Alabama Real Estate: Feng Shui Lighting

A centuries-old Chinese practice, feng shui has in recent years captured the Western imagination as a tool for good design and spiritual well-being. The Chinese words for "wind" and "water," feng shui teaches how to live in harmony with home, garden and office surroundings in order to create the most positive energy flow and mental state of mind.
Free flowing chiThough there are many different schools of feng shui, the basic beliefs are the same. Practitioners use a number of different approaches and design principles to connect with the energy (chi) or "feel" of a place, and to fine-tune it for those living or working there. These principles can be implemented at little cost in both new and existing buildings, and users believe that allowing for a free flowing "chi" of energy can produce a happier, more positive mental outlook and an abundance of harmony, vitality, joy, love, and peace. Whatever the outcome, the principles of feng shui contain many sound design ideas that are easy to try and fun to put into practice!
Create a harmonious home mood So how can the principles of feng shui be applied to home lighting? Well, feng shui correctly recognizes that the position of lighting has a profound effect upon the occupants of a home or office. If shadows are cast where we read or prepare food, or if light glares on a computer or TV screen, we will be constantly irritable and out of sorts. Harsh, unfiltered light can also affect our moods. Modern lighting design can help you follow feng shui principles and create harmonious, pleasing rooms to live and work in.
Here are some specific design steps you can take to follow basic feng shui principles:
Incandescent bulbs will generate a warmer, orange-hue level of lighting than other sources and is well suited to creating inviting living spaces. Halogen lights send out a bright light that can be used for reading or directed to a specific area for overall room lighting.
Choose color bulbs or shades for the mood you want to create. Pink shades denote calm and pleasure, purple is more passionate and yellow more settled and relaxed.
Use a variety of direct and indirect lighting so you can create a softer mood or a more functional lighting arrangement depending on your needs. For example, use track lighting or spotlights to focus light on work areas while using softer, more diffused sources (such as torchieres or wall sconces) for more diffused light.
Instead of using one bright light in a room, use two or more softer lights to create a warm general glow and positive room energy.
Lamp shades made from fabric or paper soften the light and create a more yin (quiet) atmosphere. Metallic or reflective shades will create a harder more yang (active) atmosphere. Use soft shades in bed or bath areas, harder shades in areas where you work or need to be more active.
Red lamp shades in a living room bring.fame!
Pink shades in a bedroom for romance.
Purple shades in an office bring wealth. Eliminate sharp edges in a room with corner uplights, torchieres or accent lighting. Softening sharp edges improves energy flow and produces a more restful environment. Uplighting also encourages an upward flow of energy, which is helpful if you have low or sloped ceilings. Light on the ceiling makes a room appear larger and more open. Uplights are also useful to transform dark corners or to illuminate heavy beams, which can lessen their negative chi effect. Add a mirror to a wall space to change the direction of a room's energy or to make it appear larger and less restrictive. Mirrors and associated lighting will speed up the flow of chi energy, creating a more dynamic, stimulating atmosphere perfect for offices or study areas. Mirrors are particularly good for dark spaces where you want to reflect a light source.
Centuries ago the Chinese would place red lanterns in hallways to give them energy and light. The modern equivalent is red art glass wall sconces along the length of the hall or a crystal chandelier with red shades placed at the beginning or end of the space.
Irregular-shaped rooms should have a lamp placed in the missing sector or area to maintain proper chi energy levels.
To channel beneficial energy from the earth in a garden or driveway setting, use a pole light with a top light fixture. This encourages good chi to rise and brings good fortune. For more creative energies, try a metal fixture with a white shade in the west corner of a room.Use dimmers to create the perfect mood and positive energy.
Try these tips and keep making subtle changes and adjustments in your lighting plan. You might just be surprised at the level of happiness and harmony that proper room lighting can achieve!
Happy Lighting!

Author: Mark Raissen Director of Lighting Design for LAMPS PLUS,

Help Your REALTOR to Sell Your Home!

10 Important Steps to Take Before You Sell Your House

From Janet Wickell,Your Guide to Home Buying / Selling.

The home selling process differs from state to state, but there are some important steps that most home sellers should take before listing a house with an agent or selling it for sale by owner. Every bit of prep work you do helps you get the most return from your investment.

1. Get Pre-Approved for a Home Loan
I've known sellers who signed a contract to sell their house before they knew if they were qualified to buy another. They could no longer qualify for a loan, or they weren't able to sell at a price that allowed them to buy the type of replacement house they wanted. They ended up renting or buying something that was far from ideal.

2. Check Your Mortgage Payoff
Call your lender to check the payoff for your current home mortgage. You'll need the figure to complete Step 6. Once you sign a contract you are confirming that you have the ability to sell the home.

3. Determine How Much Your House Is WorthDetermine your home's fair market value. Real estate agents will usually help you determine value as a courtesy, but you might take it a step further and order an appraisal.

4. Estimate Your Costs to Sell
Real estate commission if you use an agency to sell.
Advertising costs, signs, other fees if you plan to sell by owner.
Attorney, closing agent and other professional fees.
Excise tax for the sale.
Prorated costs for your share of annual expenses, such as property taxes, home owner association fees, and fuel tank rentals.
Any other fees typically paid by the seller in your area (surveys, inspections, etc.).
Real estate agents deal with transactions every day and can give you a very close estimate of seller closing costs.

5. Estimate Costs to Buy a New Home
Calculate moving expenses, loan costs, downpayment, home inspections, title work and title policy, paying for a new hazard insurance policy--all expenses related to buying a home. Your lender should give you a disclosure of estimated costs when you apply for loan pre-approval.

6. Calculate Your Estimated Proceeds
Deduct your mortgage payoff from your home's fair market value.
Deduct your costs to sell from the remainder to get an estimate of the proceeds you will be paid at closing.
Will your closing proceeds cover your costs to buy a new home? If not, do you have cash or other funding to make up the difference?

7. Make Necessary RepairsMake all needed repairs unless you want the house to be regarded as a fixer-upper. I'm not referring to cosmetic updates--just items in need of repair. Anything that's obviously broken gives potential buyers a reason to offer you a lower price, especially if it's one of several repair hot spots that worry buyers the most. In tight markets perfection matters!

8. Get the House Ready to Show
Most houses need at least a little spiffing up before they are shown to potential buyers. Great curb appeal, fresh paint indoors (and sometimes out), organized closets and cabinets, sparkling clean windows and appliances and a clutter-free look are essential if you want the house to appeal to buyers. Be sure to avoid the things buyers hate most about houses.

9. Get Psyched Up to Let People In
If you're listing with a real estate agent, she'll ask you to leave when the house is shown. Why? Because lurking sellers make buyers nervous--they don't feel comfortable inspecting the house when they feel they are intruding in your personal space.

Make the house accessible. That means it should always be ready to show. Many agents won't bother showing a house that takes 24 hours to get into.

Landscaping To Sell!

Your front yard is the perfect place to plan an attractive landscaping project to impress buyers, neighbors and visitors. A lush, green lawn speaks volumes about the care and maintanence that you have done on the inside. The best part is that you don't need a lot of money to transform your front yard into something spectacular.

The front yard of your home is a prime place to test out a variety of landscaping ideas. If you are looking to spruce up your home before a sale or you'd like to win the next homeowners-association award, combining a little creativity and a couple Saturdays worth of work will help you do both. Here are some ideas for planning a front yard landscaping project.

Front Yard Landscaping: Planning

Yard Size. The size of your front yard will dictate whether you can have larger landscaping projects, such as islands or trees. You should find out the square yardage of your front yard first.

Terrain. The terrain of your front yard includes the type of grass you have; the natural elevations; and existing trees, shrubbery and bushes that might have an effect on your plans.

Your Budget. Make sure you choose a front-yard landscaping design you can complete with the resources you have. An unfinished project is never attractive. Now that you have an idea of the initial thoughts to put into your front yard planning, let's take a look at some of the more popular projects homeowners choose to complete. These are fairly simple ideas that are inexpensive and attractive. For specific details on each project, contact a home improvement center or landscaping professional.

Front-Yard Landscaping: Ideas

Pine-Straw Island. A pine-straw island is a great way to reduce the cutting area of your lawn and give a home to plants, shrubs and flowers.
Boundary Island. A boundary island along the side of your house is a perfect place to plant English boxwoods or another type of greenery.
Pond. Pond kits bring the element of water to your front-yard landscaping. With the right front yard landscaping project, you could be the envy of your neighborhood. Remember...if you need help, hire a professional. Many sales are lost BEFORE the buyer reaches the front door.

Author: Kelly Richardson
allaboutlawns.com