The COVID-19 pandemic has changed what many people are looking for in their homes—and, as such, it’s shifted major home and design trends.

And it looks like many of those trends are going to continue long after the pandemic is over.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined the pandemic-related housing and design trends that are likely to stick around post-COVID, including:

• A shift to the suburbs. Many city dwellers are leaving crowded urban areas in search of more space in the suburbs—and now that more companies are going remote (and workers aren’t tied to any particular city), it’s likely that trend is going to continue.
• Clean and cozy design. People are spending more time at home than ever before—and they’re trying to make their homes feel as clean, cozy, and comfortable as possible. Open floor plans, lighter wall colors, decluttering, and simple design accents are on trend right now—and are likely to continue to be on trend moving forward.
• Prime outdoor space. Because people are home so often, having an outdoor space is more important than ever—and backyards and other outdoor spaces are primed to be one of the most in-demand home features for buyers well into 2021 (and beyond).

So, what does this mean for you? Whether you’re thinking about selling your home today or sometime after the pandemic subsides, it’s important to understand the most in-demand trends; that way, you can frame your property in a way that appeals to potential buyers—and have a more successful home sale as a result.

Putting your home on the market this winter? Set the stage by evoking a warm and welcoming vibe that makes would-be buyers want to hang up their coats, kick off their boots, and stay awhile. The following are amenities that prove winter really can be the most wonderful time of the year.

1. Fire pit

Create a covetable outdoor space with the help of a fire pit. Whether it’s made of stone and serves as a permanent fixture or is a movable and affordable centerpiece for backyard S’mores-making, adding the element of fire ups the charm factor immediately.

2. Hot tub

Wait, is this a home or a five-star resort? Watching steam rise from a frothy hot tub on a chilly afternoon or evening makes anyone want to move right in! Giving a place the spa treatment, will remind home-shoppers that with this luxurious item on the premises, winter can last as long as it likes.

3. Home theater

Especially during the winter, playing up the ability to have a blast indoors does wonders for buyers’ peace of mind (more so if they’re parents). A home theater, even on a smaller scale (think flat screen and an old-fashioned popcorn maker), helps visitors envision themselves and their families spending time indoors and in style.

4. Fireplace

It’s almost impossible to resist the hypnotic allure of a roaring fire. If a home has this feature, by all means, strike a match and watch that property heat up!

5. In-home wine bar

Baby, it’s cold outside — so why leave the house? This wine bar is one way to keep spirits merry and bright. It also conjures up thoughts of hosting holiday parties and gatherings as new owners envision celebrating and showing off their place.

6. Hot cocoa bar

On the other end of the spectrum, but no less festive, a hot cocoa bar offers a sweet welcome all ages can enjoy. Placed in the kitchen, dining room, family room, or foyer, this treat station makes you feel comfortable and right at home.

7. Highlight energy-efficient upgrades

In addition to being comfortable temperature-wise, if a home is as energy-efficient as possible, that’s something buyers will definitely want to know — and remember. Creating a list of any upgrades to windows, doors, HVAC units, and the roof, as well as the installation of energy-saving appliances, means more money in buyers’ pockets and less going out the window.

With people spending more time at home, home renovations are on the rise in 2020—and that includes bathroom renovations.

But what are this year’s top bathroom renovation trends? According to Houzz’s 2020 U.S. Bathroom Trends study, some of the biggest trends in bathroom renovations for 2020 include:

Renovating for increased relaxation. Many homeowners are renovating their bathrooms to make their space more relaxing. Two out of five homeowners report using their bathroom as a space to relax, with the bathtub (55 percent) being the most relaxing feature.

Shower accent walls. White is still the go-to color for bathrooms—but more homeowners are getting adventurous with their designs. 37 percent reported adding an accent wall to their shower area. The most popular ways to make a shower accent wall stand out include different surface material (51 percent), color (45 percent), and using pattern (44 percent).

Switching up the lighting. Arguably the most common swap during a bathroom renovation? Lighting. Four out of five renovating homeowners reported changing their lighting during a bathroom renovation.

Halloween will look a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t entertain your own ghosts and ghouls at home! Check out this month’s newsletter for some festive (and social distance approved) entertaining ideas, recipes, and tips that will haunt your loved ones for years to come…in a good way of course.

Enter if you dare! Try out these frighteningly fun decorating ideas to stop even the bravest member of your household dead in their tracks.

Attack of the Spiders

Spooky Apothecary Jars

Frightful Foyer

Bleeding Halloween Candles

Halloween Tablescape

Bones and Bodies

Haunted Mirror

Add Cob Webs

Incorporate Spooky Plants

Monster Halloween Door

Tombstone Yard

Floating Witch Hat Luminaries

DIY Pumpkin Luminaries

Decorated Tree Branches

Buried Bannister

Specimen Jars

Plaster Hands

DIY Witch Leg Chandelier

Don’t leave your guests rolling in their graves all because of a bad music playlist…Try out one of the below Halloween playlists to match the occasion!

YouTube Halloween Hits from the 80’s

Disney’s “This is Halloween” Playlist

Spotify Halloween Playlists

Pandora Halloween Playlist

Grab the popcorn, cozy blankets and turn on your favorite Halloween flick on one of the below streaming services!

Netflix Line-Up

Hulu Haunts

Amazon Picks

Disney Plus Magic

TV Classics

You don’t need a spell to whip up some delicious “boos”. These creative concoctions (and fun mocktails) will get everyone into the holiday spirit in no time!

Adult Cocktails –

Potion De Muerto Cocktail

Sweet Poison Cocktail

Smoking Blackberry Sage Margarita

Shimmery Liqueur Cocktail

Eye Ball Martini

The Vampire Cocktail

Halloween Pumpkin Punch

Black Sangria

Mr. Hyde Potion

Candy Corn Jello Shots

Bleeding Heart Martini

Purple Witches Brew

Shrunken Heads in Cider

Mocktails –

Hocus Pocus Halloween Fizz

Swamp Juice

Creepy Shirley Temples

Goosebumps Punch

Little Monster Mocktail

Pumpkin Butterbeer

Sparkling Pumpkin Pie Mocktail

Purple People Eater Punch

Slow Cooker Vampire Punch

Wondering what to brew up in the kitchen? See below for some serious food inspiration that will have your little monsters “dying” for seconds!

Jack-o-Lantern Pot Pies

Black and Blue Mac & Cheese

Spider Web Pizza

Eye Ball Pasta

Turkey Eyeballs

Halloween Stuffed Peppers

Pumpkin Bread Rolls

Pumpkin Chowder

Pumpkin Cannelloni with Sage Brown-Butter Sauce

Pumpkin Risotto in Hollowed-Out Pumpkin

Spooky Short Ribs

Cider Scalloped Potatoes with Smoked Gouda

Batty Chicken Wings

It’s all treats and no tricks here! From bewitching breadsticks to spider cookies, we have a delectable line-up of homemade appetizers and treats that are “to die” for.

Apps –

Puking Pumpkin

Mummy Dogs

Bewitching Breadsticks

Spooky Spider Deviled Eggs

Skull Veggie Platter

Elegant Meat & Cheese Board

Terrifying Skeleton Cheese Platter

Halloween Ghost Fruit Kabobs

Ghostbusters Green Slimed Popcorn

Halloweeno Poppers

Monster Munch Party Mix

Pumpkin Cheeseball

Desserts –

Strawberry Ghosts

Spider Cookies

“Poison” Apples

Screaming Pretzels

Cake Pop Eye Balls

Rice Krispie Treat Monsters

Dracula Dentures

Spider Web Cake

Hocus Pocus Inspired Smore Pops

Haunted Halloween Brownies

Jack O’ Lantern Bowls

Blood Drip Cupcakes

Mummy Apple Pie

Witch’s Hat Cupcakes

Graveyard Chocolate Cheesecake Dip

While large gatherings are discouraged during this time, you can still drop off some “parting” favors for your friends and family to remember for all of eternity… We’ve got you covered with some creative finds below.

DIY Halloween Smore Kit

Ghostly Grub Treat Bag

Witch’s Broom Favors

Monster Slime

Monster Cookie Kit

Bugs & Kisses Treat Bag (Include Hershey’s kisses)

DIY Candy Corn Hot Chocolate on a Stick

Trick-or-treating is going to look different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn’t mean you should hang up your costume just yet.

Trick-or-treating is not impossible under Sacramento County Public Health’s (SCPH) new guidelines. The county says that trick-or-treating with modifications will be the way to do it this year. Click here to learn more.

COVID-19 has changed the real estate landscape in many ways—including shifting buyer priorities.

But what, exactly, are buyers looking for in today’s market? A recent article from realtor.com outlined the home upgrades buyers are looking for:

Outdoor upgrades. Many people are spending the majority of their time at home these days—and that can lead to a serious case of cabin fever. To escape that cabin fever (without having to leave their homes), buyers are looking for homes with functional, relaxing, and well-designed outdoor spaces. Sprucing up your outdoor space (for example, by refreshing the landscaping or adding a patio) before listing your home can help make the property more attractive to buyers.

A functional home office. More people than ever are working from home—which has made home offices a must-have for many buyers. If you don’t currently have a home office, staging a guest bedroom as an office can help potential buyers see the home’s potential for a functional workspace.

A spruced-up laundry room. COVID has increased many people’s cleaning habits—which, for many, has translated to more time in the laundry room. Making minor updates to spruce up your laundry room (like adding wallpaper, a fresh coat of paint, or extra storage) can help to up your home’s value in the eyes of cleanliness-concerned buyers.

If you’re planning on selling your home, these upgrades can make your home more appealing to buyers—which may help you sell your home faster and more profitably.