This year is going to be special somehow.
Different.
Different.
I know this already.
We have a few goals and ideas and have been in prayer about
how to and when to start implementing them.
how to and when to start implementing them.
The main objective we have this year is to prepare our home to sell in early 2012.
As some of you know, we have already started this process
in our college daughter's room.
Our motivation for moving is to be in a smaller home, a bungalow or cottage,
with a quiet backyard, closer to downtown, hardwood floors and at least 3 fireplaces!
As a Home Stager, I have a little insight about the process,
but it's one thing to prepare a prioritized report for someone else
and then make one for our own home.
It has caused me to have more compassion with my clients while they are letting go.
We have done some house hunting and this encourages us
to keep working toward getting our house ready to list.
but it's one thing to prepare a prioritized report for someone else
and then make one for our own home.
It has caused me to have more compassion with my clients while they are letting go.
We have done some house hunting and this encourages us
to keep working toward getting our house ready to list.
We have lived here almost 10 years, and along with that
comes a lot of decor to sift through,
comes a lot of decor to sift through,
many wall colors and flooring to update, tiling and fixtures being updated.
There will be a lot of changes, wouldn't you say?
Our 2011 Home Staging To-Do List:
2. New Appliances in the Kitchen
Our 2011 Home Staging To-Do List:
- REFINANCE AT A LOWER % RATE
We just found a great deal on our mortgage at ING (endorsed by Dave Ramsey). It's a 30-year at 2.99%. Our house payment when we moved in 10 years ago? $1200. Today? $600. With the money back on our side of the wallet, we are putting it back into the house.
- HIRE AN INSPECTOR
Based on the inspection report, we can take care of repairs before we put it on the market. It lessens surprises at the time of the buyer's inspection.
- TACKLE THE MORE EXPENSIVE PROJECTS FIRST
(I am so embarrassed to show this picture-yes, that is carpeting in our bathroom. To keep our marriage intact, I allowed Mr. HH to have the carpet, but in exchange I got hardwood floors in the foyer and dining room. However, he now agrees that carpeting in the bathroom is not such a bright idea).
2. New Appliances in the Kitchen
I love a white kitchen, personally, and am not a fan of stainless steel (yet). But, stainless steel sells.
Because our stove/dishwasher/microwave are almost 10 years old, they need to be new(er)for the buyers anyway. But, we will be getting them off Craigslist.
3. New A/C HVAC Units
Ours are 10 years old and look like it. And in the summer, they act like it. So, new ones for this place.
4. New Carpeting on the First Floor
We had premium carpet installed when we built, and we've kept it clean and have taken care of it, but who wants our "old" carpet?
5. New Fixtures
The brass lighting and faucets NEED to go. They needed to go already, but we knew we were selling, and decided to wait and change everything in 2011.
YIKES!!!
- DE-CLUTTER and DOWNSIZE
This is the part of the journey that I actually like. Weird, I know.
To simplify and keep only what we'll use and/or need is freeing!
We'll donate or sell what we don't use or need. Period. From furniture to clothing to tchotchkes.
To simplify and keep only what we'll use and/or need is freeing!
We'll donate or sell what we don't use or need. Period. From furniture to clothing to tchotchkes.
- UNIFY THROUGH COLOR
The red and the toile have to go. I will miss it, but chances are, most people would not like it.
To them, it will = work in the form of ripping out wallpaper and several coats of paint.
The colors I will be using to unify the house are khaki, white and blues with touches of red.
Wait till you see what color I paint the front door! Here's a clue: it will no longer be red.
Have you heard of the paint color: Contract Khaki? Here it is again, in one of the bedrooms.
We will use accent colors for the Master Bedroom and Master Bath Room walls.
- FRESHEN UP THE LANDSCAPING
Add a few more bushes and lots of purty flowers. Refresh the pine needles.
- ACCENTUATE THE AREAS THAT SET OUR HOME APART FROM OTHERS
This house sits on a cul-de-sac, with a wooded backyard, has a cafe', a theater room, and an upstairs landing.
These spaces need to have extra ECPs, as I call them. Emotional Connection Points. The senses trigger messages that words cannot convey. A house should suggest to a buyer as to how the home can be used for their family. It should have spaces for relaxation, rest, sharing, dreaming, enjoying.
- ADD ECPs (MODEL-HOME TOUCHES)
Wooden hangers, real baskets, fresh flowers in vases, scented soaps in the baths, elegant towels, wreaths.
The longer a potential buyer lingers, the more likely a sale will result. Finishing touches need to generate the "warm fuzzies". I am convinced that a home purchase is mostly emotional.
Buyers, if in love with a home, will even change their original criteria, to own that home. Quite interesting!
- CLEAN LIKE CRAZY
I think we all know what that means.
- HIRE A REALTOR
We have already found our Realtor/Real Estate Agent. We interviewed and met three different people, but we chose the one that understood the area in which we'd like to buy, had years of experience listing and selling, and who was recommended, again, by Dave Ramsey, as one of his Endorsed Local Providers.
We have our work cut out for us.
Of course, I'll let you follow along as we work.
I gotta run...time to call the inspector!
P.S. Please hop over to this page. I am having a New Year's Giveaway that I know you'll love!
