Real Estate Wise
  • Real Estate Wise
  • About Us
  • Sellers
    • How do we help you make the wise move in selling your home?
    • PULL HERE TO SELL!
  • Buyers
    • How we help our buyers find their perfect home.
    • Search for your home
  • Make the Wise Move
  • Client Reviews
    • Places to review me

Top 10 Things That Make Your House Spooky - and How to Fix Them

10/1/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Plan Collection (TPC) notes that having a haunted-looking house might be just the look you want once a year, but what about once Halloween's over? The company shares their list of the top 10 elements of a house plan design that can make any home the scariest in the neighborhood along with advice on how to fix them.

1. Eerie Architectural Style. Remember the rather "unique" look of the home in The Addams Family? Norman Bates' house on the hill in Psycho? Certain architectural styles - such as Victorian and the Second Empire style with its mansard roofs - have a long history in spooky literature and horror films. Ironically, we often associate these same styles with some of the most cheerful and charming places in the country - just think Disney's Main Street USA. 

2. Lifeless Color Scheme. Dark paint colors, when used as the primary exterior color, can make almost any home look dreary, uninviting. Lighter paint colors that complement the design of your house are often the better choice for the exterior of your home. Reserve your use of darker color to areas that emphasize special features such as the trim or windows. 

3. Ghostly Lighting. No one wants to knock on the door of a house without exterior lighting, but lighting features that cause heavy shadows along walk-ways or at entry points - creating that fear that something or someone might be lurking just ahead -- can be even worse. Redirecting the light features or using lower wattage bulbs is often an easy way to chase the ghosts away. If investing in new lighting, consider lamps that emphasize the beauty of your home's exterior features. 

4. Zombie Landscaping. Those trees and bushes might have looked perfectly sized to the house for perhaps the first five years after planted, but don't forget... they're alive. Alive! Neglected trees and shrubs keep growing and need constant tending. Without attention, they end up surrounding your house with an "undead" feel. In addition to detracting from the house design, older, large branches are also a risk to your home in storms. Take those pruners and cut off some heads or at least give everything a good trim.

5. Suspended Maintenance. Most everyone puts at least some repairs off, but rigorous home maintenance is essential. Spring and fall are the best time of year to start checking fix-it projects off your list. Fix that step before you have to fix the entire stairs! If the exterior is starting to look dull consider power washing it. Touch up paint before a small problem becomes a big one. 

6. Scary Windows. Small windows or windows covered with heavy drapery create a more somber feel. For small windows, use brighter window treatments to lighten the mood. Take advantage of any larger windows to bring outdoor light into the home. 

7. Creepy Front Door. Ever have second thoughts before knocking on a front door while trick-or-treating? Well, the size and color of the entry door play a big role in making first impressions. If the front door feels uninviting, think about using a bolder, friendlier color such as a bright red, or chase away the shadows by strategically using lighting. 

8. Bone Chilling Floor Plan. Small rooms and narrow hallways make for a cramped, uninviting floor plan. Consider an open concept floor plan if buying or building a house. If renovating, be sure to consult a professional before removing walls in your current home, as they may be "load bearing" walls, and will have to be replaced with other supports or structures. 

9. Mysterious Staircases. Narrow staircases with walls on both sides can be dark and creepy. Lowering a wall to open the staircase up to the room or hallway below can go a long way to dispelling some of the dark, scary mystery and making your stairs more inviting. 

10. Horrifying Home Décor. Dark, oversized furniture and heavy rugs can have a tendency to make a home feel less inviting. Stacks of stuff and excess clutter around the house? Not going to help the situation. Ask yourself if you really need all that stuff and if not, get rid of some of it.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    David and Amanda Blanton

    Make the Wise Move!

    Categories

    All
    Alpharetta
    Appraisal
    Assessment
    Avoid Foreclosure
    Braselton
    Buford Ga
    Buyer Tips
    Choosing A Real Estate Agent
    Cumming
    Dacula
    Duluth
    Financing
    Flowery Branch
    Foreclosure
    For Sale
    Ga
    Grayson
    Gwinnett County
    Hoschton
    Jackson
    John Maxwell
    Johns Creek
    Keller Williams
    Lawrenceville
    Lender
    Listing
    Loan Modification
    Loganville
    Mall Of Geogia
    MI
    Mortgage
    Mortgage Insurance
    Nocross
    Peachtree Corners
    PMI
    Private Mortgage Insurance
    Property Tax Assessment
    Property Taxes
    Real Estate
    Real Estate Agent
    Real Estate Market
    Restaurant
    Review
    Seller Tips
    Shopping For Mortgage
    Short Sale
    Snellville
    Sugar Hill
    Suwanee

    Testimonials
    557886
    ' David is awesome to work with. He knows the area very well. He is extremely responsive, always took my calls and answered my emails and txts. He truly ... more '
    5.0/5.0
    by philipkupersavage
    557657
    ' David was extremely helpful.....We were very picky buyers & he never pressured us to look at a house outside of our parameters or place an offer... he ... more '
    5.0/5.0
    by dwcourter
    309784
    ' Mr. Blanton helped us find the home of our dreams and he did by listening to what we wanted. He taught us about the housing market, guided us in the ... more '
    5.0/5.0
    by user30821228
    Zillow
    David C. Blanton - Agent at Keller Williams Realty

    Archives

    May 2016
    February 2016
    June 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012

    Categories

    All
    Alpharetta
    Appraisal
    Assessment
    Avoid Foreclosure
    Braselton
    Buford Ga
    Buyer Tips
    Choosing A Real Estate Agent
    Cumming
    Dacula
    Duluth
    Financing
    Flowery Branch
    Foreclosure
    For Sale
    Ga
    Grayson
    Gwinnett County
    Hoschton
    Jackson
    John Maxwell
    Johns Creek
    Keller Williams
    Lawrenceville
    Lender
    Listing
    Loan Modification
    Loganville
    Mall Of Geogia
    MI
    Mortgage
    Mortgage Insurance
    Nocross
    Peachtree Corners
    PMI
    Private Mortgage Insurance
    Property Tax Assessment
    Property Taxes
    Real Estate
    Real Estate Agent
    Real Estate Market
    Restaurant
    Review
    Seller Tips
    Shopping For Mortgage
    Short Sale
    Snellville
    Sugar Hill
    Suwanee

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.