Year End Donations

Well, here we are already at the end of another year!

A couple of declutter ideas to leave you with as we head into 2011.

CLEAN OUT
Take a quick glance in the toy box, while the kids are asleep of course, and clean out the broken or seldom used toys. When the new additions arrive the old ones will be forgotten.
How about your toy box? Did you get a new updated or upgraded item. Clean out the old and make room for the new.

DONATE
Anything in good working order can be donated. The donations are tax deductible. Be sure to get a slip to fill out for taxes.

The idea that when something new comes in something old goes out is a good way to live. It cuts the clutter and can be a way of re-purposing through donation.

If a home sale or purchase is in your future this simple act will make packing and moving a little easier.

Going Home

Visiting the home where you grew up is always like going home.

As a stager that is a whole different experience.

If my folks where moving tomorrow, I will be blunt, it would be a tough sell!
They have land and location on their side but the design of the house is awkward and in need of many updates.

Let's start with cabinets, which the builder of the house made himself, out of plywood!
The homemade 'Lazy Susan's' in the corners are such a practical feature my mother can not imagine life with out them.
She does however realize the counter tops are in need of a huge update but I have a hard time visualizing new nice counters on those old cabinets. Maybe with a fresh coat of glossy white paint!
Mind you I only had this conversation because mother asked what counters she should get.
I proceeded to tell her to knock out the wall between the dining and the kitchen and make her whole space larger.
Too much money, too much work! New counter tops only.

Now on to the decor.
My parents set up house in the early sixties. While many things have been updated so many things are stuck in a time warp!
Sofa okay, the bedroom dressers not so much!
The clock on the living room wall is some sort of guitar/mandolin looking item from the 50's, a leftover of my grandmother's decor.

Oh, for that Pottery Barn look, how to tell the folks!

My working vacation...

When my hubbie announced that we were to visit Mesa Verde near Cortez Co as part of our fall foliage trip I was less than excited. I mean really, looking at houses is my business, do I really have to do the same on vacation??

Well, I determined whining would not do, just suck it up and get it done became my motto.

Gladly these ancient dwellings were quit fascinating.

The Anasazi were a matriarchal society so it is not wonder then had so many wonderful amenities!
Natural refrigeration for food storage, a wonderful heating system for the winter and a short commute to work up a short series of hand and toe hold grooves cut in the rock face.

The real design challenges I saw were the Kiva's round design. Furniture placement is a bit difficult in a round room, but since the tribe probably sat on the floor for ceremony's and education sessions that were held there it was no problem!

All said and done I got some exercise climbing up and down the ladders to get to the cliff dwellings and kept up my 'design skills' while vacationing..... I wonder if this part of the trip would count as a business deduction?

What to do with the neigbors?

Well your selling your house, it's updated, fresh and ready for the first showing.....but the neighbors house is another story.

Maybe it needs paint, the landscape is shabby or maybe the dogs bark like mad everytime a squirrel runs up a tree. What are you going to do to get your house sold?

I will tell my story.

In 2005 our house was going up for sale. We had purchased the 'ugly duckling' of the cul-de-sac and turned it into the 'swan'. Curb to back fence, room by room it was fabulous.
The neighbor's house was a hot mess! It had not been painted in 15 years plus. Some of the fascia trim was rotten and the over grown shrubs had been removed leaving the house with not one bit of curb appeal.

We wanted top dollar and a quick sale. What were we to do?
My very wise husband approached the neighbor about our painting her house. I will add this piece of information, she was a single mother of 4 children who was in terrible financial distress.

We rallied the other neighbors for their assistance, bought the paint, some wood trim and got busy.

In one weekend that house was transformed. Was the investment in material and time worth it? Absolutely!!! The neighborhood was thrilled to have that house painted.
The single mom had a new lease on life, and even scraped together enough cash to mulch her flower beds and plant a couple of flats of annuals.
Best of all when our house went on the market it sold in 10 days!

I would encourage sellers to help the neighbors improve their curb appeal when you can, mow their front lawn when you mow yours. Offer to weed the flower beds, buy them some fresh mulch when you buy your own.

Ask if they can park their trailers, campers and such off-sight during the sale of your home. Maybe you can provide inexpensive ideas for that or spring for the storage yourself for a month or two.

Barking dogs...can you offer to walk the dogs during your showings so they are not disturbing the buyers? Can you pay a neighbor kid to be the dog walker? Can you treat them to a little doggie daycare?

Never over estimate the power of food. If you need your neighbors help, a few homemade goodies may just do the trick in getting their full cooperation and you a quick sale!

Beg, Borrow...but please don't Steal

Sellers often times fear the staging process...

They have watched the TV shows where the designer brings in all new furniture to give the house a more appealing look. Often to the tune of thousands of dollars.

My goal when staging a listing first and foremost is to make it appeal to the widest array of buyers. Secondly, I try to work with the sellers existing possesions.
Often times I can shop the home and find things that can be used in new and interesting ways.

When there are bare spots that need to be filled with items not in the home I start by asking the seller, "Who can you beg and borrow from first. Who owes you a favor or who would like to owe a favor too." This is a very cost affective way of staging your listing.

Sometimes art and accessories are what is needed. Other times furniture is required. I have had serveral occasions were items have been borrowed and the stage turned out better than the seller could possible have imagined.

I even use the 'Beg and Borrow' method for sellers who need off-sight storage. Off-sight storage is always my first choice. Some seller simply can't afford to purchase storage. Your neighbors garage is a better spot for storage than yours.
Trailers and RV's/campers must go away and the further the better so 'borrow' a spot outside your immediate neighborhood. A friend in the country perhaps...

The 'Beg and Borrow' method can really save when staging your listing.

Color is were it's at!

I have just returned from a trip to Ireland.

Wow what a use of color! From the colorful front doors in Dublin, which has a historical story, to the small towns and inlets throughout the countryside, the Irish really use color.

So often color is neutralized in our homes when it is goes up for sale. This at times is necessary if our color choices are too bold and personal.

White walls are boring, beige is just so-so, but color is were it's at .... if it is used properly.

Kitchens that are painted in warm, yummy colors can evolve the emotion of being invited into a space. Color can even encourage or discourage appetite.

Master Suites when painted in those spa colors of sage greens, calming light blue grey and taupe are quite an asset. They create the peace and serenity we all long for in our lives.

Children's rooms often times are the place that need a bit of taming down especially it they are painted in bright crayons blues, reds and yellows. A much muted version of the color is my recommendation, because painting it beige would be a bore! Let the accessories be the colors that punch up the space.

Red is the color that so many times comes into question between sellers and their realtors. Before I recommend painting a few questions must be asked .... First where is it placed? What is the tone and shade? How much natural light does the room get? Can three walls be painted and one wall left to accent the space? Red can be used it used properly.

The 'cheapest' way to add color to a space is with paint. But the 'easiest' way to add color to a space is with accessories. Theses can be switched out quickly for an up-to-the-minute look or for a seasonal change.

Color is such an important part of our daily lives. It can create an emotional connection with space, surroundings and events.

Look around, drink it in, use some color in your space today!

Depersonalize Part 2- Collections

Many of us have items for which we have a great fondness.

Maybe it is our lladro figurines or those cute cows in our kitchen that somehow have turned into a 'herd' that continues to grow with each gift giving occassion!

Collections can be distracting to buyers for many reasons. For example, they may have a few of theses same pieces and be admiring yours or the collections are just the opposite of their taste and they just can't understand your choices at all.

Sports memorbilia can also fall into this catagory and should be packed especially if they are signed and 'touchably' displayed.

Show the space not the stuff! A few well placed pieces are best.

If the collections are valuable or irreplaceable they should be packed without question.

Collections are really decor choices and can be quite personal in nature.

Pre-pack to appeal to the widest array of buyers.

Depersonalize Part 1---Remove the Photos

The need to depersonalize a home for sale leaves many homesellers feeling that their home is now devoid of all personality. The object is to show the space not the stuff.

The importance of this task must be understood as an exercise in psychology.
It is hard for buyers to visualize themselves in a home that is full of YOUR family. Depersonalizing benefits the seller as well, once your 'family' is packed away you start to emotionally detach from the house and mentally move on.

Start by packing photos from the main living areas of the home. The large family portraits must go. This will leave an empty space that needs to be filled. Art, of some sort, should be used to replace these photos. Consider borrowing the art instead of making a purchase.

Smaller, colorful photos are are next on my list too pack. People get caught up in your lives actvities and forget to look at the house. They may remember that you went to see the great pyramids in Egypt but forget the beautiful built-in bookcase in the family room!

Black and white photos are the exception to the rule. They come across like art so they are perfectly fine for most areas in the home as long as they are not used to excess.

If you're having a hard time packing all of your family photos, the hallway is the best place to display them. The reason being, this is a pass through and not a room to be viewed for space or living. The gallery should be kept to a minimum.

By pre-packing photos you allow the buyers to see themselves living in your house making their own memories.

Valuable or irreplaceable...you decide

When I give consultations occasionally the same verbage I use to describe the pre-sale preparations start to bore me. So I will change my synonyms a bit to make the consultation 'fresh' for myself.

One phrase I hear myself say over and over without a single change, 'If it is valuable or irreplaceable go ahead and pack it '.

The intention is not to frighten the seller but make them aware of the potential for theft.

In the past I have had sellers ask if people really steal while 'house-shopping'. My response is 'Let's keep honest people honest'. Then a few weeks ago after repeating my afore mentioned phrase, Mr. 'Seller' tells me that he had name brand garments missing from his closet, after a showing, while his house was previously listed. I would never have thought to recommend packing designer clothing!


The items that fall into the catagory of valuable or irreplaceable vary from listing to listing.
Jewelery is a big one on the list.
Most people want some baubles and bling to adorn themselves with during the sale of the home. To these individuals I say conceal the jewels, out-of-sight out-of-mind, right!
Other sellers are ready to pack them off to the safe deposit box, which is a great idea in my opinion.

Great-grandma's vase on top of the buffet is another piece that should be packed away for safe-keeping, there is nothing like a shattered memory. And this goes for anything that can never be replaced. Why leave it to chance?

In the children's rooms all of their little collectibles and even some toys are so special they should be pre-packed.

As a stager I cannot always identify the possessions that a seller considers valuable or irreplaceable, my goal is to make them think about those special items in the home and keep them safe.

So until I come up with a way to convey this message in a different phrase, I will repeat this one ....
'If it is valuable or irreplaceable, go ahead and pack it!'

Let there be light!

Lighting your home for showing is a very important part of staging to sell.

Natural light is your best friend, so let the sun shine in, open all your curtains and blinds.
The exception to the rule comes when you create a 'hot spot' in a room or the view is less than stellar. In that case open the curtains but crack the blinds just enough to let some light in the room. Shield your buyers from the poor view or the heat.

Lamp light is warm and inviting. The down cast light from lamps encourages buyers to step in and cozy-up to your house. Remember how a moth is drawn to a flame, it's the same principle.

Overhead fixtures light the room so buyers can get a sense of your space. Pantries, closets and especially basements can seem stale to buyers without light.

Be sure to have plenty of extra light bulbs on hand. I do not recommend those energy-smart, coiled bulbs.
Sometimes they cast to much light that is almost to the point of blinding in rooms with mirrors.
It can feel like you have your 'high beams' on!
Choose the wattage recommended on the lighting fixture.

GE Reveal bulbs are good to reflect your truest colors in a room.

Turn your front porch light on during the evening, like 'guests' are expected, maybe buyers are having a second look at your house. However there is no need to leave them on all night.

All lights and lamps should be on for showings, even on a sunny day.

The power bill may go up just a bit while your house is on the market, but providing a well light view of your home can be priceless!

Seller 'Stuff-ication'

We tend to accumulate 'stuff ' the longer we live in a house.
I remember thinking my current kitchen cabinets where more than ample for my needs.
Now, just five years after we moved in, those same cabinets are full and in need of constant neatening so they don't overflow!
If we were selling our house tomorrow 1/3 to 1/2 of that stuff would need to be stored during the sale.

Storage can be a big issue for sellers.

The last impression you want to give buyers is that you are moving due to lack of space!

So what do you do with all of it?
Can you put it in the garage?
How about the basement?

Off-site storage is always my first choice.
This means renting storage or borrowing storage. Renting a climate controlled unit was our choice for our last move.
Do you have family, a neighbor or friends who could store a few of your boxes while your house is for sale? If you don't think you can afford to pay for storage or you can't borrow storage what is your next option?

Is the basement finished? If the answer is no, I suggest boxes neatly stacked in the last corner to be seen by potential buyers. However, a finished basement is not the place to use as storage no matter how neatly you stack!

If the garage is a three car garage, that third stall is usually storage for lawn care or outside toys, so a few boxes neatly stacked is quite okay. Never gobble up space in your garage with boxes if it is already full to the brim. Make sure that visually a buyer can see two cars parking in that garage.

This is the perfect time to 'spring clean'.
Donate those seldom used items.
Many organizations will pick-up those donations.
My favorite is ARC.
1-800-CALL-JANE

Remember when selling your home you want to show your space not your stuff!

Over The Hedge...

This time of year it can be difficult to add value with curb appeal.

We can still get a ton of snow in the blink of an eye.

So how do you enhance the landscape without wasting money on flora that will only freeze?

First I would say, give all your shrubs and grasses a trim. Just a bit off the top, especially if you are concerned for the plants survival, there's no need for the full springtime haircut right now.

Edit yard art. Just like the knickknacks in your home yard art can be too 'themey' or appear like clutter for most buyers.

Next, freshen the flower beds with mulch. When the ground is clear of snow it will smell great and give a well maintained appearance.

Empty flower pots and planters should be put away for now. I would never recommend that faux flowers or greenery be substituted for the real deal. It can look a bit cheesy, especially with a foot of snow on the ground.

A well groomed landscape instantly tells buyers you have a well maintained property!

Smells Don't $ell

Odors in a home can be a big turn off for buyers.

Several things can cause odors in your home. Cooking, pets and smoking.

The cooking of certain foods should be to avoided while selling your home because the smell lingers in the air much longer than you think.

Here are a few foods that make my short list:
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Chili Powder
Cumin
Curry
Fish
Garlic

Weather permitting, grill your meats outside so the smell is not a "leftover" of last nights dinner for showings.

Empty all the trash cans daily to ensure that smells don't emit from these.

Dog beds and cat boxes and diaper pails are other areas that need attention. Wash dog bedding frequently and clean the cat box daily (even several times a day if possible!) And diapers should go to the outside garbage can ASAP!

Smokers must move their smoking area to the outside or at the very least to the garage. Even then the ashes should not be left in ashtrays, but wiped out daily.

Realtors have long-used the trick of baking cookies or yeast bread to make the house smell inviting.

Use this quick, calorie-free recipe for giving that fresh-baked aroma.
Place a cinnamon stick and a 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract on a piece of foil that you have turned the edges up to create a small tray and place in a warm oven.
Um, Um. Smells like homemade goodness!

Clean the Scene and the Unseen

When selling a home you must remember cleanliness is at the top of every buyers list.

The kitchen and the bathrooms are the two areas that must be beyond clean -they must sparkle!

In the kitchen don't forget to clean inside the cabinets.
This is a good place to edit the contents. If the cupboards are filled to the brim you are sending the message that the house lacks storage.
All appliances should be so clean you could eat off of them, wait.... you know what I mean. Buy new pans for the stove burners. The ones you wrapped in foil just won't do.
Remember to edit the contents of the refrigerator, too. Toss the out-of-date items and keep the leftovers tidy in containers with lids.
Conceal the kitchen trash can. How many model-homes have you seen with a trash can?

I tell clients the bathroom is a room everyone has and uses, but no one wants to think about it!
Make sure the bathroom is model home perfect. Dry out the sinks also make sure the fixtures and glass are spotless. Hide used bath towels in the washer or dryer. Rugs in the bathroom just seem germy to buyers, especially those contour toilet rugs, remove them all for showings. Please, please, pleasssssssssssssse close all toilet seats and lids for showings.

If housekeeping is so not your thing, now may be the time to invest in a housekeeper at least for these two rooms for the duration of the sale of your home.

Don't let cleanliness be the deal breaker with your home, clean the scene and the unseen...

ENTRE'E VOUS

The entry of your home is key when making a first impression.

Is the paint on your front door a bit faded? Freshen it for a low-cost update.

The front porch is no place to store outdoor toys or empty flowers pots. Clutter just eats at your valuable curb appeal.

Clear out any cobwebs in the corners, the light fixtures and sweep the steps often.

Speaking of lighting, update old fixtures for a quick and cost effective update.

Buy a new "Welcome" mat, subtle but effect! Keep all decorative items to a minimum.

Attention to these few details will go a long way when welcoming the buyer into "their" new home!

New Home...

This is the first post of my new blog, STGE-IT!

Real Estate Staging is my passion.

My goal is to get listings sold in half the time and for more money.

One mistake sellers make is thinking they need to do nothing at all!

We live in a visual world. Buyers want to be shown how to live in a home.

Essentially you are selling a lifestyle! Ask yourself this, 'Do buyers want my lifestyle'.
If the answer is no, create it for them.

Stage-it!