Lighting: Why It’s Important and How You Should Use It

Lighting has the ability to change the way a room feels and looks. A small, dark bedroom can be turned into a cozy get-away simply by adding proper lighting like lamps, overhead fixtures, and dimmers(NYTimes). Lighting is especially important in real estate, for both buyers and sellers. Poor lighting can make it difficult for buyers to see the potential a house has and that means less offers for sellers.

Why Is Lighting Important?

According to Lights.com, “proper lighting is known to improve mood and energy levels” and can also affect your appetite and circadian rhythms. Natural, bright light in the morning will make you more alert and dimmed, soft light will help your transition into sleep. Lighting has the power to effect mood and energy, and therefore is important to pay attention to when buying and selling.

How Should Lighting Be Used?

There are three types of lighting, “general, which provides basic light for the room; task lighting, which highlights a specific work area; and accent lighting, which can create a focal point in the room”(HGTV). Those three types of lighting should be used throughout your home and with each other to create the perfect lighting plan.

Kitchen

Task lighting is important in the kitchen because you need be able to see when you are cooking. Under cabinet lighting and recessed overhead lighting are great for this(HGTV).

Bathroom

According to the New York Times, you should avoid using a recessed light fixture in your bathroom because “it casts shadows that are not flattering”. A better choice would be wall-mounted sconces that create even illumination.

Room Size

Lighting is a great tool for rooms where space is limited. According to LightLogic, you can create the illusion that a room is larger than it is by placing your light fixtures higher up in the room to draw the eye up as well as using mirrors to reflect existing light,

Bulbs

Lastly, don’t forget that the bulbs you use matter. LED bulbs are versatile and come in a range of colors. According to the New York Times, a good option is “warm white”. Avoid “day light” bulbs as they have a “dreaded warehouse look”.

Featured Lender: Rudy Ferrante, Residential Mortgage Services

Name: Rudy Ferrante

Company: Residential Mortgage Services(RMS), South Portland, ME

Rudy Ferrante has been working at Residential Mortgage Services since 2010. Before working here, Rudy worked at a local mortgage company for seven years. In his spare time, Rudy enjoys spending time with his daughter, Ella, and is both a hockey fan and player.

Rudy is ranked amongst the Top 1% of originators across America by Mortgage Executive Magazine.

““The thing I like best about working with my clients is helping them in the biggest, or one of the biggest, financial transactions of their lives.” ”

— Rudy Ferrante, Residential Mortgage Services

We asked Rudy….

What are your specialties?

My team comes with many specialties including First Time Home Buyers and Investors. We take great pride in educating our clients on the programs available to them to make wise decisions on selecting financing, whether it is for their first home or an investment property. Lifelong relationships are one of our goals and positioning clients for long term success is key to building those relationships.

Tips for first-time buyers?

Take as much advice from the Realtor and lender as possible. Knowledge is power and you want to make sure you are taking advantage of all the best options for your needs.

What’s something you think buyers should know about the market now?

This is a great market to buy a property. Maine is on the move and the growth we are seeing has created some great opportunities for many clients ranging from First-Time Home Buyers to seasoned investors.

What makes you different than other lenders?

At RMS we understand buying a home is one of the largest and most important investments anyone makes. From helping prepare your initial paperwork through settlement on the home of your dreams, you can trust that RMS has you covered. RMS is an independent, privately held company and direct lender of residential mortgage products, and our loan specialists have direct access to a full spectrum of integrated loan processing, underwriting and direct lending services – all under one roof our corporate office is right here in South Portland and we take pride on reputation and getting to the closing table on time. We are ready to guide you home.   

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Contact Rudy
Residential Mortgage Services
Cell: 207-939-0053
Office:207-808-4200 x20200
Rudy.Ferrante@rmsmortgage.com

At Gray Fox Real Estate, we know that providing high-quality real estate services is only possible with help and expertise of industry professionals that we trust.

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There is no affiliation between Residential Mortgage Services and the real estate agent or agency listed above. This arrangement is for your convenience, and does not constitute an endorsement of RMS or a referral to RMS by the Agency. You are free to seek financing from the mortgage lender of your choice.   NMLS# 1760; www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org; Equal Housing Opportunity; Operating as RMS Mortgage in FL, FL Mortgage Lender License #MLD232; ME Supervised Lender License #SLM2537; MA Mortgage Lender & Broker #MC1760; NH Mortgage Banker License #8816-MB; Mortgage Lender/Broker, VA Corp. Commission #MC-5816

Just Sold in Auburn, Maine!

89 Old Danville Road, Auburn, $231,000

This wonderfully maintained home located in Auburn with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a garage is perfect for families and entertaining. The kitchen features Corian counter-tops, with an island to sit or eat at and a huge dining room. You can relax in the living room or the finished "family cave". This home has a master bedroom with a large walk in closet and full bath, down stairs has two other bedrooms, another full bath, with the laundry not far by. This quality built home features wainscoting and awesome brickwork. Don’t forget the back deck and large lot with a wooded back drop.

The Sustainable Building Products You Should Be Using On Your Next Project

There are many considerations to make when choosing building products for your next project, like price, durability, and color/textures. But one consideration that is often overlooked is the sustainability of those products. When a building is demolished, what happens to those materials?

Take steel, for example. Steel is known for its durability, but creating it, as well as materials like concrete and glass, “requires temperatures of up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit, which is achieved with large amounts of fossil fuel-based energy”(UMass Amherst). While steel can be recycled, the amount of energy needed to melt and reuse the material has similar negative effects on the environment. Thankfully, there are many sustainable building products that can help to reduce the negative environmental effects when building.

Cork

According to ArchDaily.com, “the harvesting of cork is a completely renewable process that causes no harm to the tree and naturally regrows after ten years”. Cork can be used for indoor or outdoor projects and can provide them with water, sound, and fire proofing.

Bamboo

Bamboo has become a popular building material within the last few years. It regrows quickly and is “two to three times stronger than steel”(ArchDaily), plus it looks cool while doing it!

Marmoleum

According to GreenBuildingSupply, Marmoleum is actually a type of linoleum made of all natural products like “linseed oil, natural resin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and powdered limestone”(ArchDaily). Those natural materials make Marmoleum biodegradable and able to be incinerated.

Wood

While this one may seem obvious, it’s important to know why materials like wood are great options. According to WagnerMeters.com, wood has a longer life cycle than steel or concrete and that life cycle has a significantly smaller environmental effect. It’s also biodegradable, cheaper to produce, and more energy efficient, meaning less energy to heat and cool a building. The list goes on!

As environmentally responsible consumers and producers, we need to be aware of the potential effects that our decisions today will have in the future. Consider your options when you are buying your next home or building your next project. You can do your part in keeping our Earth clean.

Just Sold in Standish, Maine!

66 Rolling Hills Drive, Standish, $268,000

A gorgeous 3 bedroom/2 bath Cape with open floor plan situated on a wooded lot. This home also has a screened-in porch, full basement, and an efficiency apartment above the 2-car garage. Located in a quiet and peaceful neighborhood, just 5 min to Windham and Sebago Lake.

Just Sold in South Portland, Maine!

10 Lee Avenue, South Portland, $215,000

Enjoy more free time with a minimalist lifestyle in this charming post-WWII Cape. Situated on a double lot perfect for a garden. Located on a quiet dead end street. The unfinished attic space would be perfect for storage. The dry basement could be finished. Inexpensive to heat. They don't make 'em like this anymore. This is small living in style! Ride your bike to Portland, or hop on the Green Trail. You are also only minutes to beaches! Don't miss this one!

Moments in Buying And Selling That You Need To Trust Your Agent

It's so important when it comes to buying or selling to find an agent that you trust. This is your home. This is your investment. Real Estate is more than just a transaction, it involves your emotions. The memories that were made in your old home and the aspirations that you have for your new home are all part of the process and should be considered. However, sometimes emotions can make it difficult to make the best possible choice. That's why having an agent you trust will help you make the best decision possible when it comes to buying or selling!

Home valuation

When it comes to selling your home, hearing that the value is lower than you expected can be hard. Market conditions and historical data can provide Realtors with information to provide you with an estimated value based on comparable properties, called a Comparable Market Analysis. Polly Cockrill, Gray Fox Real Estate’s Designated Broker and Owner, can explain why it is so important that you trust your agent when it comes to valuing your home.

“I try to use similar methods to valuation that an appraiser would use to price a property to avoid problems for my clients. I spend quite a bit of time providing a Comparable Market Analysis. I collect data of homes that are similar in size, age, and location. For rural properties, this can be a challenge because there are generally fewer comparables. I also take into consideration the cost of construction on newer homes or homes that need total rehab. Often, I find discrepancies between what a home will sell for and the value of the home after considering the costs to rehab. There is an increasing disparity between the cost of construction approach to value, and market value.. Market value is defined as what a Buyer is willing to pay.”

Negotiation

No one wants to pay too much for a property, especially when it’s an investment as large as buying real estate. Negotiating can be difficult because you don't want to make an offer that’s too high and spend more than you need to, but you also don't want to offer too little, and get outbid by another buyer. This is where your agent's knowledge and experience comes into play. They have the skills that are needed. They know how to negotiate. Your agent will advice you and make their recommendations on what to offer, but you must be the one to decide what you feel comfortable with.

“The market conditions seem to be stable as of February 2019 but are leveling out. The value of homes seem to be staying the same. I am seeing more foreclosures and short sales. I anticipate we will be able to declare that we have a Buyer’s Market in 2020 or 2021.”

— Polly Cockrill, Designated Broker, Gray Fox Real Estate

Repairs/improvements

You know your home, but your agent wants to position your home to obtain the best price. What may have worked for you and your family might not be what works for potential buyers.

Do you have a spare room that has become a landing place for miscellaneous items? Tidy it up, get rid of clutter, and add a purpose to the space. According to Houzz, "Each room should have a clearly defined purpose" when preparing your home for selling. You want to make the home camera-ready, and make it seem like no one lives. This is always a difficult task for everyone!

Always be sure to ask your agent to explain anything that you need more clarification on. Be sure to ask for data and proof that supports their advice. This is your home, your money and you deserve to understand what is going on during your transaction! If you think something sounds off, ask about it. A trustworthy agent will provide you with evidence to assure you that you are making smart decisions.

At Gray Fox Real Estate, due diligence is a service we provide all clients. Below, we explain why we focus on due diligence and why you should value it in your real estate agent.

At Gray Fox Real Estate, we provide comprehensive due diligence services to our clients. This means that we work hard to discover all material defects and facts that may affect the value of the property. In Maine, the burden of risk analysis falls on the Buyers due to “caveat emptor” or “Let the buyer beware.” Therefore, excellent due diligence services in a real estate transaction are crucially important. Our staff is trained to use a proprietary due diligence system. This is an extensive and time-consuming process, but well-worth the results. Our clients can be confident when making one of the largest financial decisions of their lives.

Just Sold in Saco, Maine!

30 Therrien Avenue, Saco, $238,000

This four bedroom, two bath home in Saco boasts a large backyard. Conveniently located close toThornton Academy, Main Street, I-95 and within walking distance to so much that Saco has to offer!