The Doors of Gratitude

Highly honored to have been chosen for an article in Real Producers magazine in their November, 2022 edition! It was such an exciting opportunity to express who I am as a manager, an agent, and individual. At Century 21 Affiliated, I aim to provide an extraordinary experience for our clients, and our office in beautiful Downtown Ann Arbor is a true reflection of just that.

Through maintaining direct communication and listening to the needs of my clients, I have cultivated an open and welcoming space to ensure that the next place you call home is based on who you are, and your own individual style of living.

Stop by for a warm cup of coffee or a glass of champagne at one of the nearby restaurants on Main Street, or contact me directly, to generate ideas around creating a simplified solution to all your future home needs!

Walking Through New Doors 22’ & Beyond

There’s something about that feeling of getting ready to move into a new year. Some of us are stressed, some excited, some even sad. Some of us are getting ready to welcome a new baby, or perhaps see an old friend. We all have these tiny differences, but one commonality is that we all do that, “goals for the new year",” whether we voice it, write it, or keep it to ourselves the majority of us have that thought.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to really step outside of my comfort zone & attend my first wellness retreat. The theme of the retreat was BALANCE. The description really resonated with me, because like everyone this has been some what of another challenging year. More so then relaxation which I always welcome, I knew I needed more then that. I had become so off balance and out of alignment , that I knew I needed to correct this before my health was compromised. The retreat consisted of an aura reading and cleanse, movement sessions, guided mediation, including sound healing, a full assortment of healthy eats from a in house chef, it was an absolute dream. I’m so proud of myself for opening up that new door & showing up for myself.

I’m confident to walk into the new year through all types of doors, unafraid of new challenges that may arise, as my goal is to continue to harness the power and courage to show up for myself continuously, even if it’s a little uncomfortable.

Wishing you all a healthy & safe new year, cheers to showing up!

Farmhouse Chic

Historically farmhouses where the primary residence where career famers & their large families rested their heads and called home.

There has been a resurgence of this style with a modern touch, sort of a “chic” touch. How is it that we can combine something that consists of distressed pieces with light, clean, and fluffy interiors? The flow of this design pattern is actually beautiful, using the “hard” areas in the home to house your “distressed”, solid or “wore” pieces. Things like your dinning table or kitchen cabinets are “hard” in feel and in touch the walls are “hard”, so add a brick element. Soften the spaces up by inserting free flowing linen drapes, with matching throw pillows, handstitched cotton rug that feels amazing to run your toes through.

My suggestion is to determine the flow of your home do you want Farmhouse chic elegant, Farmhouse rustic, or Farmhouse antique?

Use the “Farmhouse” style as you beacon, but add your own personal touches from your design board from the flow that you decide works best with you, your home, and personality. Use lot’s of accessory pieces that can be swap out easily anytime you want to mix it up. Don’t be afraid to take risks, and have fun!

Redefine The DREAM Kitchen

There was a time where the ultimate “dream” kitchen was defined as this large grandiose space with multiple islands, ovens, & marble. The idea of what is a dream kitchen has really evolved, with the increased number of tiny homes popping up, mobile homes etc. most individuals’ list of what could be considered a dream has changed. As a buyers agent when sitting down with my clients, I always advise them to make a list of the top 5-10 NEEDS for their kitchen & then move on to the WANTS.

Here are my top 5:

• Functionality: how well does the space flow

• Work space: does the kitchen have ample counter space for my husband who’s a chef

• Dual Purpose: a friend of mine fell in love with the 11 foot island in the center of her kitchen, because not only does she entertain, but also uses the corner of the island as a work space

• Comfort: whether you have a lot of square footage or a little, there are a lot of ways to make your dream kitchen space comfortable. Adding soft textured chairs or a small window seat with padding, even a faux fur rug in front of the sink are all ways to bring comfort to your space

• Beauty: we all have our own definition of beauty, that’s why they say “beauty is in the eye of the beholder",” when designing your space I always recommend using accessories, pull from a certain painting or rug as inspiration. Don’t clutter up the counters & try to have fun. Beauty made my top 5, because I think it is important to have multiple spaces in your home that you get excited about spending your time in, & after all, the kitchen is still the heart of the home.

Q & A, Rudy’s Rules..

Question: How does a potential seller know how to choose the correct buyer?

Weighing all of the pro’s and con’s with your realtor is important. Cash offers may be low & bank offers may come with contingencies. I always recommend reviewing all relevant offers with my client. Don’t jump on the first offer that you receive.

Question: What is the best way to prep my home for showings?

Decluttering a space sometimes can make all the difference. Start boxing up items you won’t need while showing your home & use this as an opportunity to purge.

Question: How important is an open house? Is it really necessary?

Yes! Even during COVID, there are many safe ways we can show your property. We’ve gotten very creative. Getting buyers agents & potential clients in the door is our number 1 priority. Homes tend to sell faster & receive more offers after an open house. Even now we continue to have shoe covers, disposable masks, & hand sanitizer on hand!

7 Tips to prepare your property for market

Preparing to sell a property can be difficult. Sometimes we have an emotional attachment, other times we are overwhelmed with the responsibility of organizing. Here are my 7 tips to make your property selling experience run smoothly.

1.) Call/Email me for a quick chat about surrounding your property

2.) DECLUTTER

3.) Assess broken and/or damaged items, fixtures, furniture, etc.

4.) Schedule an appointment with a handyman (the average handyman charges $50-$70/hour & includes their tools. This cost is worth the money because a handyman has the knowledge surrounding the project (s) that need to be done. They can work smoothly & efficiently.)

5.) Deep Clean (I would also recommend hiring a company to do your initial deep clean. Be sure to include windows, baseboards, oven, & any other items that need a little extra TLC.)

6.) Fresh paint/Stage (move items around, visit your local thrift stores or discount stores to find art, vases, & other nice decorative items if you don’t already have them.)

7.) Let me do the rest :-) (This is the part where you sit back and relax & let the Acuna Team sell your property!)