If you haven’t tried Pinterest, you should give it a whirl.

It’s a “scrapbook” of ideas, all with links directly to their sources.  Of course, once you reach the source, you may find even more wonderful ideas on that website.  You can play for hours.

For example, you can select the category “homes and decorating,” and up pops an endless scrolling opportunity through thousands of ideas.

If you like one, you can pin it to your own “board,” and you’re off to your own little Pinterest page.  Yes, it’s addictive.

I’ve been saving ideas that might appeal to my clients. They can be found on Pinterest right HERE.

If you need an invitation to get your own Pinterest account, just email me at caryperk@windermere.com and I’ll get you one right away!

Start your spring cleaning, and finish up with a donation to the Windermere Foundation in exchange for their disposal of all your unwanted electronic items.  It’s a win/win if I ever saw one!

Have you ever thought, “The color of those bedroom walls would be perfect in my house – I wonder what color it is!”  Or, “her shirt is the perfect color for my kitchen.”

Well, now there’s hope for finding that perfect color of paint.

Download Sherwin William’s colorsnap app (Look in the App Store for colorsnap) and now you can take a picture of anything and find out what Sherwin Williams paint color it will be!

Rents will increase on average 4 percent this year, according to this article.

Home prices are at 2003 levels, interest rates are at their lowest in memory, and investors are jumping in with both feet.  If you would like advice on how this can work for your investment portfolio, please let me know.

Technology with style.

SMEG has the slickest kitchen designs, created by some of the most important architects and industrial designers of the world.

For over 60 years, SMEG has been creating distinctive domestic products and becoming internationally recognized for quality appliances with an eye for even the smallest detail.

Gorgeous 50′s retro flueless fireplace

The use of color makes a sophisticated style statement.

Available locally through Hammer and Hand / Bright DesignLab Retail Studio, 404 NW 10th Ave #101, Portland 97209

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve recommended PODS to my sellers who are feeling overwhelmed with clutter, storage, and the sifting of possessions that comes with moving.  Figuring out where to store things while the house is being shown is of great concern, but a POD, or portable storage unit is a pretty simple solution.

The company will deliver a little unit, almost like a very short semi trailer, into your street or driveway, and then it’s up to you to load all your extraneous junk that you want to keep, but don’t want cluttering your home while it’s being shown to prospective buyers.  It locks up at night, and you can keep it as long as you need.  Once it’s filled, they pick it up and take the unit to a storage facility where it’s kept until you’re ready for them to deliver it to your new place.

Here’s a link to information on PODS.  I noted several negative reviews of PODS on Yelp.com, but I’ve had many clients who were happy customers.

And here’s a competitor, and a comparison to PODS rates – Mobile Mini, Inc.

And another, Smartbox

And  1-800-PACKRAT, now available at select Lowes.

U-Haul also has an option.

Door to Door is another….as is UPack!

I hope this helps you with your move.  It certainly feels good to get all that junk out of the house.  Maybe you’ll be more selective as you bring it back in.  If you find that you’ve saved way too much furniture, household goods, or beds, just call Community Warehouse!  They accept donations, and will distribute them to low-income people in Oregon who are setting up households.  They’ll provide you with a tax deductible receipt.

If you have a room with little sunlight, how do you decide on paint colors to minimize the darkness?

I’ve just read a great article, with beautiful color photos (which I can’t copy here due to copyright laws) and here is the link.

Happy Painting!

Also see my post on the new colors for 2012…. here.

It’s pretty inexpensive and easy to apply an opaque film or etched glass to your front door with just a little slit for peeking.  I loved the looks of this on a recent home tour and wanted to share it – and also to remember it for the side panels next to my front door.

The cost of renting has continued to climb, as the cost of real estate ownership has dropped during the last few years.  Now, with extremely low interest rates and greatly deflated housing prices, purchasing a rental property is becoming a popular notion again.  See the attached article for more info.