6 Ways to Create an Attractive Home Office

A home office is on its way to becoming an essential item on a house buyer’s wish list. After all, many people work at least part of the time at home — and even if they don’t, they still want somewhere to store the computer and their household papers.

Here are some tips to help you create an attractive home office that you’ll actually want to spend time in.

An attractive place to work

A home office doesn’t have to be just functional — it can be attractive, too. So take as much care with the décor as you would in the other rooms in your house, making sure office furniture and accessories coordinate with wall and floor coverings.

Good lighting

If you don’t have a lot of natural light (or you’ll be working mainly in the evenings), make sure you have good lighting, particularly task lights for illuminating your desk. Include other types of lighting too, so you’ll make the room feel comfortable.

Choose good furniture

It’s essential that your desk and chair are comfortable to work at, so take time choosing them. Make sure the seat and backrest of your chair are adjustable and that the height of your desk is comfortable.

Power and the Internet

Make sure there are plenty of power outlets in the room and easy Internet access. Avoid a “rat’s nest” of cables by bundling them together and tucking them out of sight.

Include good storage

Think carefully about the kind of storage you’ll need and make sure there’s enough of it. Consider stackable boxes to store paperwork efficiently, and an attractive filing cabinet. Put shelves on the walls and use them to store books; add wire baskets to the shelves for documents.

Bulletin board

Put up a bulletin board for reminders and other essential information you use every day. Then you’ll avoid ugly sticky notes all over your computer.

Want a copy of my “10 Easy Steps to Buying a Home“ guide? Send an email to lisa@legrandrealtors.com and I will send it over.

LISA LEGRAND, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES
Direct 210-827-2884
Fax 210-493-4669
Licensed in the State of Texas since 1987  #383099
Keller Williams Realty Legacy
1102 E. Sonterra Blvd., #106
San Antonio, TX  78258
Email: lisa@legrandrealtors.com
Website: www.legrandrealtors.com

Picture Credit: Flickr

6 Ways to Create an Attractive Home Office

The Right Way to Deal with Problem Tenants

Problem tenants are a nightmare for many landlords. Guidelines for dealing with tenant issues vary from state to state. However, there really are four things you should do to avoid a legal battle with your tenants:

• The lease agreement should clearly define potential tenant-landlord issues. Once you have qualified the tenant and agreed to lease the premises to him or her, it is important to review the rules and regulations within the lease. If the tenant enters into the agreement fully informed, then he or she is less likely to create an issue.

• Talk to the tenant once an issue has been reported. Open lines of communication can often avert a potential tenant-landlord crisis. The tenant may have been unaware that he or she was causing an issue, and a simple conversation can sometimes avert the need for further action.

• Put it in writing. A formal letter to the tenant is often a good step. This can be either a personally drafted letter or a form issued from the local housing authority, depending on the seriousness.

• File an action with the local housing authority. This is obviously a landlord’s last resort. If all other efforts fail, involving the local housing authority is your only legal option. Forms, time periods, and authority vary from state to state, so seeking the appropriate legal advice is important before proceeding.

LISA LEGRAND, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES
Direct 210-827-2884
Fax 210-493-4669
Licensed in the State of Texas since 1987 #383099
Keller Williams Realty Legacy
1102 E. Sonterra Blvd., #106
San Antonio, TX 78258
Email: lisa@legrandrealtors.com
Website: www.legrandrealtors.com

The Right Way to Deal with Problem Tenants

- Changing Office Design Reflects a New Work Reality -

If, in fact, design follows function, it’s not surprising that yesterday’s office design no longer caters to today’s office function.

Today’s office workers face a different work environment than previous generations.

Yesterday’s staff followed a clock-in, clock-out model, while their mobile successors can boast a flexibility that is the opposite of previous work structures.

Although this offers increased individual freedom, it also presents a new workplace challenge: often, mobile workers feel isolated from colleagues and company.

As a result, many companies are changing their bricks and mortar.

Where before, the corner office with a top-of-the-world view was a perk, it’s now an unnecessary – and expensive – space waster.

Private offices are going the way of the dodo, and many companies are searching out low-rise, less expensive spaces with cozy atmospheres.

Because today’s workers conduct most of their business in multiple locations, they miss the creative opportunities of being part of a group of colleagues, which is to their detriment and the company’s.

It’s the very reason Yahoo workers have gone back to the office.

The new design trend is to provide workers who transition in and out of their workspaces with corner-office views and opportunities to meet with colleagues casually and in fluid collaborative spaces bearing no resemblance to yesterday’s conference rooms.

Open stairways between floors offer workers a more unified space, as well as the chance for exercise.

Companies who design offices for people are finding productivity is enhanced, and workers are happier.

It’s a new take on yesterday’s workplace that works for today

Picture Credit: Flickr

Changing Office Design Reflects a New Work Reality

6 Things that Will Stop Your House From Selling

Poor curb appeal

Buyers won’t even go inside if the outside of the house looks unappealing. So clean up your front yard by tidying plants and pulling up weeds. Make sure the outside of your home looks well cared-for by painting the trim, mowing the lawn and placing attractive potted plants by the door.

Unpleasant odors

You may not even notice bad odors, but buyers surely will. Smoking and pets are the prime causes, so smoke outside while you are selling your house and consider what to do with your animals. Allow the house to air out thoroughly before viewings – don’t just try to mask the odor with another scent.

Loud and scary pets

Apart from the odor of some animals, a big dog or noisy bird can be off-putting to some buyers. So keep your dog away when you have viewings so your potential buyers aren’t distracted or, worse, scared.

Dirt and grime

Although dirt is usually only cosmetic, it deters buyers, who will start to think the house isn’t well cared for. So make sure your kitchen and bathroom, in particular, are clean.

Bad décor

Although your home’s décor shouldn’t matter, to many buyers it does. That’s because they many want a house they can move into right away. So replace any tired or out-of-date carpets or wallpapers with a more neutral, modern scheme.

Wrong price

If your house it too expensive compared to similar properties on the market, you’ll turn away viewers. So take your agent’s advice when it comes to setting a price for your home.

LISA LEGRAND, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES
Direct 210-827-2884
Fax 210-493-4669
Licensed in the State of Texas since 1987 #383099
Keller Williams Realty Legacy
1102 E. Sonterra Blvd., #106
San Antonio, TX 78258
Email: lisa@legrandrealtors.com
Website: www.legrandrealtors.com

6 Things that Will Stop Your House From Selling

The Fine Art of Managing Your Corporate Risks -

 Your insurance program should be as individual and unique as your business.

The process of defining a program that will best manage your corporate risks is called risk management. It should be included as part of your overall strategic plan.

The following will help you develop a program to meet your unique needs:

Identify and Prioritize: Risks are inherent in every business. A retail store has a high potential for losses due to theft, a manufacturer’s equipment can malfunction and a contractor should be concerned about accidents. Consider these exposures, then prioritize. Which exposure is likely to result in the greatest financial impact?

Deal With Each Risk Individually: Determine the best way to deal with each exposure. Insurance is only one way of transferring risk. Avoidance is another. For example, contractors may ‘avoid’ high-risk jobs. A third is reduction (sprinklers reduce fire damage.) When no alternative is available, insurance protects your assets so you can return to business as usual.

Implement: Follow through and protect your business against each exposure.

Monitor: Continuous improvement is an essential part of your plan. Regularly evaluate its effectiveness and tweak it as needed; for example, if a new technology becomes available.

Risk management is a vital part of owning a business, and knowing your assets are protected will give you peace of mind.

The Fine Art of Managing Your Corporate Risks

The Fine Art of Managing Your Corporate Risks

- News Flash: Employee Breaks Actually Increase Productivity -

Some bosses believe employee breaks are a waste of time. But a growing body of evidence suggests that taking a constructive break from a mental task improves productivity.

For example, a NASA study of pilots on long-haul flights found that those who took turns having brief midflight naps showed a 16% improvement in reaction times after napping, while non-napping pilots experienced a 34% deterioration in reaction time.

Like muscles, the brain becomes fatigued with sustained use and needs time to recover. A short break can help get the creative juices flowing again. In fact, most people will readily agree their most creative thoughts come during moments of rest or reflection.

As well, there is substantial evidence that physically moving around stimulates blood flow and leads to oxygenation in the brain, which increases energy and attentiveness.

There are numerous productive ways to take a break. The ideas below will help employees regenerate. (Note that checking Facebook isn’t among them.)

• Take a walk: Get some fresh air and a change of scene.

• Take a catnap: Close your eyes for 15 or 20 minutes and let your mind wander.

• Chat with a friend or colleague to get a new perspective on the task at hand.

• Run an errand or do a nonwork-related chore.

• Go to the gym and get some exercise.

These and other activities can boost their productivity and sense of well-being. Just be sure your employees don’t use break time as an opportunity to procrastinate.

News Flash: Employee Breaks Actually Increase Productivity

 - Why Building Owners Need to Stay Ahead of the Curve -

Redevelopment of existing office buildings will be necessary to meet the ever-changing demands of the commercial marketplace.

There is strong evidence to suggest that approximately 80% of the nation’s commercial building stock will still be standing for the next 10 to 15 years.

Using this knowledge, agents can identify building improvements that will allow developers to maximize the value of their commercial property portfolios. Energy efficiency, accessibility and functionality need to be kept up-to-date.

There are now smart building technologies geared toward the retrofit market. These products and technologies are designed to improve energy efficiency in key areas such as heating, cooling and electrical systems. Developers can find valuable cost savings as a result of the improved efficiency.

Accessibility and functionality have always been hot-button issues. As the population ages and the workforce becomes more diversified, it has become increasingly important for property owners to adapt to meet the needs of their employees and their customers.

As building owners and investors strive to adapt to changes in the workplace, improvements have become an essential element to secure the growth of any business.

By ensuring that your properties are efficient, accessible and functional, you will increase the potential for profit in your commercial building portfolio.  The process will save money and create an environment that will foster higher tenancy rates and improved customer satisfaction.

Picture Credit: Flickr

Contact a San Antonio Commercial Real Estate Expert today:

Link LeGrand, CCIM 210-789-5465

Why Building Owners Need to Stay Ahead of the Curve

Why Building Owners Need to Stay Ahead of the Curve

Ask the Agent: This Month’s Question

How should I prepare my home for sale?

You want your home to show well, which means getting rid of clutter and making sure it is clean, neat and well maintained both inside and outside.

1. Remove all clutter. Pack or store anything you do not need. Donate the rest to your favorite charity or having a garage sale.

2. Store your valuables or lock them up in a safe place. This includes jewelry, collectibles, artwork and medicines in your medicine cabinet.

3. Eliminate smoking odors and pet odors.

4. Paint the inside and outside with neutral colors, steam clean carpets or replace with new carpeting or flooring. Stage the furniture and accessorize with pillows, plants, candles and other accessories.

5. Curb appeal matters. Manicure your lawn and trim trees and shrubs. Plant new flowers. Mend broken fences or gates.

LISA LEGRAND, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES
Direct 210-827-2884
Fax 210-493-4669
Licensed in the State of Texas since 1987 #383099
Keller Williams Realty Legacy
1102 E. Sonterra Blvd., #106
San Antonio, TX 78258
Email: lisa@legrandrealtors.com
Website: www.legrandrealtors.com

How should i prepare my home for sale

 

- Companies Still Need Brick & Mortar “Motherships” -

Even though companies are finding abundant benefits in shifting to telecommuting and mobile-friendly office environments, many are still seeing value in maintaining a physical presence; with CEOs such as Yahoo’s Marissa Mayer, who recently banned working from home, we’re far from seeing the end of bricks and mortar.

In today’s economy, the last thing you want is for your customers to think you’ve called it quits. Yet that’s exactly the message you risk communicating if you shift entirely off-site. And while a loosely connected company of creatives may be able to get away with working from anywhere, most robust companies need to come together at a “mothership” – the new slang for company headquarters.

However small, having a central HQ lets the public know you exist: It offers a stable place for collaboration and creates a brand-reinforcing space for clients.

Many forward-thinking companies are also using their bricks and mortar after hours to host community events; this gives them another way to get people through the door and demonstrate what the organization does during its working hours – something that obviously won’t work for virtual companies.

In fact, the ideal arrangement may be a marriage of old and new. With bricks and mortar still a necessity, studies show employers are modifying – not getting rid of – their office spaces.

By becoming more flexible, companies are reducing resource consumption and desk space. By 2020, office space will decline by 17 percent, with a 7 to 10 ratio of desks to workers. But the “mothership” will still be there.

Picture Credit: Flickr

Companies Still Need Brick & Mortar “Motherships”

Thinking of Buying a Fixer-Upper? How to Do It Right

With proper due diligence and the right real estate agent, buying a fixer-upper can be a satisfying and lucrative experience. Buying a bad one, though, can lead to disaster. 

Here are some tips to help you avoid problems:

Location: A bad house in a desirable neighborhood is almost guaranteed to pay big dividends for the savvy buyer. Here’s where a good real estate agent – as a specialist in local neighborhoods – can be worth his or her weight in gold.

Mass Appeal: You’ll want to look for a home that appeals to the largest number of buyers. That means three or more bedrooms and more than one bathroom.

Sensible Layout: Look past the current floor plan and figure out how the home will work. Today’s buyers look for openness and rooms that flow seamlessly.

Bang for Buck: Avoid costly makeovers like shoring up sagging foundations. Instead, think cosmetic fixes. Plaster and paint, new bathroom fixtures, and even a new roof and energy-saving windows are relatively inexpensive and can turn your ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.

Potential Problems: An investment in a good home inspector can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. You can try requesting a home inspection and a roof certification as part of the deal. Ask your real estate agent about any nearby landfills, reports of contamination and other conditions that could affect resale value. You may even want a structural engineer to examine the property as a condition of sale.

LISA LEGRAND, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES
Direct 210-827-2884
Fax 210-493-4669
Licensed in the State of Texas since 1987 #383099
Keller Williams Realty Legacy
1102 E. Sonterra Blvd., #106
San Antonio, TX 78258
Email: lisa@legrandrealtors.com
Website: www.legrandrealtors.com

Thinking of Buying a Fixer-Upper? How to Do It Right