Today, I walked through a nice small acreage home on the outskirts of Salem, Oregon. Great setting. Property is beautiful. 4 beds, 3 baths. Good flow to the floorplan. Wall-to-wall white carpet that had a brown path worn into the carpet from the front door to the kitchen... Oops.

When choosing flooring or any textures for your home, take into consideration the surroundings of the property. Country properties should be especially cognizant of their topography. In Dallas, for instance, there is a lot of red clay. White carpet is not the best choice to keep clean. Perhaps a medium- to slightly-darker earth tone might be a better choice? Having a glorious interior is terrific. But bringing in the carpet-cleaning police every time someone forgets to take off their work boots on a country property might not be worth the effort when a little forethought can prevent this.

Do you have children that reside in/frequent your home? A mix of light/white furniture and red Kool-Aid have created a few headaches in their time. Washable slip covers or marker-free wall paint can really help in a pinch. I was watching "Get It Sold" on HGTV this morning and saw Sabrina Soto use toothpaste and water to remove crayon markings from a painted wall. Who knew (besides Sabrina - she's too smart!)? But if you're regular "Joe Shmo" like me, knowing how to get rid of impossible stains "after the fact" can possibly be remedied by thinking ahead.

Common sense goes a long way in decorating a home. Just know that when it comes time to sell your home, the worn-in brown path on your carpet from too many dirty shoes and not enough carpet cleanings can do in a sale. Decorate to your surroundings. Know your living conditions. And when it comes time to sell your home, you will get top dollar!

If you or anyone you know is ready to buy a home in Oregon, please give me a call. As always, I appreciate all referrals! Have a great weekend, everyone! :-) ~~ Bobby