Category: Blog

The task of preparing an inherited home for sale can be formidable. I’m sharing a to-do list which can help you through the process. 

Call in a realtor. He/she will tell you what needs to be done to prepare the home for market. Ask if the home is considered a “tear down”. One client of mine spent a considerable amount of money having me prepare his home for market. It sold as a tear down. It would be unfortunate if you spent money on a new roof, power washing, etc, only to find out the home is going to be torn down. I know it’s hard to think in those terms but it does happen.

Find experts in collectables for such items as stamp collections, vintage toys, etc. Ask their fee for appraising items as well as fees involved in selling/auctioning these items for you if desired.

Find used furniture dealers if you have furniture that is sellable. These dealers will ask for photos of anything you’re looking to sell. They’ll then determine if it’s worth the trip to see the items in person. You’ll get very little money from a used furniture buyer but the upside is that they take it away. No need to worry if a charity will have room on the truck for it, or if you’ll need to pay to dispose of it.

Find charities that will pick up the sort of items you are donating. Each charity has a website with a list of what is acceptable. Some charities will take large furniture. Some will not. They all take household items and clothes. You can book them online when it’s time.

Investigate costs associated with disposal services. A dumpster is an option but check out a similar service such as Bagster, which is less costly. Not looking to do the work yourself? There are services like College Hunks that will haul the stuff right out of the house for you.

Other options: An option I have used for my clients is a “clean out” service. Once you’ve taken everything out of the home that you want for the family, they come in and literally clear the house out. From outright garbage to sellable items. They pay you for the items they can resell. But you pay to bring non-sellable items to the dump. You don’t lift a finger and the house if completely empty at the end of the day. So you save on the cost of a dumpster and you don’t have to wait at the house for charity pick ups. You have to find a fair and honest clean out service in your area.

Tips on sorting: Consider the “dot system”. Each family member gets a colored dot and places it on the items she wants. You can also dot items that you want to sell so there is no mix up between “I thought we were selling that but I see you are taking that….” Consider the “pile or group” system: Physically create groups designated for: family, friends and neighbors;  sale or auction; charity; and disposal. 

• Remember to photograph items for sale as you come across them before you pile them or they get hidden behind other items. You may even have to photograph large items designated for charity.
• Go through the pockets of every piece of clothing. 
• Fan the pages of of books. It’s a common place to hid money.
• Keep papers pertaining to upgrades/maintenance of the home until the home is sold.
• Keep ALL keys until the home is sold.
• Check out this article regarding other papers to keep: https://www.nixonpeabody.com/en/ideas/blog/trusts-and-estates/2018/11/15/what-documents-should-you-keep-after-a-persons-death

Lastly: If these steps seem overwhelming consider hiring a professional who specializes in inherited homes such as Ready, Set, Move group. We handle all aspects of preparing an inherited home for sale. Our experience, combined with compassion and attention to detail will help you through the process of getting your inherited home for ready for market. 

Staged and Restyled Homes Sell Faster

Staging a home has become a key element in preparing a home for sale. A staged home presents potential buyers with a move-in ready look. For the purpose of this Blog, let’s define staging as a marketing technique that transforms the home into one that will appeal to the greatest number of buyers so it will sell quickly. This involves a stager making recommendations on which existing pieces of furniture will be assets and which pieces need to be removed. A stager will also recommend what new items could be added to maximize the home’s potential.

While it may seem like staging your home may add work to the already hectic process of selling a home, staging will visually enhance the space in your home. And, according to the National Association of Realtors, 71 percent of sellers’ agents believe a well staged environment increases the dollar value buyers are willing to offer and for every $100 invested in staging your home, the potential return is $400. That’s a great return!

Here are a few tips we suggest when staging and restyling to prepare your home for sale:

• MANAGE THE CLUTTER – Decluttering is the most important first step you can do to prepare your home for sale. In addition to removing personal items and excess “stuff”, evaluate if you have too much furniture in your home. Homes with the least amount of furniture make the space look bigger.

• FURNITURE PLACEMENT- Group furniture together and away from walls if possible. Create cozy conversational groups and place pieces so that the traffic flow in a room is obvious. This will help your home look more inviting and spacious.

• TRANSFORM THE IRRELEVANT – Do you have a room in your home that only serves as a storage area (junk room)? Repurpose the room to something more meaningful for potential buyers such as a guest room or study. This will help buyers to see the purpose behind every room. 

• LIGHTING – Keep it bright. Lighting is very important. Have three types of lighting in staged rooms: ambient (general or overhead lighting), task (under-cabinet or reading lights) and accent (table or wall fixtures). And make sure all burnt out bulbs are replaced.

• PAINT TO FRESHEN – Paint to freshen and make rooms look bigger. Check the paint in your home and freshen it up if needed. To make a room look bigger try painting it the same color as an adjacent room. For example, a small kitchen and dining room with a seamless look will make both rooms feel like a bigger space. Paint large areas a neutral color but feel free to be a bit more daring in small spaces such as a powder room.

• ACCESSORIZE – Accessories can pull a whole room together and make it appear more inviting. Here’s a tip, when it comes to decorating with accessories, grouping objects in odd numbers, preferably three, is often the most appealing to the eye. For maximum effect, accessories should be grouped by color, shape, texture or some other unifying quality. They should be large enough to add balance visual balance to the space. Small accessories tend to look like clutter. 

I hope you found these few tips on home staging and restyling useful. There are many more effective tactics to help you sell your home fast and at the best asking price. If you want to learn more about how Ready, Set, Move Group can help, contact us today for a free consultation.

I’ve been asked may times what occupied home staging entails. Here’s a brief example of what that process looks like for one room in a Boca Raton, FL home.

I was contacted by a lovely homeowner in West Boca. He had been offered a new job in California and wanted to place his home on the market right away. He and his wife were parents to a new baby and life was hectic. 

They needed me to prepare their home for sale, making it look it’s best, which in turn would help them get top dollar for their home.

I set to work first in the living room, setting the tone for the rest of the home. The living room, kitchen and primary bedroom are the most important rooms to stage. Buyers rate these rooms with high importance.

I collected the clutter, sorting it with the help of the homeowners, into three categories: keep, donate, and dispose. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to become blind to clutter while a pair of objective eyes can quickly see what needs to be cleared away. 

Next I went to work on highlighting the room’s best feature which was the fireplace. I felt the large armoire on the same wall was distracting. The homeowners were not taking this piece to their new home so we were able to donate it. The large tapestry and small statue above the fireplace were the wrong proportions. I replaced them with a painting I found elsewhere in the home.

I moved the couch and coffee tables so they provided a sight line straight to the fireplace and created more of a conversation area with the love seat. I then removed the large upholstered chair which was actually blocking the entrance to the living room. I was able to place it in the family room which needed extra seating. 

Lastly, I removed extraneous wall art, a throw rug and a floor lamp that was in disrepair. Items that they wanted to keep but were not visually appealing were packed up and placed in the garage as we went along. 

This room would now look good online as well as in person. You only get one chance to make a good first impression!

I used the same process for every room in the home, as well as spaces outside the home such as the lanai and the front entrance. 

The home sold right away for top dollar and the homeowners were thrilled! I was so happy to help this couple transition to the next phase of their lives. I love what occupied home staging can accomplish! 

Are you confused about what occupied home staging is, why you might need this service, and what to expect when hiring a home stager? Occupied home staging is a service offered by some professional stagers where they re-arrange what you already have in your home, bring in carefully selected decor items, and make the house ready for photography and showings. This is quite different than vacant home staging, where rental furniture and props are brought in to stage an empty house. Many sellers believe they don’t need staging if they have a furnished home, but there are times when enlisting a professional stager is a wise investment in marketing.

 People often hear the words ‘home staging’ and think of vacant properties in need of furniture. However, occupied home staging is just as important as vacant home staging. As a realtor, or home seller, a home staging consultation and plan will get your home market ready and give you an advantage over other homes on the market. Realtors may think that telling clients to de-personalize, de-clutter and perhaps repair a few things is enough, but this doesn’t really make the home stand out among others that are staged. A home stager will come in with a fresh take on rearranging furniture, placement of art, and add pops of color to get your home ready for real estate photos and showings.  

So what should you expect when bringing a home stager in to get your house ready for market? When the home stager comes for the initial consultation they will spend time with the home owner and possibly the realtor creating a plan to enhance the floor plan, let in more light, and create focal points in each room. They will also discuss whether there will be a need to edit (declutter/remove) items along the way. A home stager is not a decorator. The biggest difference between decorating and homes staging is that decorating is about the people who live in the house. Home staging focuses on the house, the architectural features, the light and the space. Home stagers concentrate on focal points, and the strategic placement of furniture and accessories throughout the space of each room.    

Home stagers will follow up to implement their plan, bringing along several key decor pieces to get your home polished for pictures and showings if needed. Sometimes these items include artwork, throw pillows, and greenery. During this visit the stager might also rearrange key pieces of furniture and make updates suggested during the consultation. The goal is to get your home styled to sell and give you or your client an edge in a competitive market. 

Using a home stager is essential when putting a home on the market to get it sold quickly for the most money. Staged homes often sell faster. According to the 2017 National Association of REALTORS Report, A Profile on Home Staging, Seventy-seven percent of agents said staging made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. 

Finally, the cost of occupied home staging will always cost you less than the first price reduction in a home. And even in a “hot” market, home staging is essential to get the TOP price for your home. Why leave money on the table? 

Ever wonder why some people seem to have tidy organized spaces while others do not? Everyone has a natural approach to organizing. Do you know how your personality type affects how you organize? Much of the time our approach to organizing works for us (or we wouldn’t continue using the same approach). But sometimes things go awry and clutter builds up. To best fix the problem, we first need to understand our organizing personality type. Only then will we be able to maintain our spaces for the long term. Understanding what techniques and behaviors work best for you can impact the overall quality of your relationship with your space and even your quality of life.

There are six different personality types for organizing space. I’ve included effective ways for each type to organize more effectively. You may display behaviors of several different types or strongly align with just one type. But knowing your type or style will help you to better organize your spaces and stay organized. And who doesn’t want that??

1. EVERYTHING OUT

The Everything Out style person leaves things out in the open as visual reminders. They can easily put their hands on items and feel more in control using this method. When too many things are left out though, it may become hard to find what they are looking for. That’s when this style preference begins to work against them. And, creating piles of papers and other items may offend others in the home if not kept carefully under control. 

Everything Outs function well when they look around and see items that they are using and are pleasing. Because leaving items out can quickly become overwhelming, a person with this style of organization should schedule time to maintain their spaces. Everything Outs should use clear containers for organizing. Clear and translucent containers allow them to see what’s stored inside. Visual inventory is very important to Everything Outs. If opaque storage is used, try to add a picture and inventory list to the outside of the container.

2. NOTHING OUT

The Nothing Out personality styles equate a clear surface with a clear and organized mind. They will put things away to help them feel more in control. They are drawn to organizational products that hide things from view. But, they might stash things away without systematically organizing them, just to get them out of sight. Nothing Outs enjoy creating filing and storage systems for both active and long term projects. They find computerized planning and scheduling tools appealing.

Nothing Outs’ relentless need for tidying up may lead to disorganization behind the scenes. For that reason, it’s important for them to find organization solutions for cupboards, closets and drawers. As long as a Nothing Out can easily keep those hidden areas organized, they will stay on top of clutter.

3. SAVER

We all know someone with a Saver personality style. Savers think nearly everything will come in handy someday. Keeping items for this reason makes them feel secure. Stockpiling is also a tendency of Savers. They see no reason to let go of an item that they “paid good money for” and is “perfectly good”. Some Saver tendencies may have come from a time in families when saving meant survival. These Savers may have behavioral and psychological triggers connected with their things.

Savers are those who struggle the most with too much stuff. They should review their stashes to eliminate items that no longer work, or that they no longer need. Their items should be easily accessible, so they can enjoy what they save. These items need to fit into the space they have, reserving space for new items. They should work to reduce the inflow of new items. Savers tend to hold on to reading materials that are not current and paperwork becomes overwhelming so finding paperwork solutions are vital.

4. MINIMALIST

Minimalist organizing style types thrive on having only essentials. They dislike clutter, often eliminating perfectly good items in the haste to avoid clutter. Excess causes Minimalists to feel out of control. They typically do not accept even free items unless there is an absolute need for them. While they appreciate the value of memories, they don’t connect those memories to “things” and don’t tend to keep items for sentimental reasons.

Minimalists should take time to evaluate the importance of items since they may hastily throw things out to avoid clutter. They should confer with other family members before eliminating items of sentimental value. Minimalists should refrain from throwing out items belonging to other people, even though they think they are doing so with a purpose of kindness and helpfulness. 

5. STRAIGHTENER

Straightener organizing style types love the look of tidy piles and straight lines. They feel in control when their items are aligned and neat. They don’t need to know what’s in a pile as long as it is tidy. Straighteners may even tidy up spaces that don’t belong to them such as magazines in a public waiting area. Because they like the looks of tidy piles, they may fail to organize the items they are straightening. Therefore, their spaces look more organized than they actually are. 

Straighteners need to monitor what they keep and avoid straightening items just because they see them. They need to create organizing systems that help them store things in a systematic way so they can find what they need easily. They are usually open to unorthodox organizing systems as long as they look neat and tidy.

6. NO RULES

No Rules organizing style types look disorganized to others. No Rules may know what they have and how to find it when necessary but they struggle due to their lack of systematic organization. No Rules may actually have gaps in their knowledge and/or organizational skills. They may be non conformists or less mature and rebel at the idea of structure. No Rules don’t do well with change and transition.

No Rules do best with changes that come gradually and systems that are convenient and easy to manage and maintain. They may require unconventional solutions to help them get organized. The best organizing systems for No Rules are ones that are designed to match their unique space and behaviors. 

As you can see, there are many personality styles when it comes to organizing spaces. Knowing your dominant style will help you successfully manage your decisions regarding organizing. Not everyone can do it alone. Retaining the services of a professional organizer can get you to your goal of quelling the chaos while giving you the tools to maintain your newly organized spaces. Alone, or with the help of an organizer, creating spaces that work for your style will help you find a sense of peace and tranquility.

I do a lot of “occupied home staging” and many people ask me what that phrase means. Many people incorrectly think a house needs to be empty in order to stage it. Others might not even be familiar with the concept of staging at all. Occupied home staging is simply preparing your home for the market and making it stand out — while you and your family still comfortably live in it.

“Will I have to tip toe around new furnishings?” ask some homeowners. Not at all. Selling your home while living in it is much easier than you may think, thanks to occupied home staging experts like myself.

A stager will get your home to look it’s best for potential buyers, whether in person or for online viewing. Here’s why it’s as fabulous as it sounds.

1. Convenience for the Seller

Placing a home on the market is one more stressor on top of a life that’s already full of activities and responsibilities. Happily, occupied staging is all about the convenience for the seller. Homeowners and their families don’t need to move out, put furniture into storage or tear apart the living room. When an expert stages an occupied home, they use the homeowner’s furnishings for the most part.

A good stager knows how to reposition furniture creating a floor plan that flows well. They might declutter or rearrange decorative items to showcase the space. Sometimes they’ll bring in fresh accessories to give a home an updated look.

As part of their creative process, the stager will take care of everything for you. Whatever the stager does, they’ll keep you updated, but most importantly — you don’t have to lift a finger.

2. It’s an Investment — Not an Expense

A homeowner shouldn’t look at home staging as an expense but an investment.

You’ll recoup your money when you sell the house. One Coldwell Banker study shows that staged homes typically sell for more than six percent above asking price.

A stager will look to bring out the best features in each room. And buyers will see the value of each room and connect better to the home. This translates into better offers.

3. Style Stands Out for Marketing Purposes

Buyers form an opinion on a home within the first 15 to 90 seconds. A stager will create an atmosphere that makes a great first impression with potential buyers. And online listing photos are more important than ever. Stagers know how to create picture-perfect scenes so your home stands out from the competition.

According to a NAR survey, an impressive 90 percent of potential buyers search online as their first house-hunting step, so your pictures are definitely worth a thousand words!

4. Your Home Will Sell Faster

When a home is properly staged, buyers will see how easy it is to live there. And maybe it’s for that reason staged homes sell 88 percent faster than non staged homes.

Even though your home is designed to fit your personal taste and style, a professional stager will alter just enough to charm potential buyers. You’ll still be comfortable in your home while it’s on the market. I’ve had sellers tell me they wish I had re-styled their home years ago, when it was not on the market so they could have enjoyed the new look for longer!

Looking to stand out from the competition? At Ready, Set, Move Group we’ll help turn your listing into a SALE!

Sometimes we downsize our belongings to declutter or become better organized in our home. Sometimes we need to let go of items because we are moving. Whether you’re staying or going, here are some tips on selling those things that you’re ready to be free of. And remember, if selling isn’t for you, consider local donation services.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Research helps you determine what items are most likely to sell and how to best price them. Start by searching for the item you’d like to sell on resale sites such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace or Poshmark to see the pricing of similar items. Look for items that have already sold for the price that was finally realized by the seller. List the item for 15 percent higher than you’re willing to sell it for so you have negotiating room. Everyone loves a “deal” and coming down in your price gives buyers an incentive to bite.

CLEAN IT UP

No one wants to see a photo of a wrinkled dress or an electronic item with fingerprints. Dry clean clothing and wipe down hard goods. If you’re selling a smartphone or tablet, remove your SIM card and delete everything from he device. Be sure to back up all your data first, onto a new device. Nice photos will get you better offers so photograph the item in a well lit, uncluttered area. Point out any damage to the item and take a close up photograph of the damaged area.

WORD IT WELL

Include as many key words as possible; both general and specific so your listing reaches people using different search terms. Put the formal name of the item in the title with the other key words and the condition in the description. Don’t forget to mention special facts such as “brand new” or “still in the box”.

CAREFULLY SHIP

Choose the smallest box possible to protect items in transit. Fill empty space with paper or bubble wrapping. Check your selling platform for prepaid shipping labels. If you’re not interested in shipping, choose local platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Letgo, OfferUp, or use the NextDoor app.

BE SAFE

Many selling platforms offer a messaging feature but if yours doesn’t, consider creating a second email account that doesn’t show your full first or last name. Payment should be made through the platform’s secure site or other secure payment services like PayPal. If you’re selling locally, consider meeting in a public location such as a Starbucks.

BE RESPONSIVE

Turn on notifications so you never miss a message from an interested party. Receptive and honest sellers get good reviews and good reviews are more likely to lead to better sales. 

Happy Selling!

In this digital world, you might wonder why there is still so much paper piled up in your home. Here are some tips to help you manage the load.

1. ARRANGE PILES

Start by sorting your paperwork into categories (household, medical, automobile). Shred unneeded or outdated documents that contain personal information such as your social security number or credit card information. Less sensitive documents can just be recycled.

2. CREATE LABELS

If you’ve got a hanging file system, create labels for each file. Use manila folders inside a file if you have subcategories such as “electric”, “cable”, “phone” inside the Utilities file. Personally, I prefer to have all my label tabs on one side or the other. My hanging files are labeled on the left. My manila folders all have right hand tabs.

3. ESTABLISH DROP ZONES

Set up landing places for major categories of incoming paper items such as mail, bills to be paid, credit card receipts and banking items. Use baskets or small trays. Dispose of junk mail as soon as you bring it into the house. I prefer separating my bills (yes, I still favor paper bills) from the rest of my mail immediately. These go into a bin near my computer, where I pay all my bills. I like to drop my receipts into another bin. Once my credit card bill arrives, I check my receipts against the bill and then toss the old receipts. This is a must-do every month for me. I place all papers/mail into appropriate bins each and every day. 

4. KEEP IT RELEVANT AND TIMELY

Every three to six months, do a review of your files and dispose of any papers that are no longer relevant. This will keep your files slim. For instance, if you had a dispute with your doctor’s office and took notes and kept papers pertinent to the dispute, make sure to dispose of those papers once the dispute has been resolved. Tax returns and documents pertaining to household repairs should be kept for at least three years.

GOING PAPERLESS?

If you’re considering going paperless, your digital documents only require hard drive space, freeing up physical space in your home. You can use your search tool to find specific files but I still recommend labeling and filing every document appropriately and storing them in an organized manner on your computer, just as you would if they were physical files. Back up files onto an external hard drive  or a cloud storage service.