idea that matches her bungalow style. With adorable fabric cushions, it adds so much charm to the living room.

Accessories are the cheap and quick change bonus. This can be the fun part, as anyone can manage this detail- often without leaving the home. We all have things around the house that we forget about. And some things can be reinvented. What unique things do you have that can be turned into a flower vase or a potted plant holder? Nothing says spring like fresh flowers and greenery. I once turned an old clear glass ceiling light globe into a vase of roses. It had a decorative cut glass design. I trimmed the roses to a short stem length and it was stunning. Rug changes are also a great consideration as the warm weather months approach. Move to less use of them, perhaps. Or if required in your home, go to a more natural texture/material or softer color. Don't forget about the candles, either. Put away the evergreen candles till next season. You likely have something tucked away for use now. If not, there are so many great fresh ideas in candles at all retail stores. The Dollar Stores can be a great source. I once purchased a candle that was from the Hallmark Store originally.

Slightly more ambitious? Paint is the answer. Talk about a room attitude adjustment! The nice thing about paint is it is cheap enough that you can have major impact on a budget. Maybe even have an accent piece of painted furniture stored for seasonal change. Thrift stores and similar offer the perfect opportunity to do that on limited funds. Painting just one wall an eye-catching color is a fast and effective way to create a focal point that will allow you to retain the color already on the other walls. Most colors have great contrasting color selections to chose from. Get a paint chart and get to work. Now that the paint detail has been done or passed on-look at your wall art. Alternate prints to reflect the seasons or your color changes. This is a great opportunity to really have some fun. Take your family out for the day and bring the digital camera. Take some photos that can be turned into art work. Many photoshop program can even take your photos to the next level. Quality photo frames in large sizes, are easy to find on sale and many photo developers offer poster size specials for under $30.

Do not be paralyzed by your decorating fears. Once you start with a simple project, you'll be keep going-I promise. It is fun and you are the director of this production, so do not take it too seriously. This is your home and should be a reflection of your tastes and personality. If you get started now, before you know it it will be 68 and sunny. Then you can get to work on your sitting porch or special garden spot. Make sure you set up at least a small little outdoor spot for enjoying time just for you-you deserve it. Outdoor living spaces are in fashion, especially as we spend more time at home in this economy.

You will be so pleased with your work, I will bet you will proudly invite friends and family into your home again.

And if you are close to listing your home for sale, de-clutter and make these seasonal changes to make your home a "wow" to potential buyers, in the busy spring selling season. Enjoy!

-Pam Oster, DeHOFF REALTOR , serving sellers & buyers in Stark County, Ohio www.pamosterhomes.com

The ART'S are exploding in Canton-HAVE YOU HEARD?

Canton, Ohio is just one of 2 U.S. stops for the Kimono Exhibition in 2009. Featuring the beautiful designs of Itchiku Kubota, we are in good company with the other presentation city-San Diego, California. The biography of the late Itchiku Kubota is a fascinating one. Members of his family have spent time in Canton, during this set up and introduction to the Canton Museum. Local officials say that they expect visitors from as far away as Toronto to come view the exhibit.

Today's edition (2/9/08) of The Canton Repository reports that "Incredible"& "Cool" are among the words uttered by those who had the earlier views of the exhibit that opened this past weekend. A personal favorite is the Symphony of Light, which depicts the changing seasons and nature. "Stunning" is my comment.

Kimono As Art: The Landscapes of Itchiku Kubota, is open through April 28, 2009 at The Canton Museum of Art in the Cultural Center. The address is 1001 Market Ave. N. in Downtown Canton. The opportunity to participate in several unique Kimono inspired events are available. Many things are planned in the Canton-Massillon area! www.kimonoexhibit.com offers more details

ARTS IN STARK- Another reason why Canton and the surrounding area is and will remain a great place to call HOME!

To see homes available in the Canton and Stark County area go to: www.officialstarkcountyhomes.com

Pam Oster, DeHOFF REALTOR Serving Canton and Stark County,Ohio 330.936.3460

THIS SPEAKS TO ALL CONCERNED AMERICANS-WE ALL NEED TO "SCREAM IT FROM THE ROOF TOP" THAT HOUSING HAS TO BE A PRIORITY IN THE CURRENT SENATE TALKS:

The Great News is that we are making progress! However, we must continue to follow through. Even if you recently made a call or send an email to your Senator, do it again. Today would be best.

I speak to all REALTORS, AFFILIATE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS,CITIZENS WHO OWN HOMES or WANT TO OWN A HOME, ANYONE WHO OWNS ANY BUSINESS or WORKS FOR AN INDUSTRY THAT IS CURRENTLY AFFECTED BY THE ECONOMY- OR COULD YET BE AFFECTED BY THE SERIOUS SITUATION AT HAND. Housing fuels all things economy and sadly, the previous mistake made are a big reason why our country is in its present condition. This is for all of us to act upon... so please follow through with the task at hand.

The information below is the best update and plea for help that I have seen. I received late this week from the Building Industry Association of Stark County, Ohio. It spells the facts out, and directs you to a call to action that can be quickly completed. Please read:

YOUR house won't sell!....

WHY??

....likely price

The number one reason a home does not sell is price.

However, put your "buyer's eyes" on and take a good hard look at a few other considerations first.

Look at CONDITION. Sometimes the upgrades buyers demand are just not in your budget. If your home has older counter tops in the kitchen for example, then you need to play up the benefits your home does offer. Great inspiring tips can easily be seen on HGTV and similar. If you have a friend who is creative, recruit help! And there are the simple things to consider. Do you need to clean and deodorize the carpet, paint the walls, clean the cabinetry, re-caulk the kitchen and bath, weed the flower beds? What about the biggie...DE-CLUTTER??? Too much "stuff" can hide the home that you want your potential buyers to visualize when their prized possessions are moved in. Less clutter will also help the promotional internet photos and flyer's. (You are doing good marketing, correct??? That is another topic of concern.) But, let me clearly state that clutter is a real deal killer.

Look at LOCATION. Are you on a busy street or near a commercial area that you are so use to you pay it no mind? Is the neighbor's home in a condition that does not match yours or the remainder of the street? If so, are there ways to buffer it with landscaping or a fence? You can't make it go away in it's entirety-but do your best. Something done may be better than doing nothing. Ask friends and family what they think. If they know you may have a concern, they will be honest. Who knows-maybe they will lend a hand with any work to be completed.

So, now we come back to PRICE. Even if you had everything in order, as if Martha Stewart lived there- nothing will overcome over pricing. If your home was priced correctly for your area, but the above mentioned items needed corrected, it may now give you enough leverage to continue on with marketing your home and contracting quickly. As you have carefully listen to buyer feedback, you will know if you likely corrected the right details. Unrepresented sellers (AKA For Sale by Owners) likely did not have the objective feedback from buyers. Those with Realtors get that update after every showing-or should be if your Realtor of choice is doing their job. Granted, it is not easy to say certain things to sellers, but we are hired to do a job. The job is get to SOLD.

Look at PRICE. Now is when you will have to consider many things to objectively determine if you are overpriced. You have done all the other details of having the home in true showing condition. Next rethink what updates your home has...and doesn't have. What about those kitchen counter tops from 1986 or the teal tile in the bathroom? From that determination, think about who your target market is . Is it the younger first time buyer? If it is, you have to price to off-set the investment in updates that you did not do... that they will have to. Rethink location. Even with some cosmetic camouflage, as mentioned above-will you need to price to off-set the issues that the family with 2 young kids may consider a problem despite the fact that they love your finished basement rec room? If they hate lack of yard or a busy street-will "money" speak to them. NOW carefully review competitors homes and determine what they are like? Again, but those "buyers eyes " on! How will your home compare when buyers have the other 29 homes to tour-and select from? And just what is selling in your area? Because of my years of experience, I could go on from here, but will conclude with this statement: Price and condition sell homes.

As you may be committed to a Realtor already, organize a meeting with them and do an exterior walk around and an interior room by room walk through... and figure out what you can do, that you may not think of on your own. And carefully go over all the area market data that you should be receiving already on a regular basis.

HOMES ARE SELLING. If you are located in the Stark County, Ohio area and are selling your home (now or soon), let me help you get to SOLD-call me ASAP at 330-936-3480. Visit my website and view other homes that are currently on the market : www.officialstarkcountyhomes.com

-Pam Oster, REALTOR 2/5/09 Let me help you get there!

ARE YOU STILL RENTING?

Why Rent? It is time to invest in your future... and not your landlords.

Living the American Dream of Home Ownership is what we all dream of, especially when we are just about ready to move from the safe sanctuary of where we grew up-HOME. Along the way, carefree youth,starting wages and lack of credit keep us a few steps away from "making the move". We simply rent and life seems good. But now the time has arrived! Life is about Change. You are all grown up now or perhaps life has finally become stable for you.

Have you done the math? No matter if you are renting on your own or sharing rent with others-the numbers still add up to WOW! Consider this: Just $550. a month for 5 years adds up to $33,000. dollars in rent money that you have nothing to show for it. However, your landlord does. You just helped him build wealth for his future.

Make it your 2009 resolution to invest in you. There is no better time to realize why it makes sense -then at TAX TIME. Turning the calendar page from January to February always turns thoughts to the new tax season and when it comes to taxes "There is no place like Home" to find shelter.

Owning a Home will offer a score of tax deductions and credits designed to help offset the cost of housing. While I am no tax expert, I am a Home Owner and a Real Estate professional. With assist from your tax professional, you can learn the details of what mortgage points, mortgage loan interest, home improvement loan interest, property taxes, moving costs and other qualified deductables and benefits can do for your bottom line -now and the years to come.

First Time Buyers really have alot to be excited about . Whether you just bought or are considering it before early summer, the government has a nice bonus for you! I can email you the latest information on this exciting news. Email me: poster@dehoff.com

NOT yet owning and building your personal wealth that Home Ownership allows????-go to www.officialstarkcountyhomes.com and search the county data base of available real estate in CANTON,OHIO and beyond. -2/4/09

CALL Pam Oster, DeHOFF REALTOR 330.936.3480 Serving Stark County, Ohio