Halloween Ideas

It's Fall, Y'all!

But it's different this year, isn't it? Trick or treating will involve social distancing, tables set up in driveways with small bags of candy for pickup, no big costume parties for adults. It may not be the same, but it will still be fun. 

  

Here are some ideas for celebrating Halloween:

~~ Many neighborhoods are doing traditional trick or treating. If you want to participate, porch light is on, if you don't porch light off. You can also tie a large ribbon, ghost, witch, goblin, or welcome sign on your mailbox.

 

~~Leave individual bags of candy on a table close to your front porch.

~~ Put candy in individual containers like paper cups or plastic/cellophane bags and line the cups or bags along your sidewalk or porch for kids in the neighborhood to safely take.

~~Set up a table to stand behind (wear a mask) and hand out candy using tongs or big spoons.

~~If your subdivision is golf cart friendly, do  a "witches ride" -- 

the adults dress up like witches (or warlocks) and ride around on golf carts throwing candy at the kids.
  

~~If your kids are going trick-or-treating, travel only with your household members (wearing face covering and gloves), be sure to maintain 6 feet of social distance from others, and make interactions brief with others outside your household. Maintain a safe distance from other families. Pack a travel bottle of hand sanitizer.

  

~~Many subdivisions have specific starting and ending times for trick or treating this year.

~~ Neighborhoods are having Halloween house decorating contests.

 ~~Instead of carving your pumpkin, paint it. 

PRO TIP use a spray sealer first, then start painting once the sealer has dried.

~~And an important reminder: many of the Halloween treats you purchase are highly toxic to dogs, especially chocolate and sugar free gum and candy with xylitol. Be sure to keep them out of reach of your pets. Be particularly alert when you are walking your dog since many homes will have candy offerings outside.

 

Fall Decorating Idea

Fill lanterns or tall glass hurricanes with pillar candles surrounded by acorns or candy corn to easily create a charming display.

  

Remember The Troops This Holiday Season

Sending holiday packages to our military personnel serving around the world is a great family project.  Some things to include in your package include:

• $25 VISA and M/C gift cards (gives them maximum flexibility for WIFI, etc.)
• Personal hygiene items (unscented whenever possible)
• Wet wipes, individually wrapped
• Disposable razors 
• Chap sticks
• Body wash, lotion, face wash, mouth wash, deodorant, Q-tips, shampoo, conditioner
• Foot powder
• 
  Magazines (clean content)
• Fun posters and calendars
• AA and AAA batteries
• 3M sticky wall hooks
• Hand sanitizer
• Beef jerky
• Hard candy, candy bars, gum
• Protein bars
• Tins and packets of flavored coffee and cappuccino
• Breath mints 

Look for organizations like Any Soldier, Support Our Troops, and Operation Gratitude. Be sure to include a card or letter and a family photo so they know who made the care package.

 

What's New At Enhance

Countertops with brushed finishes. What is a brushed finish? A satin finish, with a soft and smooth feel and a low luster surface. 

BRUSHED

Polished finishes are still available, with the traditional reflective surface you are familiar with.

POLISHED

  

I Was FLOORED By Enhance

Nancy in Roswell recognized our "very helpful staff. Easy to work with. Took a good amount of time looking at different options for me, explaining pros and cons of each." Thank you, Nancy. We hope you are enjoying your new luxury vinyl floor. Our goal is to ask the right questions so we can recommend the best floor for your situation and budget.

  

How Much Does It Cost?

And while on the subject of budget - there is a big price range in LVP prices. Quality, thickness, design, embossing, length, there are many different reasons why a product costs what it does. We have LVP starting in the low $4s with basic installation all the way up to the high $8s installed. If your kitchen/breakfast room is 300 square feet, you can expect to pay anywhere between $2000 to $3300 installed. If you have room measurements, we can ballpark pricing for you on the products you are considering, so that you do not fall in love with something that is beyond your budget.

Smart Ideas For Updating Your Home

Maybe you thought about buying a new house, looked around some, found nothing you liked, and decided to stay put. Now you are thinking about updating your home to make it just right. Here are some great ideas from realtor.com, with the current pandemic in mind:

Upgrade your outdoor space

Most of us are suffering from an acute case of cabin fever these days. It's little wonder that outdoor space has become more important than ever to prospective buyers.

"Even pools are becoming more popular in areas where they weren't before," says Bill Walker, chief operating officer of Kukun, a web resource for home improvements.

That doesn't mean you need to splurge on a new in-ground pool; even a minor landscaping refresh can make a big difference and increase curb appeal. Depending on your budget and your neighborhood, you might also consider adding an in-ground fire pit or outdoor kitchen to maximize your outdoor space.

You can also "get a low-cost outdoor heater and area rug to use the space as an outdoor living room," says Francie Malina, a real estate agent in New York's Westchester County

Create a functional home office or classroom

Many workers aren't heading back to the office until 2021 or even later, which means home office space is at a premium, along with space for kids to log in to their virtual classrooms.

"People need a dedicated space for multiple people to be able to be on calls at the same time," says Walker, who currently works at home alongside his wife, and his kids attending school virtually. "It definitely creates challenges when we all need to be on calls and need space to work.

"Using a guest bedroom as a home office or classroom is a good idea," Walker says. Use versatile furniture pieces - for example, a sleeper sofa.  Most of us host guests in our guest rooms for less than a month per year, and probably even less during the pandemic.

Add separation of space

Since the pandemic, open floor plans are not proving to be functional and may be on the way out.  "Open floor plans are losing a bit of luster," Malina says. "Homeowners are looking for distinct spaces for family members to work or study."  

If your space isn't well-segmented, you may want to create separate spaces by adding barn doors or pocket doors -- or even room dividers for a quick and easy solution.

Having distinct rooms helps to minimize volume from other people's activities, and can also create a different feeling in each part of the house.

"As people are spending more time at home, they want rooms to feel like different environments so they don't feel stuck inside," Walker says.

Add space for a home gym

Many people are forgoing the gym during the pandemic, preferring to work up a sweat from home to minimize risks of coronavirus transmission. That means people are looking for space to house gym equipment, from yoga mats to treadmills and stationary bikes.

Your home may not have the space for a fully equipped home gym, but you can still carve out a corner for your Peloton and weights.

Give your in-law suite a makeover

If you have a basement, an in-law suite is great for multigenerational households, or people looking for a potential source of rental income. 

"With people bringing elderly family members home, [additional dwelling units] are a good option, especially if there is a kitchen and bathroom," Walker says. "Even if this space isn't used for personal reasons, it can be an investment property.

~~Spruce up the laundry room

Concerns about cleanliness and hygiene have been at an all-time high during the pandemic, which means "laundry rooms are more important than pre-COVID," Malina says.

People are doing laundry more often after running errands, and many of us have become more diligent about washing our bed linens. Plus, who couldn't use more room for ironing, folding, and hang-drying clothes?

"Having a dedicated space to do laundry is a wonderful luxury, and buyers often want the space to be beautiful like the rest of their homes," Malina says.

Meet with and Enhance Floors Design Consultant and learn more smart ways to make your dream home a reality.

What's New At Enhance

You already know that luxury vinyl wood-look planks have been the "it" floor for years.  Tile and stone looks in luxury vinyl are now super popular as well. These floors are waterproof, so they are perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and sunrooms. LVT is not cold, hard and loud, does not need grout, and comes in at a lower price point than real tile and stone.   Be sure you take a look at COREtec Stone, Armstrong Alterna and Alterna Reserve, and Pergo Tile Options. Come in and learn more about these great looking floors today.

Design Tip       

Trick or treating will be very different this year. Many homeowners are creating outdoor displays using  hay bales, pumpkins, skeletons, scarecrows. Google "outdoor Halloween displays" for even more ideas.  

Here's a fun and safe family event: a Halloween scavenger hunt through the neighborhood.  Give children a list of things to look for while looking at Halloween decorations from a distance. This can be done during the day (no darkness required!) or by car. You can then have a few treats ready for the kids when they get back to the house with their completed lists.

How Much Does It Cost

We have a client that finally (her words) finished her basement. She has it set up as a big great room, two guest bedrooms, and a full bath. She chose a wood look LVP for the flooring. We installed 1060 sq. ft. for just shy of $9000. We had to do a good bit of floor prep and levelling on this installation. (Basements slabs are notorious for not being smooth and flat.) No worries, we know what needs to be done to get the subfloor ready for your new floor.  

I Was FLOORED By Enhance

Julie in Atlanta writes "I love my carpet! I give Enhance an A+. We were pleased. All of their workers were very professional, and we had no problems." Thank you, Julie. You were a pleasure to work with.  Enjoy your new carpet!