Winning the Clutter Wars: Introduction
Garage sales are events you stage, not events you attend. Unless you are a professional junk or antique dealer, there is no reason for you to ever attend a garage sale. Think of them as the entry level drugs offered by the clutter “drug lord” to get you hooked. Discover the joys of borrowing. Let’s […]
Winning the Clutter Wars: What’s Clutter?
The first step in winning the Clutter Wars is to de-bug your own mind! Most of us don’t recognize clutter when it falls out of the closet onto our heads, so how in the world will we conquer it? Let’s start by defining what clutter is. Clutter is anything in your home: That is out […]
Winning the Clutter Wars: Be Ruthless
In our last “Homeowner’s Tips” we defined clutter as anything that is out of place, broken, unused, or just something you really dislike. Today we are going to start in one small place (a closet or junk drawer will do nicely) and put things in order! First, you will need four cardboard boxes and a […]
Home Staging: Create Appeal By Maximizing Space And Minimizing Clutter
It’s a good idea to start by storing personal pictures, knickknacks, boxes, piles of mail, and any other eye-catching distractions. Expert organizers suggest sorting through collections of books, magazines, CDs and newspapers, and getting rid of those you no longer want or use. Choose containers that are as practical as they are pretty to organize […]
Home Staging: Curb Appeal-Make The Best First Impression!
Manicure the yard. Clean the windows, doors, and front entry. Plant flowers-tastefully, and abundantly! Pressure clean the exterior. Enhance and beautify with lighting. Reseal the driveways. Paint your house. Focus on the front door. Don’t forget the shutters.
Home Staging: Fragrance, Smells, and Odors
Nothing smells better than clean! The source of the most common problem odors: pets, smoking, cooking, and mold or mildew. A zippered pillowcase filled with cedar chips, placed under a pet’s pillow bed, will absorb most of the unpleasant odors. Boiling an apple, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a few drops of vanilla on the […]
Home Staging: The Ten Best Do-It-Yourself Tips For $100 Or Less
Potted Plants, small or large, are one of the easiest and least expensive ways to create visual appeal. Home Fragrance such as scented candles, sprays, and plug-in type fragrance gadgets in delicate scents can work wonders. Steam Cleaning-Rather than investing in a professional service, rent the machine for one day, and rejuvenate carpets and drapes. […]
Home Staging: The Top Seven Sales Killers That May Keep A Home From Selling!
An Unkempt Lawn Chipping or Peeling Paint Worn or Dirty Carpets and Flooring Poor Housekeeping-Dust, Stains, and Dirt Junk, Clutter, and Disorganization Unpleasant Odors-Pets, Tobacco, and Garbage Unusual or Odd Paint Colors
The Top Ten Professional Home Staging Tips Every Homeowner Should Know
Create the illusion of space by rearranging the furniture. Try different combinations or remove and store pieces that make it feel crowded. Arrange the furniture in living areas into intimate groupings that suggest entertaining and ideal conversational settings. Consider rental furniture, especially when the pieces you have don’t match, are badly worn, or are in […]
Home Staging: Transforming A Room With Paint
Avoid bright colors, fluorescent and neon shades, or colors that are very dark. The hottest trends in paint colors are soft creams, taupes, and pale buttery yellow tones. Neutral colors have a universal appeal-both men and women give them favorable ratings. Don’t be tempted to keep the wallpaper. Generally, buyers are put off by it. […]