What Staging a Home is NOT!

What Staging a Home is NOT!!!

You hear get rid of clutter, personal items and make it neutral.  But staging a home to sell does not mean you remove a homes personality and make it boring and forgettable.  It's about making it have a connection to the widest expanse of potential buyers and sparking an emotional connection.

For example:

Spring, summer and fall - don't forget to stage your outdoor living areas!  Colorful seat cushions, blooming, fragrant flowers. A cozy sitting area , candles, perhaps having one of those small $25 fountains I've seen can add a soothing ambiance. Add some stepping stones? A quirky piece of art work or garden trellis? I was riding my bike recently and an older home with a great covered front porch had hung some beautiful sheer curtains on a couple sides of the porch and gathered them with a colorful bow that matched the house trim. It was so eye catching and inviting!

Inside - If you have a lot of custom trim work - you want to be sure it is highlighted with contrasting paint - don't let it fade into the sterile white walls.  Keeping your walls a warm tone, you can add pops of color with art work, pillows, rugs, towels, lamp shades, vases, etc.

Create a vignette (aka - purpose) for a room.  In a family room set out some board games.  Basement rec room - how about some movie DVD's, pop corn bowl or a WI game......

There are many more possibilities and ideas - pinterest can offer an endless supply of ideas - which can make you dizzy .

Indy Goes to Work!!!

Indy Goes to Work!!!

Second Quarter Jobs Report from the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce for the Metropolitan Area

In the second quarter of 2014 (Q2), the region saw diverse growth across various sectors.  More than 2700 new jobs were committed in Q2, bringing the total year to date up to 5,400.  Capital investment figures showed more than $350 million in the second quarter bringing the year to date total to $500 million.

Logistics and warehousing were the winners with the most jobs committed with 960 new jobs.  Information technology came in a close second with 700 jobs.

Some notable second quarter wins for the area include:

ULTA, Inc - nation's largest beauty retailer announced plans to locate a fulfillment and distribution center in Greenwood adding up to 537 new jobs by 2018 with a $51.6 million in capital investments.

Walmart - announced plants to locate an e-commerce fulfillment center in Plainfield, creating up to 303 new jobs by 2016.

Interactive Intelligence - announced plans to expand its headquarters, creating up to 430 high wage jobs by 2016. This growth goes along with construction of a new 112,000sf office building estimated at $28million.

TOA, LLC - Metal stamping and automotive suspension parts manufacturer with operations in Mooresville announced plans to expand operations and create up to 220 new jobs by 2015.

Beck's Hybrids - Nation's largest family-owned seed company announced plans to expand headquarters, production, research and distribution operations creating up to 100 new jobs by 2017. They will also invest $60 million to renovate and equip its current location in Atlanta, IN.

Blue Indy - Getting around goes green

Blue Indy - Getting around goes green

Have you seen them yet?   They have a "come try us out" site at 14 E. Washington in downtown Indianapolis.  Open every day from 11am - 7pm.  You can try it out for free.

Yes - electric car sharing is coming to Indy!!!  The initial plan is to start with 25 sites and slowly expand to 200 locations with 500 cars throughout the Metro area.

You would have a membership fee and then a per hour charge.  No parking fees, no pollution.  Just plug to plug!  Unplug and go......

I'm excited - thinking about all the times we drive ourselves to the airport and pay to leave our car sitting out in the weather for days or weeks!  One of the first sites will be at the airport in addition to just a couple miles from my house.  I'm already planning to try this out when available - cutting my parking fees dramatically when travelling!

When the Pacer bicycles just won't get you where you need to go, or the weather is inclimental - what a great option.

Check their website HERE for more details (exact pricing still not available) and get signed up for their newsletter so you will know right away.

Here are the first 25 proposed sites:

July in Indiana - WAY more than corn!!!

July in Indiana - WAY more than corn!!!

This is a loooonnnnnngggg list - but didn't want anyone to feel slighted.  Between July 4th celebrations and County fairs you can sweat your way through the entire month!

Name	Date	Days	Start Day	City
Linton Freedom Festival	7/2/14 7/4/14	3	Wed	Linton, IN
Cedar Lake Summerfest	7/3/14 7/6/14	4	Thu	Cedar Lake, IN
Carmelfest	7/3/14 7/4/14	2	Thu	Carmel, IN
National Powwow	7/3/14 7/6/14	4	Thu	Danville, IN
Haynes Apperson Festival	7/3/14 7/5/14	3	Thu	Kokomo, IN
Bartholomew County 4-h Fair	7/4/14 7/12/14	9	Fri	Columbus, IN
Portage 4th Of July Parade & Festival	7/4/14	1	Fri	Portage, IN
Madison Regatta	7/4/14 7/6/14	3	Fri	Madison, IN
61st Lagrange Co. 4-h Fair	7/5/14 7/12/14	8	Sat	Lagrange, IN
Laporte County Fair	7/6/14 7/12/14	7	Sun	La Porte, IN
Gibson County Fair	7/6/14 7/12/14	7	Sun	Princeton, IN
Cass County 4-h Fair	7/6/14 7/12/14	7	Sun	Logansport, IN
Crawford County 4h Fair	7/6/14 7/13/14	8	Sun	Marengo, IN
Kosciusko County Community Fair	7/6/14 7/12/14	7	Sun	Warsaw, IN
Vigo County Fair	7/6/14 7/12/14	7	Sun	Terre Haute, IN
Delaware County Fair	7/7/14 7/19/14	13	Mon	Muncie, IN
Floyd County Indiana 4-h	7/7/14 7/12/14	6	Mon	New Albany, IN
Jay County Fair	7/7/14 7/12/14	6	Mon	Portland, IN
Decatur County Fair	7/10/14 7/17/14	8	Thu	Greensburg, IN
Bean Blossom Southern Gospel Jubilee	7/10/14 7/12/14	3	Thu	Morgantown, IN
Name	Date	Days	Start Day	City
Clark County 4-h Fair	7/11/14 7/19/14	9	Fri	Charlestown, IN
Blackford County 4-h & Open Fair	7/11/14 7/19/14	9	Fri	Hartford City, IN
Three Rivers Festival	7/11/14 7/19/14	9	Fri	Fort Wayne, IN
Angola Balloons Aloft	7/11/14 7/12/14	2	Fri	Angola, IN
Whitley County 4-h Fair	7/11/14 7/17/14	7	Fri	Columbia City, IN
Artie Fest Community Celebration & Homecoming	7/11/14 7/13/14	3	Fri	Martinsville, IN
Sheridan Bluegrass Fever	7/11/14 7/12/14	2	Fri	Sheridan, IN
South Shore Air Show	7/11/14 7/13/14	3	Fri	Fair Oaks, IN
Lapel Village Fair	7/11/14 7/12/14	2	Fri	Lapel, IN
Posey County 4-h Fair	7/12/14 7/19/14	8	Sat	New Harmony, IN
Circus City Festival	7/12/14 7/19/14	8	Sat	Peru, IN
Sullivan County 4-h Fair	7/12/14 7/19/14	8	Sat	Sullivan, IN
Jasper County Fair	7/12/14 7/18/14	7	Sat	Rensselaer, IN
Wabash Riverfest	7/12/14	1	Sat	West Lafayette, IN
Bark In The Park	7/12/14	1	Sat	Chesterton, IN
Lawrence County 4h Fair	7/12/14 7/19/14	8	Sat	Bedford, IN
Noble County Community Fair	7/12/14 7/19/14	8	Sat	Kendallville, IN
Hendricks County Fair	7/13/14 7/19/14	7	Sun	Danville, IN
Johnson County Fair	7/13/14 7/19/14	7	Sun	Franklin, IN
Harrison County Fair	7/13/14 7/19/14	7	Sun	Corydon, IN

Name	Date	Days	Start Day	City
Newton County Fair	7/14/14 7/19/14	6	Mon	Kentland, IN
Warrick County 4-h Fair	7/14/14 7/19/14	6	Mon	Boonville, IN
Dubois County 4-h Fair	7/15/14 7/20/14	6	Tue	Huntingburg, IN
Festival Of The Lakes	7/16/14 7/20/14	5	Wed	Hammond, IN
Porter County Fair	7/17/14 7/26/14	10	Thu	Valparaiso, IN
Hamilton County 4-h Fair	7/17/14 7/22/14	6	Thu	Noblesville, IN
Elkhart County 4-h Fair	7/18/14 7/26/14	9	Fri	Goshen, IN
Culver Lake Fest	7/18/14 7/20/14	3	Fri	Culver, IN
Putnam County Fair	7/18/14 7/25/14	8	Fri	Greencastle, IN
Orange County 4-h Fair	7/18/14 7/25/14	8	Fri	Paoli, IN
Tippecanoe Co. 4-h County Fair	7/19/14 7/26/14	8	Sat	Lafayette, IN
Wells County 4-h Fair	7/19/14 7/24/14	6	Sat	Bluffton, IN
36th Annual Brownsburg Festival Of The Arts	7/19/14	1	Sat	Brownsburg, IN
Dancing In The Streets	7/19/14	1	Sat	Lafayette, IN
A Park Full Of Art	7/19/14 7/20/14	2	Sat	Griffith, IN
Adams County 4-h County Fair	7/20/14 7/24/14	5	Sun	Monroe, IN
Madison County 4-h Fair	7/20/14 7/26/14	7	Sun	Alexandria, IN
Jackson County Fair	7/20/14 7/26/14	7	Sun	Brownstown, IN
Knox County Fair	7/21/14 7/26/14	6	Mon	Bicknell, IN
Allen County Fair	7/22/14 7/27/14	6	Tue	Fort Wayne, IN

Name	Date	Days	Start Day	City
Benton County Fair	7/23/14 7/28/14	6	Wed	Boswell, IN
Bean Blossom Gospel Jubliee	7/24/14 7/26/14	3	Thu	Morgantown, IN
Swiss Days	7/24/14 7/27/14	4	Thu	Berne, IN
18th Annual Pickle Festival	7/24/14 7/26/14	3	Thu	St Joe, IN
Morgan County Fair	7/25/14 8/2/14	9	Fri	Martinsville, IN
New Carlisle Hometown Days	7/25/14 7/27/14	3	Fri	New Carlisle, IN
Bass Lake Festival	7/25/14 7/27/14	3	Fri	Bass Lake, IN
Pierogi Fest	7/25/14 7/27/14	3	Fri	Whiting, IN
20th Annual Frankfort Hot Dog Festival	7/25/14 7/26/14	2	Fri	Frankfort, IN
Broadway Art Show	7/25/14 7/27/14	3	Fri	Monticello, IN
Kokomo Wings & Wheels	7/26/14	1	Sat	Kokomo, IN
Dixie Days	7/26/14	1	Sat	North Webster, IN
Gnawbrew Beer, Art & Music Festival	7/26/14	1	Sat	Nashville, IN
Brown County 4-h Fair	7/28/14 8/2/14	6	Mon	Nashville, IN
Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival	7/31/14 8/3/14	4	Thu	Nappanee, IN
Jasper Strassenfest	7/31/14 8/3/14	4	Thu	Jasper, IN
Owensville Watermelon Festival	7/31/14 8/2/14	3	Thu	Owensville, IN