A Recent Home Staging & Reorganizing Project

My sister and brother-in-law have a beautiful custom-built log home in South Royalton, VT on 10 acres which they completed in 1998 after their original home was destroyed in a devastating fire during the winter of 1997. When they built the new house, their three kids were all living at home and they needed a lot more room and space to accommodate kids, pets, home offices, frequent entertaining and guests, not to mention friends & family members who liked to "hang out" just because it was such a great and enjoyable place to be. Lots of great memories, especially holidays spent there over the years, and my niece's wedding in the summer of 2004.

Well, the kids have grown and are no longer living at home, both my sister and her husband travel frequently for business (and pleasure), and they've decided it's time to downsize and sell their home. It's just too much house for two people. They are planning to build a smaller, energy efficient, very low maintenance, and totally green home on some other land they have in Bethel, VT. (Hopefully, I'll be involved in that, too!)

My sister periodically "purges" her house, and did a lot of work last year when her daughter was visiting. But things have a tendency to clutter up again. So, my sister gave me a call a couple weeks ago and asked if I could spend a day to help her to get things "ready-for-resale." We synchronized schedules and picked a day. I got there early and my sister had already made some progress, knowing that I'd be there to work with her. She & I have always made a good team, I think. We are both pretty focused and goal-oriented, and we approach most things in a logical, practical way. We are also able to put aside some of the "emotions" that come up when you're dealing with something as personal as your home, possesions, and what to do when change is necessary and inevitable. I was pleased that she asked for my help and I was thrilled that we were able to get quite a bit accomplished in a day. Amazing what can be accomplished if you work together as a team!

My brother-in-law was suitably impressed when he got home from work that evening (bearing a large veggie pizza and a delicious Greek salad for supper!) There is still some work to be done (I left them with a checklist), but it is all manageable.

It got me to thinking about some basic things that people should know and do before putting their house on the market. Some of this seems like common sense to me, but you'd be surprised at the number of houses that I've seen that are cluttered, disorganized, in poor repair, and sometimes, kind of dirty. If you want to sell your house, it's time to put aside all the memories of special times you've had in the house and start to look at it through the eyes of a prospective buyer. This is probably your biggest investment, and you have to think of it as a marketable product you have for sale - and you want to get the most out of it.

Here are a few things you should do before trying to sell your house:

Outside

• Mow and water the lawn; rake up any dead leaves
• Trim trees, shrubs, and plant some flowers - or make sure that any garden beds are cleared of debris & weeds and look attractive
• Store all bikes, equipment, toys, tools, etc. out of sight
• Paint or touch up the outside of your house
• Make sure your front door is freshly painted or clean and welcoming
• Weather permitting, have some potted plants or flowers by your front door
• This is a good time to clear out and organize your garage and/or basement!

Inside

• Eliminate any unnecessary furniture, outdated accessories, floral arrangements that are past their prime, etc. This also includes any knickknacks that are cluttering up surfaces and catching dust!
• Clean out closets and clear off countertops
• Eliminate any clutter!
• Scrub & clean all tile floors, especially high traffic areas and bathrooms. Bathrooms need to be spotless!
• Have all carpets professionally cleaned if possible!
• Clean all windows & mirrors. Windows should also be cleaned on the outside. Hire a professional if you can't do it yourself!
• Clean stains in sinks and tubs.
• Fix any leaky faucets or toilets. Replace if necessary!
• Replace missing door or cabinet handles
• Fix or replace any broken appliances
• Paint various rooms if necessary
• Any major repairs should be discussed with your realtor and how they affect the value of your home

Freshen Up

• Stop smoking in the house and get rid of any ashtrays!
• Bathe pets and clean out litter boxes.
• Empty and clean out all trash, recycling bins, various storage areas
• Dry clean drapes and shampoo carpets. This should be done by a professional for best results!
• In good weather, open the windows and let in some fresh air!
• Use baking soda or other natural air fresheners in smell-prone areas
• Place fresh flowers, lightly scented potpourri, candles, or air fresheners around the house. However, don't overdo it! A lighter hand is better than a heavy hand when it comes to scented candles, potpourri, and air fresheners. Anything citrus or cinnamon scented is usually OK. Some florals are too cloying and may induce sneezing fits!
• Make sure your house is clean! No cobwebs, "dust bunnies," pet hair on the furniture, etc. Surfaces should be dust-free!

Then, ask a friend or family member to walk through your house like a buyer. Get an honest opinion on whether or not it's inviting, clean, and well-maintained. Don't be offended by any criticisms!

If you'd like some professional help in either staging your home, getting it ready for resale, or getting things better organized in preparation for that eventual sale, give me a call, email me, or better yet, visit my website and see all the services I have to offer!

Until next time!