The Psychology of Color in the Home…and Beyond

 
 

There are countless factors that go into any consumer purchase.

Factors like price, quality, and convenience are obvious, but others are less so. One factor that goes far under the radar is color, plain and simple. When it comes to marketing, modern shoppers actually consider color more than any other factor. That’s why the psychology of color in marketing is so powerful.

It’s not too surprising to hear, companies are constantly shifting color schemes and making minute changes. Others are represented by the color of their logo just as much as the symbol itself. Target, Walmart, Ikea, Home Depot, these are all businesses with highly recognizable color schemes. This works to all of their benefits, but in unique ways.

Color, interestingly, takes on different meanings depending on the context it is seen in. Red, for example, in marketing at large draws in attention and leads to sales conversions. Although in the home, red is associated with pain or blood, it’s not valued very highly. In contrast, blue has a lot more consistency. Light blue is one of the most common home colors and in marketing is a calming, trust-producing, neutral color.

Ultimately color can make or break a product, be that a home or a hair gel. When it comes to the home, colors can be sorted into high and low performance colors. Red, as previously mentioned, is typically disliked and is a low performance color. Blue, on the other hand, is highly desired and is a high performance color.

Outside of red and blue, a few other key colors are prominent examples of high and low performance colors. Taupe or gray is a high performance color, selling faster than any other colored home alongside white and other neutrals. Black is a similarly high performance color, but more specifically as a luxury variation. 

Brown, although a somewhat neutral color, actually undersells the value of any home. Homes with brown-colored walls selling for $2,310 less than expected on average. Cream yellow, a fairly common coloration, is also a low performance color. In reality only being liked by 5% of people. 

This is the interesting position color holds in the home. A position affirmed by research into how color changes one perception. White, a high performance color, reflects more sunlight and makes rooms look bigger. Helping to make any home feel more roomy. Blue, another high performance color, helps people to feel happy when waking up in the morning.

Red, instead of calming or helping, increases one's pulse and blood pressure. It is a stressful color, something that can be good for common purchases, but bad for the home. There’s much to be discussed about each color and the specific sensations it may raise. In psychology countless studies have been done to prove that color may affect memory, attention and countless other factors.

Ultimately this all goes to show, color matters. It matters when considering which store to go to, which product to buy, and importantly which home to live in. It’s often underlooked, but is the most considered factor in marketing. A coat of paint makes a world of a difference, no matter the industry it is operating in. 

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The Olde Beaufort Farmers' Market is Almost Here!

 
 

The Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market’s 8th annual Olde-Fashioned Holiday Market is right around the corner!

 Excitement is building and our community is buzzing about this special evening event coming up on the courthouse grounds on December 17th from 4 until 8 PM.

Plans are in place for 100 booths filled with farmers, bakers, fishermen, artists, and craftspeople ready to fill all your holiday needs and wishes.  Shopping begins at 4 o’clock at which time the grounds will be energized by those who have come to buy the perfect gifts for friends and family, and food for their holiday parties and meals.

As the darkness begins to fall and vendors’ lit and decorated booths twinkle under the giant old live oaks, the magic of this open air market illuminates the night as joy and love fill the space.  Santa and his elf in their golf cart will stop by to visit with kids, young and old, and holiday music will drift through the air.

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Clutter Free Gift Ideas for the Holidays

 
 

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed and fill your holiday shopping list with items that will sit on the shelf or get tossed, right?

Here are some clutter free gift ideas for you think about for your loved ones this holiday season!

  • Local experiences - Create a memory by giving tickets to a concert, sporting event or a certificate for a local restaurant

  • Learn something new - Build skills with a class that can be a fun time together - cooking,painting, pottery, or scuba diving!

  • Lend a hand at home - Help pick up a tedious home task by giving a cleaning service, home organizer or laundry service

  • Annual membership - A gift of access to the local Botanical Garden, zoo, or state parks will keep giving year round!

  • Fill their stomach - Sweet treats are always a hit, homemade or store bought! Pair with your favorite winter beverage

If you need a recommendation for a great local experience or vendor, please reach out!

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Lower mortgage rates stabilize the housing market

 
 

After a waterfall dive, purchase applications data finds its footing for now

Since the weaker CPI data was released in November, bond yields and mortgage rates have been heading lower. The question then was: What would lower mortgage rates do to this data? Now, with five weeks of data in front of us, we can say they have stabilized the market.

Purchase application data came out on Wednesday and the week-to-week data was down 3%, breaking the streak of four straight weeks of growth. The year-over-year data declined 40%, the smallest year-over-year decline since Oct. 19.

For months I have been saying we were going to have challenging comps from October to January because last year at this time mortgage volume was rising — a rare event this late in the year.

Because of that, we should all expect declines of 35%-45% year over year during this period. If things were getting weaker, 53%-57% negative year-over-year declines would be in play. However, mortgage rates have fallen more than 1% since the recent highs, so it’s time to look at the data to explain how to interpret it.

The bleeding has stopped

First and foremost, the bleeding has stopped in this data line, but the context is critical here. We had a waterfall dive in this data line and adjusting to the population, we hit an all-time low, so let’s put the bounce from the lows in context. This isn’t like the COVID-19 recovery where the data was getting noticeably better on a year-over-year metric; the purchase application data just stopped going down.

For now, just think of it as stabilization and we need to see more of this to make a valid premise that the worst is behind us.

 
 

As you can see from the chart above, the last several years have not had the FOMO (fear of missing out) housing credit boom we saw from 2002-2005. Accordingly, we also haven’t had a credit bust in the data line.

What I mean by a credit bust is that after the housing bubble burst in 2005 into 2006, we saw a massive increase in supply. These were forced credit sellers, which means these sellers don’t sell to buy a home like a traditional seller does. Since they were distressed forced sellers, inventory skyrocketed in 2006 and stayed very elevated in 2007 and 2008.

As we can see below, none of that is happening today because the seller isn’t stressed.

Total inventory levels

NAR: Total Inventory levels 1.22 million
Historically inventory levels range between 2 million and 2.5 million, the equilibrium balance between a buyer and seller marketplace that has been here for four decades. Only from 2006-2011 did we see this break due to forced sellers who couldn’t buy homes.

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How to Prepare Your AC Unit For The Winter Months

 
 

As winter approaches, you’ll want to get your home’s air conditioner prepared for the cold season.

Even though you likely won’t be turning on your AC anytime during the winter, it’s still important that you perform certain tasks to help ensure that your unit remains up to standard so that it will be ready to use again when the warmer weather returns.

Shut Off Power to the Unit
Even though your air conditioner will be set to the off mode, you should still make sure that no power is being supplied to your unit. If your unit is still able to receive power, your AC might turn on automatically if you have an unusually warm winter day, and this could waste energy along with your hard-earned money. The switch to shut off power to the unit is usually red and may be located either inside or outside of your home.

Remove Dirt and Debris
Your AC unit has likely accumulated a lot of dirt and debris throughout the year and giving your unit a good cleaning can preserve it better. Cleaning brushes can be used to remove much of the dirt and debris from areas that are accessible. A commercial cleaning solution or a mixture of water and mild detergent often works well for cleaning AC coils.

Hire Maintenance Professionals
AC maintenance professionals, such as those from STA SO COOL HVAC, or another company in your area can do the repairs and upgrades that are necessary to ensure that your air conditioner will last through the winter and be ready to use during the warmer months. These professionals can inspect your system for any problems and perform other tasks like adding coolant, replacing filters, and replacing any damaged parts.

Cover the Unit
No matter if you have a window or central AC system, any portions of your unit that are exposed to outdoor elements should be kept covered during the winter. A reliable cover can keep your unit cleaner and prevent damages that are often caused by freezing weather and other outdoor elements. You can choose from different AC unit covers that are made with insulation materials and fit your type of air conditioner.

Even though the hot season may be over, you shouldn’t forget to give your air conditioner the care that it needs to still function when you need it again. Experienced AC contractors can assist you with any preparation work and offer additional services that may benefit your unit when the weather turns chilly.

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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