GOOD NEWS JUST IN ON THE HOME SALES FRONT....

"The upswing in April sales was expected because of the tax credit inducement, and no doubt there will be some temporary fallback" ahead,” says National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. He further states that  “Not only do consumers have growing confidence in the economy and their own incomes, but home buyers no longer fear further price declines -- and that's a crucial turning point in the cycle.”

THINKING ABOUT SELLING YOUR HOME?

THINKING ABOUT SELLING YOUR HOME?

Have you heard that STAGING can make a difference and may help sell your home?

Learn all about it at Robb & Stucky by attending one of their seminars, “Staging to Sell”.  Robb & Stucky Design Consultant Ron Hammond will tell you how to “prep” your home for a faster sale and make it stand out from other homes on the market.   

Your real estate agent can also be helpful, e.g. convincing you to remove clutter, open up spaces… after all, “it is all about the buyer,” and they are not interested in the sellers collections nor family photos, but rather, how their collections and furniture will fit in your home if they buy it.  It may be hard for sellers to understand that, but can make the difference for a faster sale.

The seminars will be held in the Boca Raton store in Mizner Park on May 27^th and June 24^th at 2 pm.  Reserve by calling 561-862-5597.

JUNE HAPPENINGS TO ENJOY

JUNE HAPPENINGS TO ENJOY

Old School Square members have lots of goodies in store.  You and the family can visit 17 museums, attractions and cultural centers free during June 2010. 

This includes the BAMM program which gives free June entry to 20 organizations including the Boca Raton Children’s Museum, Cornell Museum, Cinema Paradiso, Flamingo Gardens, IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame, International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum, and many other interesting facilities.

The Cornell Museum of Art has developed a reciprocal partnership with the Boca Raton Museum of Art, allowing OSS members complimentary admission from June 22 through August 8, 2010 to the Boca Museum of Art 59^th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibition and the Boca Museum Artist’ Guild Exhibition and permanent collection.

Collectors should head over to the Cornell Museum for their STUFF II: The  Joy of Collecting exhibit.  Treasured items have been loaned by local collectors including glass, vintage household items, comic books, antique tools, women’s accessories, photographs, baseball cards, duck decoys and home décor which have wonderful stories accompanying the collections. 

Old School Square Membership starts at $30 for up to 2 adults and children under 18 in same household.

BOCA RATON TO GIVE INCENTIVE DOLLARS TO BUSINESSES

City Council, recognizing that other local and state governments are giving out funds and other assistance to attract businesses, has approved $1,000,000 to provide local matching dollars to business receiving state money or moving to the city, or to expanding local businesses that are creating jobs.  Some state, city and county grants require a local dollar match. The amount may increase to $5,000,000.  The City Council’s focus is to create jobs and expand the tax base.

Under the plan, a local business could receive between $1000 and $500,000 to create a certain number of jobs, provide a salary level that is 120% of the average county salary, and have the potential to create significant economic growth in the city.  The target is office-based and industrial businesses, not restaurants or retail businesses.

Eleven programs include workforce training assistance and grants, low-interest loans to start up small businesses, façade improvement grants and building renovations that will make energy use more efficient.  Economic development funds have also been created in Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens. 

ROBB & STUCKY'S FAUX PAINTING SEMINAR REVIEW

If you enjoyed finger painting as a child, you will understand why Tim Ellis has such a good time doing the beautiful faux painting work that he does.   Tim showed us samples of fabulous marble, wood, granite, leather, suede, Venetian plaster and fabric finishes that he made. 

His grandfather started the faux painting business in Florence, Italy, and now a 4^th generation is also involved.   He explained that faux painting is an absorbing business and told us about the process. 

He showed us a marble finish he did that had 9 layers… took several days.  Many finishes can be done in one day in one room.  He uses a water base primer that, vs. oil based, is not toxic and does not smell.  Wipe the surface first with primer, sand, apply finish(es) and then glaze.  He suggested using Old Masters glaze and has experimented with most glazes, if not all.  Tim said that glazes seal the paint and give a nice luster, and best of all they can be scrubbed.  He showed us that you can put a strong color in the back ground, striae (stripe) at random over it in white and the background will be there, but not strong.  Tim described various brushes he uses, and he also uses sponging and other methods.

A leather sample he did went up on a coffered ceiling, matching the furniture in the room.  Wood finishes match actual wood pieces and look exactly like them.  Marbles were beautiful colors and he compared using the same colors with darker or lighter results.  The black granite sample, he said, was okay for formica cabinets but not for counter tops. 

I found myself thinking how closely his work resembled faux work done on pillars and in architectural niches in a listing of mine.  The pillars are painted to match the floor and "fade out," and are not intrusive.  When he showed the crushed tissue paper samples, I got very excited, as the listing's master bathroom had it on the walls.  I raised my hand and asked, “Back in about 2002 did you do a builder’s model in Polo Trace?”  He said he did. I said, “I KNEW IT and want to tell everyone here that it looks as good today as when he did it.  The house looks fabulous because of those touches.”  See more pictures featuring Tim's faux painting, scroll down page to the listing for this property in Polo Trace.

If you want to reach Tim, call Robb and Stucky Design Consultant Ron Hammond at 561-445-7190.

VOTE FOR THE 2010 COLLECTIBLE CAR OF THE YEAR

The New York Times offers pix of 30 finalists with classics from different eras and countries to vote for.   

Pictures and information on each car are available.  Voting ends May 17, 2010.  Winner to be announced July 24, 2010.   

Photos also available on the site for previous winners.