Art For the Budget Conscious: 5 Places to Buy Affordable Art Online

Painting by Samantha Carrell

The high price point of original art and prints can be challenging if you just moved into a new home, but that doesn't mean you can't deck your place out in great art without breaking your budget. In fact, you don't even need to leave your couch if you use these sites to buy affordable art online. 

Etsy

Etsy is the largest handmade marketplace, with over one million independent sellers offering their goods. You can find originals and prints at very affordable prices and support artists directly by purchasing through their storefronts. Some Etsy sellers offer Art Card Originals and Editions, or ACEOs, which are 2.5-inch by 3.5-inch playing card-sized pieces. 

Everything But the House

Everything But the House is an estate sale website that allows you to bid on pieces online, rather than showing up for an in-person auction. You'll find a wide variety of styles, as the art comes from personal collections. In most cases, they are framed so they're ready to go up on your walls. 

Society 6

Society 6 is a marketplace entirely dedicated to artists. They have thousands of unique styles, offered on everything from canvas to duvet covers. If you want to create coordinating looks in your new home, you have plenty of flexibility through this website. 

Tiny Showcase

Sometimes too many choices can be overwhelming when you're trying to figure out your home's unique style. Tiny Showcase curates a small selection of prints every week, with new options going up Tuesday. The site mixes up emerging artists with well-established names while maintaining an affordable price point.

1000 Museums

Ever see a painting at a museum and wish you could bring it home with you? 1000 Museums lets you do exactly that, by offering a platform that features a well-organized print collection revolving around specific art styles, museums and famous artists. You get multiple print size options, allowing you to mix and match based on your available space.

You don't need to lament over bare walls any longer. Use these websites to create a personal gallery that brings a smile to your face every single day. 

Denver Fall Real Estate Outlook

Some people think that as the weather cools down, so too does the real estate market. However, whether you're looking to buy or sell a home after Labor Day, you'll likely discover that your options are as vibrant as the trees in autumn.

A Season of Home Buying

Why look for a home in the fall? There are few major holidays to distract you, and most families don't travel then. Plus, if you don't get your new place in autumn, you'll either have to wait until spring or move during the cold of winter.

If you're selling, realize that significantly fewer people list their homes in the fall than in the spring. Thus, you'll have less competition. At the same time, be aware that people buy fewer homes in November than in September or October.

A Glorious Time of Year

Maybe the top reason to sell real estate in the autumn is that its glow can make a home even more beautiful. If your property boasts brilliant foliage, it can really draw out the colors of your home or community.

The crisp, invigorating air, the pumpkins in the windows, the scarecrows, the aroma of cider and other seasonal details can make a home seem irresistible. Upon arriving, many of your visitors may instantly imagine themselves living a dream life there.

Be sure to place a fresh welcome mat by your front door. Fall can be muddy, and you want all of your prospective buyers to see your home at its cleanest.

Very ‘Interest’ing News

Fall 2016 is an especially attractive season for purchasing a home because mortgage interest rates are extremely low. In fact, due to these low rates, the number of U.S. home sales in July 2016 was higher than in any month since October 2007. Of course, you shouldn't expect these rates to stay down for too much longer; if impending job reports are strong, the Federal Reserve may soon raise them.

In short, when interest rates as well as autumn leaves have fallen, home buying and home selling can be as easy as pumpkin pie.

What Buyers Are Searching For In Their Next Home

Thinking about selling your home? That's great! There is very little inventory in the Denver market and if your home is well priced, modestly updated and well maintained you will sell quickly and for top dollar.

Buyers today have high expectations. The internet and reality TV has created a demand for updated homes in every price point; from first time home/condo buyer all the way up to luxury real estate purchase.

The brokers in Kentwood City Properties were recently queried about the features buyers are seeking today in the Denver real estate market. Below is the compilation of that list. Home Sellers take note. Many of these items can be easily accomplished for modest sums and in a short amount of time. Little updates bring major financial rewards. Below, in no particular order, is the list:

• Gourmet "Cooks" Kitchen
• Tidy Garage with Organized Storage
• Closet with Built In Storage Space
• Stellar Master Bath
• Walkability ~ proximity to a coffee shop, restaurant, etc.
• Close to Public Transportation/Light Rail
• Out Door Living Areas (fire pits, patios, ponds/fountains)
• Secondary Building (loft over garage, studio space, workshop, etc.)
• Views 
• Open Floor Plans
• Roof Top Patios
• Modern Finishes (if it was updated ten years ago it is dated)
• Grey tones. Grey is our neutral palette today.
• Smart thermostats (Nest is one ~ there are others). Xcel is currently rebating on this one!
• Smart Home features ~ can control systems, lights, etc. from phone
• Energy efficiency (solar panels, new windows)
• Private Yard
• Reasonable HOA fees (amenities are great, but HOAs rivaling mortgage payments are not).
• Stone countertops (soapstone, quartz, etc. Granite is taking a backseat here.)
• Lots of Natural Light
• Nicely Finished Basement
• Efficient Square Footage. People are looking to use every bit of their space. Especially nice are rooms that can be used for dual purposes (i.e., office with a Murphy Bed for guests). No formal living and dining rooms that sit empty most of the year.

Reach out to me if you need a vendor recommendation to assist you in any of these projects. In fact, why not tackle some of them now, before you are thinking about Selling! That way you get to enjoy the project results too. I'm happy to help you figure out what to do to make your home even more appealing.