Month: February 2021

Staging your home before listing it to sell can lead to bigger offers and may help your home sell faster than it would otherwise. The best part? You can stage your home cost-effectively, with just a little effort. Staging your home when you’re selling it is essential, even if you have to do it on a tight budget. 

These six staging tips can help you prepare your home for sale.

1. Paint!

Painting is one way to make your home look cleaner and more well-maintained, and since you can paint as a DIY project, you can do it relatively inexpensively. Keep your painting expenses low by choosing just a few rooms to paint rather than painting the entire interior of your house. Most prospective buyers prefer neutral colors, so choose a color that is flattering but not too bright. Beige, gray, white, and cream are the safest if you’re planning to sell.

2. Make Small Repairs

Take care of that deferred maintenance, like the broken doorknob and the little hole in the drywall behind your front door. Small maintenance problems are a blemish on your home and can be a red flag for home buyers, so making these repairs in advance of putting up the for sale sign can help ensure that your home will make a good impression.

3. Clean Deeply

Prepare your home by giving it a deep cleaning. Take the time to clean the windows, vacuum the blinds, wash the curtains and address cleaning challenges that you don’t usually take on. A clean home is a beautiful home, so the more time you spend cleaning before home showings, the better and more impressive your home will be for buyers. Best of all, you don’t need a lot of money to clean your home – you just need time and elbow grease.

4. Declutter

Clutter can make your home look small, dark, and claustrophobic, depending on how much clutter you have accumulated. Clutter can also make your home harder to clean, which makes it less impressive to homeowners. You can fix this problem by getting rid of items before you list your home for sale.

• Sort through old bills and magazines, recycle or throw away what isn’t needed.
• Give away items that you no longer use but which are still useful.
• Sell that which still has value, but you no longer need or don’t want to take to your new home.

Decluttering is a necessary process that can take months, so get your start early. When your house is listed, having spent time decluttering will help ensure that your home looks its best. Another benefit of decluttering when you set out to stage your home is that it helps with the packing process. Packing for your move goes so much smoother when you have decluttered first.

5. Use Props

If you don’t have them, buy small props to make your house look cozier. Candles, throw pillows, blankets, and a lovely ceramic bowl for holding fruit can all be used to make your home look inviting and cheerful without breaking the bank.

6. Set Up Little Vignettes

Finally, before any buyers see your home, set up little vignettes that help home buyers imagine themselves spending time in your property. A vase of fresh flowers next to a set table, for example, can help buyers imagine sitting down to dinner or having a dinner party.

Staging Will Help You Sell Faster

Making these small changes won’t cost you thousands of dollars but will help you sell your home more quickly. The more successful the home sale, the better the moving process will be overall. When it’s time to move, hire a professional moving company to make your project a success.

Contact us today for a free quote.

Moving is complex. With so many moving parts to juggle, it’s no wonder that many people find it stressful.

When you add pets into the mix, the stress only increases — for both humans and their furry friends. After all, pets don’t understand why their humans are running around, packing familiar items into boxes for hours on end.

The good news is that you can take steps to ease those non-human family members’ moving process. These tips will help you move with pets.

That’s a Crate Idea

If your dog or cat isn’t used to being in a crate, start getting them acclimated well before the move. Riding in a crate isn’t just the best way for pets to travel in a car. It’s also a safe place for them while movers are going in and out of your house.

Begin the acclimation process by placing their food in the crate. Leave the door open so they can go in and out. Move on to feeding them inside with the door closed.

Now that they’re used to the crate start taking them for drives. Start with short rides of about 10 minutes, then gradually work up to longer rides.

Be sure to create a good experience, incorporating praise and the occasional treat. Before long, your pet will make positive associations with the crate. You’ll be ready to keep them safe (and crated) when moving day rolls around.

Keep Calm and Carry On

We understand: Moving can be stressful. It’s stressful for pets, too. Dogs and cats are attuned to your mood, so if you raise your voice, your anxiety can easily rub off on them.

Giving yourself plenty of time to prep for the move can help. Start packing early (days or weeks, if you can) to keep your anxiety level low. Gradual, rather than sudden, changes make it easier for pets to adapt.

A Bag of Their Own

Set aside a special bag just for your pet. Make a list of everything your pet will need for moving day, traveling, and the first few days in your new house.

Set this bag securely aside and make sure it stays with you, rather than going on the moving truck. Your pet’s bag might include:

• Food and treats
• Food and water bowls
• Toys
• Grooming implements
• Medicine and vaccination records
• Kitty litter and box
• Extra leash and poop bags

Pet-Proofed

If you can, visit your new home and make sure it’s pet-proofed before moving day. That means ensuring that the yard is secure with a fence free of holes. Look for any plants that might be toxic to pets, too.

Inside, tuck away any dangling cords and make sure windows screens are secure. Finally, try to identify potential hiding places in case your furry friends decide to hide out.

Taking these steps in advance can help reduce your stress level — and your pet’s anxiety — on moving day. Keeping these furry family members safe is an essential key to a successful move.

Feels Like Home

Settle In

When at your new home, avoid letting your pet wander freely to explore the new house. A unique, unfamiliar setting might be overwhelming for them.

Cats might adjust better if placed in a single room to be their home-base. Include their water and food bowls, favorite toys, pet bed, treats, litter box. This will allow them to adjust to their new surroundings slowly. Gradually introduce them to the other rooms of the house when they seem ready.

Dogs might do well on a leash inside at first, eventually moving their comfort items to similar locations as the old house, like the food and water near the back door or dog bed in the family room.

On the Move

Are you preparing for a family move? We can help make yours a smooth transition. Contact us today for a quote.