Home owners don’t need to take on a major overhaul to make their homes feel warmer this winter. Design Sponge blogger Grace Bonney says adding soft fabrics, warm lighting, and textures can help. Imagine how potential buyers will feel as they step in from the cold.

Add floor lighting. Keep lamps low and glowing during the winter months to help a space feel cozier and warmer.

Use throws. Try a throw or blanket draped along the sofa, chair, or on the edge of a bed.

Add texture. You can add texture with blankets and throws or even on the walls. Plaster finishes or exposed lathe can add warmth to a space.

Try upholstery. Tufted headboards and cozy upholstered benches can add color and patterns to warm up the room.

Get more pointers on how to use pillows in staging from our Styled, Staged & Sold blog.

Layer pillows. Add more pillows to couches and beds. Try to mix in pillows with soft textures too, like cable knitting or faux fur.

Add curtains and bedskirts. Bonney notes that voluminous curtains and bedskirts can make a space feel warmer. Use soft, natural fabrics like linen or even velvet to cozy up a space.

Source: “10 Ways to Make Any Room Feel Cozier,” Design Sponge (Feb. 10, 2017)

It’s February and snow is still covering much of the country, but the spring buying season is just around the corner. Wage increases and low inventory in many U.S. markets is making this year particularly advantageous for home sellers.

Read more: 5 Money-Saving Tips for Spring House Projects

Brokers who are looking for sales meeting fodder can offer agents these tips from Century 21 Real Estate’s Chief Operating Officer Greg Sexton, which will help sellers get their homes ready to win over buyers.

1. Repairs. A seller may need to do work to their house before putting it on the market. Agents could suggest that a seller get a home inspection before listing the property, which will help identify problem areas and repairs that need to take place. “Take a look at the home with a critical eye and eliminate any issues a home inspector may discover – make sure all items are up to code, seal any cracks, and fix a leaky roof,” Sexton says.

2. Landscaping. It’s never too early in the season to think about curb appeal. Offer sellers tips for sprucing up landscaping, such as trimming hedges and cleaning up flowerbeds. Add a pop of color with cold-hardy plants.

3. Declutter. One of the easiest ways to prep a home for sale is decluttering. This may include removing family photos, papers, even furniture to help make the interior of a home look more spacious and allow potential buyers to picture themselves living in the home. The walls may also need a new coat of paint to come alive.

4. Finances. Agents should be aware of any financial obstacles that may come into play, Sexton says, whether it’s liens on the house or a second mortgage, which would be paid from the seller’s proceeds upon sale. Prepping a home for the market also includes talking to clients about their goals and setting realistic expectations, he adds.

—Erica Christoffer, REALTOR® Magazine

Consumers view homeownership as a priority and say they’re willing to make significant compromises in order to purchase a home, according to a survey of more than 1,000 consumers considering a home purchase in 2017, conducted by the online brokerage firm Owners.com.

Sixty-nine percent of survey respondents say they’re concerned they won’t have enough cash for a down payment in order to buy a home. As such, they’re willing to forgo some financial goals and investments to make sure they save enough.

Respondents said that saving for a home takes priority over saving for an emergency (61 percent) or contributing to retirement funds (60 percent). Seventy-two percent of survey respondents said they would limit their contributions to other investment funds in order to save enough to buy a home.

Surveyed consumers also say they’re willing to compromise on some elements of the home if it means they can move into a home this year. For example, 51 percent said they would consider buying a fixer-upper, and 36 percent said they would purchase a smaller home than what they desire.

Source: “Americans Are Making Big Compromises to Buy Homes,” USA Today (Feb. 1, 2017)

A rate lock helps protect your buyers from fluctuating mortgage rates as they’re getting ready to buy a home. It locks in the interest rate for a loan for a certain period of time until the buyer makes it to closing. Your buyers will know what to expect and won’t then fall mercy to a week of rising rates, for example. However, if rates dip, they could get stuck paying a higher rate too. So it can be a catch-22.

Here is when your buyers likely will want to lock in their mortgage rate right away:

1. An offer has been made, accepted, and is under contract. Many lenders will lock in a rate for free for 30 days. But you may want to lock in for longer, for example, if the buyer is giving sellers more time to find a home or if they’re self-employed and a lender needs longer in underwriting their loan. As such, lock-ins are also available for 90 days, 120 days, or even 150 days. But expect to pay to get longer lock in periods.

2. Interest rates are rising. If interest rates are trending higher, lock in sooner rather than later, say mortgage experts.

3. Interest rates are volatile. If interest rates are going both up and down, buyers may want to lock in sooner for greater stability during their house hunt. “Rates today are unusually volatile—they are making large moves up and down in short periods of time,” says Joe Parsons, a loan officer at Caliber Home Loans in Dublin, Calif. “For this reason, prudent borrowers are locking their rates early in the process.”

4. You may not qualify for a loan otherwise. A buyer may need to lock in a rate sooner if they are borrowing near their limits. A fluctuation in rate could prevent them from getting their loan approved. For instance, if a higher interest rate pushes a buyer’s monthly mortgage payment above a 28 percent threshold (most lenders believe a house payment should be no greater than 28 percent of your gross monthly income) then a lender may not approve her for a mortgage.

“An early rate lock means there are no hidden surprise down the road,” says Mark Livingstone, president of Cornerstone First Financial, a mortgage lender in Washington, D.C.

Source: “When to Lock in Mortgage Rates: 4 Signs It’s Time,” realtor.com® (Jan. 23, 2017)

A home’s interior can be used to spark “memorable moments” that appeal to homebuyers emotions, new research suggests. Certain rooms in a home can make homeowners conjure up positive emotions and memories. Researchers call those areas “hot spots,” and urge designers to pay careful attention to those spots in making a home more inviting.

Read more: Real Estate Lessons From the Design World

“The interior space can enhance emotional experiences,” says Wayne Visbeen, an architect in Grand Rapids, Mich.

A room’s ability to evoke positive emotions and memories is directly tied to the design and amenities of that room, suggests a study sponsored by Napoleon Fireplace, which sought to identify the emotional connections homeowners have with their homes.

For example, features like fireplaces, high ceilings, and built-ins can help increase the appeal of rooms, the study noted.

The most popular areas of the home are centered around three elements: socializing, relaxation, and function. The greater of these elements a room has, the better job it does in creating a “hot spot,” researchers note.

BUILDER offers up an example: Designers can add a socialization space to a kitchen with an island or wet bar. Or, they can integrate the dining room with the kitchen to add greater functionality.

Visbeen and David Brown, partner at Hoffman York, a marketing and ad agency in Milwaukee, also said more emphasis should be placed on the design of the master suite. They say a “transition space” can make the bedroom feel more separate from the master bath and closet. This could be done in smaller areas too, such as with a small vestibule between the closet and bathroom. Then, “if one partner is getting ready in the morning and one is sleeping it’s a really nice feature,” Visbeen says.

Also, they emphasize accenting the fireplace in a home. Many special moments often occur around a fireplace, they say. Make sure to spotlight it or even add a firepit at the front entrance too.

Source: “Energize Buyers With Design Hot Spots,” BUILDER (Jan. 11, 2017)

The number of home buyers ages 55 and older is expected to grow over the next decade, and builders across the country are ramping up to serve them. At the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla., this week, the National Association of Home Builders is educating attendees about how to support the industry’s efforts to cater to this segment of the market.

In one session, Deryl Patterson, president of Housing Design Matters in Jacksonville, Fla., offered ideas of how to design, remodel, and market spaces so that they’ll be more appealing to older home buyers. She says one important element is to avoid treating baby boomer clients as if they’ve suddenly developed a whole new set of living preferences. Patterson told attendees it makes more sense to think of boomers as “mature” in the sense that they are experienced buyers who know what they want. She described their mindset about their home purchase as: “I’m going to do it right this time, finally.”

Here are some home features you can be on the lookout for when working with buyers in the 55-and-over age group, or items you can emphasize if you’re trying to ensure your listing appeals to them.

More ideas: Creative Ways to Market Odd Spaces

1. Rethink the laundry room. After the kids move out, many home owners spend less time in the laundry room, but that doesn’t mean they want to ditch it entirely. As the house becomes less chore-centric, Patterson says, home owners are more prone to focus on fun. Try carving out a space for crafts or pet care if a huge laundry room feels like a waste of space to buyers.
2. Boost the light. Patterson noted that as people age, the lens of the eye thickens and lets in less light. This means a 60-year-old needs six times as much light as a 20-year-old. Look for inexpensive ways to add light in unexpected places, such as inside drawers and cabinets.
3. Be subtle about accessible features. Everyone wants to be able to age in place, but few want to think of a time when they’ll be physically limited. Thankfully, many features that make a home more navigable and safer for those with mobility issues aren’t very obvious, such as even, level surfaces that make it easier for those using wheelchairs, canes, or walkers. Patterson also noted that many bathroom product manufacturers are now making grab bars that look more like shelves and towel racks than institutional-style safety features.
4. Point out low-maintenance features. Patterson said one of the first things that comes to mind when people are looking for a low-maintenance home is the size of the lawn, but she noted that there’s much more to taking care of a home than that. “I want you to think beyond yard maintenance,” she told attendees. She noted that stain-resistant quartz countertops and roofs that don’t have nooks where leaves can collect can be important qualities of a listing.
5. Examine where the stairs lead. Steps can be problematic for those with mobility issues, but they aren’t an automatic no-no for communities targeted at older buyers. It just depends on what’s at the top of the staircase. A bunk room for the grandkids or an exercise room is a much better use for second- and third-floor space than a master bedroom or another place the primary resident might have to visit frequently. Also, landings and railings are both safety musts, Patterson says. “Stairs are the number one reason people go to the emergency room, and not just those over 55.”

—Meg White, REALTOR® Magazine

Some home sellers use the holidays to showcase the warmth and character of their home to potential buyers. But they need to be careful not to cover up their home’s finest attributes with their festivity.

Read more: Rules for Tasteful Holiday Décor

A recent article at Houzz provides some of the following tips for holiday decorating when your home is for sale:

Watch the size of the decorations. Displaying large multipiece holiday decorations on your fireplace, for example, may cover up this important selling feature. Ask yourself: Does this piece positive showcase the space, light, and charm of the room? Or does its large size distract from it? This includes the Christmas tree. Owners may want to choose a smaller size when they’re selling because larger trees and decorations can make a room appear smaller, notes Houzz columnist Neila Deen.

Don’t block the light. Make sure the holiday décor doesn’t cover up any natural light from windows and doors. Sure, owners love to display their Christmas trees in front of windows so you can see it from the outside. But they need to realize that they could be covering up a picturesque window as well as making a room appear darker. Instead, place the tree far away from the window so that it isn’t blocking any natural light from flowing in.

Coordinate colors. Keep the holiday décor in line with the room’s overall color-coordinated design. If the holiday decorations clash with a current color scheme, don’t use them. Metallics – gold, silver, or copper — are a good way to add holiday décor accents without fears of clashing. White also can be a good choice. Consider swapping out multicolored tree lights with sparkling white lights for a more elegant choice, Deen notes.

Sellers who have pets are devoted to their furry friends, but dogs, cats, and other household animals don’t always make a home sale easy. “Pets are either an attractive distraction, so cute that they distract prospective buyers from looking at the real estate, or completely the opposite — smelly, frightening, or otherwise off-putting,” says Diane Saatchi, a broker with Saunders & Associates in East Hampton, N.Y.

Here are some tips from realtor.com® recently for pet-proofing a listing prior to a showing:

Get the yard ready. Make sure the yard is clear of any pet droppings, and repair any spots where the family dog may have been digging holes. Be sure to double-bag any waste so it doesn’t smell up garbage cans in the garage. Also, address any brown or yellow spots in the yard created by pets’ urine. Realtor.com® suggests aerating and seeding any bare spots, or even consider replacing patches with new sod.

Watch the smells. Have a professional service clean the carpets and rugs to help remove pet odors. If the odor is too potent, replacing the carpet entirely may be necessary. Also, encourage clients to bathe their pets regularly to help prevent odors.

Check your insurance. An unknown visitor entering your clients’ home may prompt even a normally calm pet to lash out. If a potential buyer is scratched or bitten by a pet, your client could be held liable. Have your client check their homeowners insurance to see if they’re covered for such incidents. If their pet isn’t covered, it may be best to keep the animal out of the house during showings.

Stow away the evidence. Ask that all pet caretaking items — leashes, toys, water bowls — be put away during a showing. Don’t forget the cat’s litter box, too!

Crate or relocate. If the pets must stay during showings, ask your client to crate them or confine them to an area. Warn other real estate professionals the pets are there so they can let their clients know. The best-case scenario is that your clients will relocate their pets during the showing so they won’t distract potential buyers.

Source: “6 Essential Steps for Selling a Home with Pets,” realtor.com® (Oct. 25, 2016)