However, home owners often crowd spaces with oversized furniture, bulky accessories, and piles of clutter that wind up making a room look much smaller than what it really is, says staging pro Jennie Norris, president of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals.

So how can you show off that space in your listings? Besides the obvious of removing clutter, try these simple ideas from Norris.

1. Scale down the furniture: By having too many large pieces of furniture in a small room, a space can feel more cramped, Norris says. Select smaller-scale furniture over large, chunky options. A good choice: furniture with wooden legs or unskirted chairs, so that you can see through the furniture to the floor underneath to open up a room.

2. Beware of overly busy patterns: Too many bold patterns in a room with fabrics and accent pieces can make a room feel smaller, Norris says. Big prints, bold plaids, and large floral patterns can be too busy for a small space. Stick to solids and use texture in fabrics to add interest.

3. Lighten Up: Dark colors absorb the light making small rooms look even smaller. “The general color rule for small spaces is lighter is better,” Norris says. Lighter colors on walls — such as creams, light blues, light greens, tan, and soft yellows — help expand the room. Plus, softer, cooler tones are soothing and relaxing, she adds. 

4. Add height: Bring in anything that is tall to show off the height of the space. Whether it’s a piece of furniture such as a bookcase or an object like a tall tree, the height of the object will draw the eye upwards. Also in a house where you want to show off the height, hang the curtains above the normal window top level, Norris says. To widen the window, tie the curtains back with a rope tieback to show off the windows.

5. Use the reflection: Hang mirrors on walls to help add visual space. “When the room is reflected in the mirror, it can make us feel like there is more space as we see ‘another room’ in the mirror,” Norris says. “Mirrors can also reflect light and views, which will help lighten up the room and make it feel open and airy.”

http://www.realtor.org/rmohome_and_design/Articles/2010/1007_home_smallspacebigger

Lynda Lyday—carpenter, professional contractor, and a featured expert on the DIY cable network—provides dozens of simple fixes for common household problems in The Homeowner’s Manual (Que Publishing, 2006).

While it’s always best to bring in an expert to correct big problems, Lyday provides these tips for capable home owners who want to try their own hand at a solution.

Problem: Oil Stains on Garage Floor

Lyday’s solution: "You can remove most of a stubborn stain with a bit of elbow grease and scrubbing. First, remove the surface oil by sprinkling some cat litter on it to soak it up. Then clear away the cat litter and focus on the stain.

Make a paste of hot water and dry dish or laundry detergent. Use a stiff bristle scrub brush to scrub the area with the paste. Hose the area and let it dry. Another method is to use a product such as Spray ’n Wash on the stain for 10 minutes, along with a dry detergent.

Your last option is to spray on some oven cleaner. Use this sparingly, wash it down thoroughly, and keep children and pets away from it."

Problem: Leaky Faucets

Lyday’s solution: "Most faucet leaks can easily be fixed with a rubber washer, an O-ring, or seals—depending on what type of faucet it is. By fixing the problem yourself, you can save a good bit of money since plumbers can be expensive and will charge you a standard fee even if it takes only 10 minutes to fix the problem."

Problem: Nail Pops

Lyday’s solution: "Nail pops are a problem across the country. The term comes from the nails that hold the drywall to the studs actually popping out through the face of the drywall. This is from either a house settling or the wood studs drying out over time, squeezing the nail out of the wood and pushing it through the drywall.

The fix for this isn’t terribly hard, but it’s tedious because there are up to 32 nails in a 4-foot by 8-foot sheet of drywall. My suggestion is to pound the nail through the drywall to the stud. Then, just above it, place a drywall screw to hold the drywall to the stud, and finish it off with a few coats of spackle or joint compound. Finally, seal and paint it.

Most home-improvement stores also sell nail pop kits that can make this job easier."

Problem: Squeaky Stairs

Lyday’s solution: "The most common problems that occur in a staircase are the treads (horizontal surface of the steps) coming loose, which causes squeaking. Also common are the spindles or balusters coming loose. If you can get underneath the staircase, fixing the treads is easy.

You will need to attach an L bracket from the underside of the tread to the stringer (the long piece of wood that connects the treads and runs diagonally up the wall). If you can’t get underneath the staircase, you’ll have to make the repair from above.

Squeaky stair kits are available that allow you to make this fix even through carpet. Otherwise, you can secure the tread to the stringer with a trim screw."

Adapted from The Homeowner’s Manual (Que Publishing, 2006), By Lynda Lyday, ISBN 0-7897-3451-6

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 4.69 percent from 4.68 percent.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 4.12 percent from 4.11 percent.
• 1-year ARMs remained unchanged at 7.20 percent.

Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (07/14/2010)

HOME START 30-Year Fixed Rate Loan is FHA insured and available at rates below the 30-year fixed market rate.

Qualifications:

• First-time homebuyer or veteran
• Minimum credit score of 620
• Income and purchase guidelines must be met
• Must qualify and secure an IHDA Home Start 30yr fixed rate loan
• Must contribute 1% or $1,000 of the purchase price from savings
• Home ownership counseling required

HOME START Down Payment Assistance Loan is a 0%, 10-year forgivable loan that provides 3% of the purchase price (up to $6,000) to assist with the down payment.  This loan is only available when used in conjunction with the 30-Year Fixed Rate Loan.  The interest rate on the 30-Year Fixed Rate Loan will increase by 0.5% for buyers utilizing the DPA loan.

http://www.ihda.org/ViewPage.aspx?PageID=328

Most Contract for Deed sales require only a small down payment. The buyer agrees to pay the seller or the seller's real estate agency the total sales price plus an amount for interest monthly over a period of several years. Only after the final payment will the buyer receive a deed and full ownership.

Should the contract for deed be in writing?

A buyer must get a written contract, which is signed by both buyer and seller and which has all the terms agreed to by the buyer and seller. Without a written contract, the buyer will not be able to enforce the agreement if the seller refuses to perform his or her part of the agreement.

Should I record the contract?

Even if the contract states it cannot be recorded, every contract for deed should be recorded in the county in which the property is located as soon as possible in order to protect the buyer's interest.

Who is responsible for repairs?

The buyer of the home is responsible for making all repairs after the sale of the property. The seller may be required to repair certain problems in the home that existed before the purchase date if:

• The seller has agreed to make the repairs;
• The seller knew about the defects from city inspections and does not tell the buyer; or
• The seller is guilty of fraud or misrepresentation.

Agreement To Make Repairs: Sometimes a seller agrees to make repairs. If the agreement is in the Contract for Deed, the seller can be forced to do the repairs. Always get it in writing.

Previous Inspection: If the city inspected the house before and found violations of a city code, the seller must tell the buyer about the violations. Many houses have never been inspected. If the house was inspected, and the seller does not tell the buyer about problems that were found, the buyer can call off the contract and get part of his or her money back.

Fraud and Misrepresentation: If the seller of a home makes statements about the condition of the home which are untrue in order to convince the buyer to purchase the home, the buyer may be able to cancel the contract or force the seller to repair certain defects. A buyer should always make sure that the seller's statements about the condition of the house are included in the written contract.

Who is responsible for real estate taxes and homeowner’s insurance?

The buyer of a home must pay for real estate taxes and homeowner's insurance on the property after the sale is closed. Sometimes the seller owes back taxes. The buyer should check to see if any back taxes are owed. If there are unpaid back taxes, the Contract for Deed should say who will pay them.

The buyer should make sure who will receive the real estate tax bills and homeowner's insurance bills and make sure that these are paid when due.

If the buyer is paying the real estate taxes and homeowner's insurance by an escrow account, the monthly payments to the account will increase each year, as costs increase.

How can I prevent the loss of my home?

A buyer who receives a notice of foreclosure or a court summons should contact a lawyer as soon as possible.

If a buyer, under a Contract for Deed, fails to make the payments required by the contract, the seller can declare an end to the contract and bring a court action to evict the buyer from the house. The seller will send, by mail, a written 30-day notice of ending the contract before the court case.

If the buyer owes less than three-fourths of the purchase price, the court must allow the buyer at least 60 days and may allow up to 180 days to pay the seller the amount needed to bring the contract current. If the buyer pays the required amount within this period, he or she will get contract rights back and he or she will be able to keep the house. Even if the buyer owes more than three-fourths of the purchase price, the court may give up to 60 days to pay the amount and restore the contact rights.

Absolutely adorable!!! Welcome to this 2 bedroom, 1 full bath ranch home featuring hardwood flooring in the living room, bedrooms and hallway. Kitchen has oak front cabinets and tile flooring. Bath features whirlpool tub. Furnace and A/C new in 10/09 with a 10yr extended warranty. Gas water heater new in 5/10. House and garage roof new in 6/04. Other features include newer 5' fence, B-Dry Dewatering System, attic storage with drop down stairs, water softner-owned. $78,500

Call the Jodi Lemkemann Team @ 309-303-1000

Need more space? This 1.5 story home is a beauty!!! 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, some hardwood floors, new carpet and paint in the living room, partially finished basement. You will love the new kitchen and the 24x24 garage. Garage has new door and opener with keypad entry. Fenced yard, front white picket fence. Newer driveway. Great curb appeal!! All sizes and measurements are approximate and not guaranteed.

Absolutely adorable!!! Welcome to this 2 bedroom, 1 full bath ranch home featuring hardwood flooring in the living room, bedrooms and hallway. Kitchen has oak front cabinets and tile flooring. Bath features whirlpool tub. Furnace and A/C new in 10/09 with a 10yr extended warranty. Gas water heater new in 5/10. House and garage roof new in 6/04. Other features include newer 5' fence, B-Dry Dewatering System, attic storage with drop down stairs, water softner-owned.

2109 W Ayres, West Peoria

Need more space? This 1.5 story home is a beauty!!! 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, some hardwood floors, partially finished basement. You will love the new kitchen and the 24x24 garage. Fenced yard, front white vinyl picket fence. Newer driveway. Great curb appeal!! All sizes and measurements are approximate and not guaranteed.   $109,900

Call the Jodi Lemkemann Team @ 309-303-1000!!!