Marybeth Heckler, Author at Marybeth Heckler | Blog | Allied Mortgage Group

Bringing Simplicity Back with Japandi Design

Written by Marybeth Heckler on February 22, 2021. Posted in Homeowner.

When it comes to home decoration, the rise of IKEA has also lead to the popularity of classic and simple design concepts that come from Scandinavia. If you pay attention to interior design trends, the Japanese have a pretty classic and simple style as well. What happens when you combine these minimalist designs together? You get Japandi – a design trend that seems to be growing in popularity right now.

What are the elements of Japandi design?

Avoiding Home Buyer Red Flags When Selling

Written by Marybeth Heckler on February 15, 2021. Posted in Real Estate.

Even the best staging can’t hide everything when it comes to the home selling process. If you are looking to sell your home this year, here are some things that potential buyers are looking for (and hoping to avoid) that could impact whether or not they start the contract process for your home.

Here are our best tips for avoiding some of the ‘red flags’ that may turn off a potential buyer.

Self Care for the Whole Family

Written by Marybeth Heckler on February 8, 2021. Posted in Motherhood.

We all know that self-care is important for our physical and mental health and that moms should be doing a lot more of it. Sometimes, it’s difficult to take that time for ourselves.

While most self-care activities are geared towards moms, learning to care for yourself is important for everyone. To assist you in your self-care efforts, invite the whole family to enjoy these activities together. This investment of time and energy will pay off in spades as you are not only starting your own self-care practice but encouraging your loved ones to participate as well.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day At Home

Written by Marybeth Heckler on February 1, 2021. Posted in Holidays.

This Valentine’s Day will look different than the usual chocolates, flowers, and reservations. That doesn’t mean you can’t make the best of it! Whether you are part of a couple, celebrating with friends, or rolling solo there are still ways to make this holiday work for you – even from home.

Not loving the idea of a crowded restaurant on February 14th? Here are some ways to make Valentine’s day special at home instead.

The Best Plants for Decorating

Written by Marybeth Heckler on January 24, 2021. Posted in Homeowner.

If you are looking for new ways to freshen up your home this year, consider adding houseplants. Struggling with home decor and interior design? Make greenery the central part of your decorating strategy. Everyone loves the look, smell, and feel of a houseplant. Plus, plants have a lot of additional benefits other than just being eye candy for you and your guests.

Preparing to Buy Your Next Home

Written by Marybeth Heckler on January 17, 2021. Posted in Real Estate.

Even with the craziness of the past year, plenty of people are looking to purchase a home. Homeownership is a prize worth seeking but it can seem overwhelming for anyone going through this process for the first time. Even if buying a home is a long-term goal for you, there are some things you can (and should) focus on right now to get prepared to buy your next home.

Letting Go of Stress

Written by Marybeth Heckler on January 10, 2021. Posted in Motherhood.

Want to be a healthier you this year? It’s time to talk about that stress monster that follows you around every day. While some amount of stress can be good for us, too many people are experiencing harmful amounts of stress every day. Here are some methods you can try to de-stress this year and get into a healthier mental and physical place.

Getting Organized This Year

Written by Marybeth Heckler on January 3, 2021. Posted in Homeowner.

New year, new you? Well, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage of the energies of the new year by getting organized. What better way to get a fresh start than by tidying up your home and office space? Here are some ideas that you can tackle to freshen up your work and living areas this year.

Building the Best Snowman with Your Family

Written by Marybeth Heckler on December 21, 2020. Posted in Motherhood.

In the past few years, even the faintest flurry of snow has sent the Frozen song “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” scurrying through our brains. Building a snowman with your family is a rite of passage that builds strong familial bonds and memories that will last for years to come. But in the past, we have also seen some really sad looking snowmen.

Here’s what you need to do to make the perfect snowman this winter with your family:

Let it snow — The first thing you need to determine is if the snow is just right for making a snowman. If the snow is wet and slushy, then it won’t be able to stick together, and you won’t be able to make a solid snowman. If it’s too powdery and dry, it likewise isn’t going to be usable. The best option is somewhere in between. If it’s too wet, you’re going to have to wait for fresh snow to fall. However, if it is too dry, you can turn on your water hose and lightly wet down the snow to make it usable.

Find a good spot — Like with real estate, one of the keys to a good snowman is location, location, location. While a lot of people like to build in the front yard to show off to the neighbors, if that area is in direct sunlight then it will melt a lot faster. Instead, find a flat spot that is shaded so your snow masterpiece will last longer.

Make your three core parts — Start by making a slightly larger than average snowball and place it on the ground. Then, roll the ball around and around on the ground, gathering up more snow in the process. As you do this, the ball should get bigger and bigger until you have a base for your snowman. Then, repeat this process two more times. Each time, the ball should be slightly smaller than the one before so that you have the three main ingredients for your snowman. Once you’ve made the second and third balls, stack them carefully on top of the first.

Decorate away — Finally, let your imagination run wild as you create a decorated snowman that reflects your personality. For eyes, you don’t have to use coal or buttons. Instead, you should try something like chocolates. (Also, a great choice for the mouth.) For the nose, of course, you can’t go wrong with the traditional carrot. You can also add sticks for arms and twigs for hair. Just make sure you top it off with a hat.

The next time the kids start singing, “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” answer them with a resounding “Yes!” Take these tips to create your perfect snowman and have fun building it as well as some great memories.

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Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter

Written by Marybeth Heckler on December 14, 2020. Posted in Real Estate.

When it comes to selling a home, most realtors will tell you that spring is king when it comes to the best time to sell. Spring listings always seem to move faster, and the better weather seems to be naturally set for open houses.

But you don’t always get to pick when you have to put your house on the market. If you’re putting your home up for sale during the winter, then you need to check out the following tips on how to sell your home faster.

4 Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter:

Let’s talk about decorations — First off, let’s address the elephant in the room. Is it acceptable to decorate your home for the holidays while you are trying to sell your home? Some realtors will say yes, and others will say no. But the reality lies somewhere in between.
Yes, decorate your home. In fact, some realtors point out that the “homey” family quality goes a long way towards selling a home. But, don’t go overboard with lots of inflatables that block the view of the home. Instead, your decorations should be modest. Also, after the holidays have passed, make sure that you take all the decorations down. You don’t want to be that person who leaves them up year-round.

Lighten up — One reason why spring is sometimes preferred for home sales is that the sun doesn’t set until around 8:00, giving plenty of sunlight for people getting off work to check out the homes. During the winter, you don’t have this option since it probably starts getting dark around 5:30 or so. To help with this, set up outdoor floodlights that can help light up the property and show it off for people driving through the neighborhood.

Get comfy and cozy — When you’re staging the interior of your home, make sure to play up the coziness of the locale. Make sure you have your heater set at a comfortable temperature, but not so warm that it becomes stifling. If you have a fireplace, light it up and have lots of warm blankets and other touches visible to help set the stage for a comfortable home.

Get good outdoor pictures — When you are taking pictures for the online listing, you may think that your property looks great with a dusting of snow. While this may be true, it also may not be able to sell a home if all of your pictures show it covered in snow. Exterior pics should accentuate all the great selling points of your home and this is hard to do if the property is covered in snow and ice.

If you’re trying to sell your home this winter, it’s not a good idea to decorate it as bright as the Christmas Vacation home. But there are some tasteful, modest things you can do to help emphasize your home’s “cheery” qualities that make it feel like a great home for the holidays.

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Author: Marybeth Heckler