Chic, Fall home office ideas! Get Organized

Make sure you are ready for Fall

 by getting organized, comfortable and crisp 

with a few quick home office touches.

It's so easy to let a home office slide off the bottom of the decorating to-do list — after all, many visitors will never even see it. But the way this space is arranged and decorated can greatly impact productivity (and happiness) at home. From finding the right space and furniture to organizing ideas, ergonomics, personal style, dealing with distractions and more, let's tackle that home office once and for all.

It's so easy to let a home office slide off the bottom of the decorating to-do list — after all, many visitors will never even see it. But the way this space is arranged and decorated can greatly impact productivity (and happiness) at home. From finding the right space and furniture to organizing ideas, ergonomics, personal style, dealing with distractions and more, let's tackle that home office once and for all. Add to ideabook by Hillary Thomas Designs by Hillary Thomas Designs Remember, the luxury of a home office is that you are at home. Don't be afraid to forgo typical office furniture in favor of a style that blends with the rest of your home. A Chippendale-style chair with armrests and a thick cushion is incredibly chic and almost as comfortable as a traditional desk chair. And unless you like the look of a bent-arm task lamp, no one is stopping you from choosing a glam table lamp with a silk shade instead. Do what makes you happy! Add to ideabook by Hillary Thomas Designs by Hillary Thomas Designs

Remember, the luxury of a home office is that you are at home. Don't be afraid to forgo typical office furniture in favor of a style that blends with the rest of your home. A Chippendale-style chair with armrests and a thick cushion is incredibly chic and almost as comfortable as a traditional desk chair. And unless you like the look of a bent-arm task lamp, no one is stopping you from choosing a glam table lamp with a silk shade instead. Do what makes you happy!

Go beyond the desk with an extra work surface. Avoid clutter pileups by placing another work surface near your main desk. This will make it easier to keep your computer area clean and clear, and provide dedicated space where you can spread out a project and not worry about cleaning it up. This extra surface (if you have room for it) is a wonderful place for incorporating meaningful objects and art that inspires you. It's also great for stepping away from the computer every once in a while to brainstorm, read or just sit with a cup of tea.




Call us with all of your Real Estate Needs! Northouse Realty Group (616) 206-9667 Jeff Northouse - REALTOR Christine Lassa - Marketing Director www.grhomelink.com Brokered by Five Star Real Estate (616) 257-1500

10 Tax Tips for Home Sellers!

The IRS has recently issued a helpful list of 10 tax tips all homeowners should keep in mind when selling a home:

1. You are usually eligible to exclude the gain from income if you have owned and used your home as your main home for two years out of the five years prior to the date of its sale.

2. If you have a gain from the sale of your main home, you may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of the gain from your income ($500,000 on a joint return in most cases).

3. You are not eligible for the exclusion if you excluded the gain from the sale of another home during the two-year period prior to the sale of your home.

4. If you can exclude all of the gain, you do not need to report the sale on your tax return.

5. If you have a gain that cannot be excluded, it is taxable. You must report it on Form 1040, Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses.

6. You cannot deduct a loss from the sale of your main home.

7. Worksheets are included in Publication 523, Selling Your Home, to help you figure the adjusted basis of the home you sold, the gain (or loss) on the sale, and the gain that you can exclude.

8. If you have more than one home, you can exclude a gain only from the sale of your main home. You must pay tax on the gain from selling any other home. If you have two homes and live in both of them, your main home is ordinarily the one you live in most of the time.

9. If you received the first-time homebuyer credit and within 36 months of the date of purchase the property is no longer used as your principal residence, you are required to repay the credit. Repayment of the full credit is due with the income tax return for the year the home ceased to be your principal residence, using Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit and Repayment of the Credit. The full amount of the credit is reflected as additional tax on that year's tax return.

10. When you move, be sure to update your address with the IRS and the U.S. Postal Service to ensure you receive refunds or correspondence from the IRS. Use Form 8822, Change of Address, to notify the IRS of your address change.

Copyright 2012 Inman News All rights reserved. This article may not be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in part or in whole, without written permission of Inman News. Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright law.

Call us with all of your Real Estate Needs! 
Northouse Realty Group (616) 206-9667 
Jeff Northouse - REALTOR 
Christine Lassa - Marketing Director 
www.grhomelink.com 
Brokered by Five Star Real Estate (616) 257-1500