Judgment Day

So you've decided to sell/rent your home.  Congratulations are in order!  You have a lot of excitement and hard work ahead of you.  When considering putting your home on the market remember, they are here for the best deal in town.    Keep in mind what today's buyers are looking for: a well-kept home that is spotless, spacious, stylish and up-to-date.  They are going to judge every aspect of your home regardless of what theirs looks like.  Consider it Judgment Day!  So if you want to standout and be remembered at the end of their search, you have to make THE BEST first impression.

Print this out and keep track of what your home or rental property needs to be get ready for your potential buyers/renters. If you are working with a vacant property, the best solution is to contact a home stager to furnish your space.

Plan Ahead  

 

1. Walk through each room and criticize the home from a buyer's/renter's perspective.
 

2. Ask a few local real estate professional or estate stager for their advice.

3. Don't get defensive - We are professionals and know the ins and outs and phycology of the real-estate market.
 

4. Consider getting a professional home inspection to see if any repairs are needed.
 

5. Hire a contractor to handle any major projects.
 

6. Consider getting an appraisal to find out your current market value. This will cost you but in the long run, it can make you $$$.
 

7. Hold a yard sale. Sell, donate or trash anything you don't need.

Clean, Declutter and Depersonalize

 1. Thoroughly clean the entire home. This means the junk room and garage too.  Buyers and renters want to look into every nook and cranny of your property. 

 

2. Scrub tile in the kitchen and bathrooms.
 

3. Clean hardwood floors.
 

4. Steam clean carpets and drapes. Consider replacing carpet if it's outdated or if stains are prominent.
 

5. Get rid of all dust bunnies and cobwebs.
 

6. Repair cracks and holes in the walls.
 

7. Paint interior walls with neutral colors, like beige, cream or light pastels. Pale blues and greens are good bathrooms and white towels.
 

8. Remove excess and oversized furniture.

 

9. Rearrange furniture to maximize space.
 

10. Organize room closet and store out-of-season clothes.
 

11. Remove all small appliances, toys, magazines and pet items.
 

12. Remove family photos, personal collections and medications.
 

13. Remove items from the garage and store them off site.
 

14. Secure valuable items, including cash and jewelry.

 

 

Maximize Curb Appeal

 1. Paint the home's exterior, including trim, doors and shutters.

 

2. Check front door, doorbell, address number and welcome mat.
 

3. Power wash the siding and windows.
 

4. Inspect the roof and make repairs as needed.
 

5. Repair cracks in the driveway and sidewalks.
 

6. Sweep the entryway and walkways.
 

7. Mow, water and fertilize the lawn.
 

8. Trim shrubs and trees and rake the leaves.
 

9. Plant colorful flowers and shrubs.
 

10. Store any toys or equipment lying on the yard.
 

11. Clean up pet droppings.
 

12. Clean the gutters and downspouts.

Deep Clean Kitchens & Bathrooms

 

 1. Mop and wax/polish the floors.

2. Clear the countertops.
 

3. Replace outdated hardware.
 

4. Clean appliances and fixtures.
 

5. Clean and organize the pantry, cabinets and   drawers.
 

6. Replace old caulking around sinks and bathtubs.
 

7. Remove stains from sinks, toilets and bathtubs.
 

8. Keep all toilet seat lids closed.
 

9. Hang fresh white towels.

 

 

Appeal to the Senses

 1. Bake cookies or burn scented candles.

2. Offer light refreshments.

3. Install higher wattage incandescent light bulbs to brighten rooms.

4. Turn on all the lights.

5. Open windows to let in fresh air.

6. Open curtains or blinds to let in natural light and show off views.
 

7. Turn off TVs but you might want to play soft "lobby music". Remember, it's all about appealing to the senses.
 

8. Relocate pets on the day of the open house.
 

9. Refrain from smoking in the home or cooking highly fragranced foods.

10. If budget permits, have live floral arrangements throughout to bring color and life to your space.  Fresh greenery gives life to a room and you want each room to exude warmth, not a do-not-touch, sterile environment.

 Show Off Your Home's Best Features

 

 

 1. Remove rugs to show off hardwood floors.

2. Pull back drapes to showcase nice views.
 

3. Stage the front porch or deck with furniture and potted plants.
 

4. Make sure fireplaces are in working condition.
 

5. Clean the backyard and pool area.
 

6. Declutter all built-ins.

Prepare for the Open House

1. Hold an exclusive brokers' open house to let local agents know your home is on the market.

 

2. Offer messy-free food and clear refreshments.
 

3. Inform family, friends and neighbors of the date and time of your open house.
 

4. Put ads in local newspapers, real estate publications and on free web sites like Craigslist.com.

5. These days, many homes are discovered and even sold over the internet, so that means you’re going to need a good set of photographs to showcase the spaces in your home. That will be my next blog, "Picture Perfect".
 

6. Put up “Open House” signs on the front lawn and at nearby intersections with directions to the house.
 

7. Create property description sheets and prepare important documents, such as homeowner's association rules, inspection reports and purchase offer forms.

 

As you can see, getting your property on the market can be a lot of work.  But that's why it's always a good idea to consult a professional home stager and real estate agent.  We are here to help YOU.

 

Staged 2 $ell

When living in a space you are trying to stage for sale, there are some key things to consider. Here's a check list you can use to help you decide what to keep out, what to pack, and what to dump.  There's no need filling up your new space with useless items.  That's how you become a hoarder!

When you've decluttered your room, it's okay to hide SOME stuff in the storage that has to stay to stay.  Just remember to take your persona item out of site and that includes night time personal items on your nightstand, pictures on the wall or dresser, and shoes under the bed or overflowing hamper in the corner. We don't have to see all of that. Always make your bed and fix any crocked art work and area rugs. KEEP IT SIMPLE & CLEAN.

     

Hallways are EASY to update and can make a great impact to your space.  They should be clear of EVERYTHING!! Every room will be peeked into so don't think closing the doors to your home office, kids room or that "junk room" will do the trick.  The halls should be vacuum or mopped, baseboard and door trims dusted, all doors and walls wiped of fingerprints and scuffing. Check all doors to ensure no creaking when opening (sometimes we get used to stuff like that but your potential buyer are looking for reasons to low-ball your asking prince- that got your attention). If possible, add some nice generic artwork and a soft area rug will will brighten up any long boring hallway.

       

   

Kitchens are usually the most used room after the bathroom. If your budget is tight (and that's a great thing. Best time to amp up your creativity is when things are tight!) a simple cabinet paint make over and some de-cluttering can make your kitchen the heart of your home once again.  All you need is a clean bright SATIN or HIGH-GLOSS paint (this will make it easier to wipe down the cabinets), new or repolished drawer hardware, some elbow grease to clean and polish the appliances, and some nice fresh flowers to add the magazine feeling to the space. 

                       

 

This is what you get when you don't give up on your space.  You just might be sad when you actually sale. Have fun and BE CREATIVE!!!

Here are some ways to better organize you space.  When complete, step back into the room and give it an overall glance.  Be as critical as possible and make any adjustments to give it the look of complete perfection.

Bedroom

☑ Decide what you want at your fingertips and what things can be stored

☑ Go through your closet and pull out everything you have not worn in the last year and donate those items

☑ Hang like items together—group shirts together, pants together, dresses, etc.

☑ Donate to local charities or friends and family items that are still in good condition but you no longer need. Schedule a donation pick up with your local thrift store.

Kitchen

☑ Determine the flow of activity in your kitchen before you decide where to place items

☑ Things that work together should be stored together, such as baking supplies, plastic containers (with lids), pots and pans with lids, and large platters and bowls

☑ Drawer dividers are a good way to keep smaller items separated

☑ Place glasses near the sink or the refrigerator for easy access to beverages

Home Office/Den

☑ Make sure you have a good chair, good lighting and ample workspace. Without them it’s harder to be organized and effective.

☑ Keep only supplies you need on a daily basis on your desktop neatly organized in visually pleasing appropriate receptacles.

☑ Assign a contained space or “in-box” for your incoming documents and only use it for items that haven’t yet been reviewed such as paper mail, receipts, and catalogs.

☑ Make a decision about what action or task you need to take with each document (including recycling) and follow through during dedicated “admin” appointments

☑ Keep the most recent papers in the front of the file. Whenever you open it, the current information will be on top.

Garage

☑ Sort, purge, and then decide the proper storage containers or fixtures for the treasures that you must keep

☑ Design a floor plan for storing items and stick to it.  Get durable construction tape and designate a location for everything.

☑Get rid of things that don’t work or if you have multiple items of the same thing, time to pick one and donate/gift the others.

☑ Clearly label both the tops and the sides of containers.

☑ Consider floor-to-ceiling possibilities for shelving, racks, stackable drawers, hooks and pegboards, and don’t forget the rafters.

REMEMBER: When you are done organizing, make sure you donate clothes, books, furniture and other household items to a local charity.