Should You Stage Your Own Home? Or Hire a Pro?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-selfstagefrontdoor_zps2e19e9de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-selfstagefrontdoor_zps2e19e9de.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">An inviting front entrance like this colorful one -- so important <br />for curb appeal --  is easy to stage by basic staging principles. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>So I was reading on this online forum for professional home stagers, when I stumbled across a comment that annoyed me at first and then amused me.<br /><br />Here's the quote:<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">“One can certainly tell the difference between real staging and self-staged. The latter range from bad to appalling. Anyone looking at self-staged listings has to look past the fuchsia/avocado green walls and swagged drapes and dark green wall-to-wall carpeting and flowered sofa and chair that don't match -- indeed, they don't match anything in the room.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">That’s pretty harsh. But not true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I maintain that most homeowners can stage their own homes. </span></span><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Many of them will need to bring themselves up to speed, but that process can be an enjoyable learning experience. And most certainly a smart financial experience. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">  <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">It’s no secret that most of us stage our own homes to stretch our budget. </span></span><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Hiring a professional stager will cost some money, understandably. A trained and accredited stager is an entrepreneur in business to make money, and cranking up and running a home staging business demands capital investment. She’ll have to pay for her training, for furnishings and warehousing, insurance, website, cell phone, laptop, camera, transportation, day laborers, tradespeople, office expenses, and advertising. She has to </span></span>calculate these costs into the estimate she gives you. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why Do It Yourself</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Besides the obvious economic advantages of staging your own home, let’s look at some other benefits.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b>Pace.</b> You have the flexibility to do it on your schedule. Unless you have a tight deadline for moving, you can afford to make some mistakes and then fine tune things with time. Perhaps family and friends will give you feedback for what looks best. You’ll be educating your eye. You might even be making purchases for your next home and using them for staging this one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b>Safety.</b> Most people have a horror story about movers or other workers in their home. Something was broken or stolen. Private information was taken. Do you know the “helpers” a stager might bring in to move your antiques around? Only you know exactly what you have that is valuable, delicate, or private, and how things are packed, labeled, and stored. Staging your own home could mean no surprises down the road. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b>Familiarity</b>. If you’ll be living in your home while it is listed, you have an understanding of exactly what you and your family can tolerate in the name of an uncluttered home. It’s unrealistic to stage a playroom all cutesy and expect it to stay that way when you have three boys who prefer the room with wall to wall Legos. Can you keep your countertops free of small appliances? (I can’t!) Put away hair styling equipment and cosmetics every day? You might as well stage your home so you can still function comfortably.  <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-MC8014454_4_0_zps6b997006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-MC8014454_4_0_zps6b997006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Julie, a reader of this blog, staged her home herself. This is her <br />dining area. I think she did everything right!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">On the Other Hand</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A professional brings advantages of her own to the home staging process. Here’s my list of the advantages I see, along with some tips for you if you are considering hiring one.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">She’s been schooled as a professional and knows what the market insists on, what the trends are in your area. You should ask to see her credentials and view her portfolio.  You can ask your real estate agent to recommend a stager. </div><div class="MsoNormal">    </div><div class="MsoNormal">She has the furnishings and manpower necessary for staging. Ask if she pays any furniture rental fees or if you do. How about the cost of tradespeople like an electrician or a plumber?  Ask about the total cost for staging, how it is determined, and how it might vary. </div><div class="MsoNormal">     </div><div class="MsoNormal">Professional staging can be done relatively quickly. Depending on the extent of the job, the stager will probably be in and out and have you photo-ready in less time than if you had to do everything yourself. Ask how long the work will take. Ask what your responsibilities will be during the project.  </div><div class="MsoNormal">     </div><div class="MsoNormal">A stager has an unbiased viewpoint and can evaluate what should stay and what should go in your home for showings. She’ll see problems and solutions you haven’t thought of because she has the fresh eye.  Do you sense a <i>sympatico</i> with the stager you’re interviewing, so that communications are likely to go smoothly?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-MC8014454_18_0_zps5781a37b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-MC8014454_18_0_zps5781a37b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Here's the bedroom Julie staged. Would a professional have done better? I don't think so. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You Could Flip a Coin</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">What’s a homeowner to do when it’s time to sell? It’s possible that a compromise might deliver the best of all worlds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">You could pay for a plan, and do the labor yourself.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;">Many stagers will work as consultants, touring your house and offering suggestions on how best to present it. For a fee that varies according to where you live and how experienced the stager is, she will tour the property completely and then present you with a printed report.  A more casual, more economical arrangement might be a walk-through when you can take notes or record or video what she suggests. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Some stagers will offer an initial consultation and a follow-up visit to make suggestions about <span id="goog_469709624"></span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/finishing-touches-department-where-to.html" target="_blank">finishing touches<span id="goog_469709625"></span> </a>or tweaks. </div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">A cooperative arrangement like this means that you do the cleaning, the decluttering, and make the necessary trips to Goodwill, the landfill, or storage facility. </div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-selfstsagekintyrelivingroom_zps66f87e9f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-selfstsagekintyrelivingroom_zps66f87e9f.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Celeste, another blog reader, sent me this photo of the living room she staged herself <br />after reading my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>.  Her house sold for close to asking price in two weeks, <br />and I think it was because she did such a good staging job.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Whether you hire a pro or not depends on -- </div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><ul><li><b>Schedule</b>. How much time you have to do the work yourself. </li><li><b>Market.</b> What the competition is like in your local real estate market, how other homes go to market. In larger cities, it’s more likely that staging is expected. </li><li><b>Specifics.</b> The price, size, and age of your home. More expensive homes, larger homes, newer homes benefit more from a professional’s touch. Even if you have had your home professionally decorated, a home stager has a different set of priorities than a decorator. </li><li><b>Nostalgia.</b> How much emotional detachment you can muster. An outsider will be more objective, and help you understand typical consumer reactions to your décor and belongings. You may adore your cherry red dining room walls, but a stager may see that they make the room look smaller and older. </li><li><b>Imagination</b>. How much vision you have. If you’ve never been one to pay much attention to home décor, if you haven’t redecorated in a couple decades, if home improvement bores you, and if you can’t even imagine alternative colors or furniture arrangements for your home, perhaps you need outside advice. </li><li><b>Money</b>. How much money you are able and willing to spend on staging. If you are underwater with your home, it’s understandable that investing more money is painful. But an investment is what it is. Done correctly, staging pays for itself, because staged houses sell faster and for more money. </li><li><b>Desire</b>. How motivated you are to sell. If you want to sell quickly and move on, staging with a pro can speed things up.  </li><li><b>Stress.</b> How able you are to cope with stress. Some people seem to thrive on chaos, drama, and deadlines. Others are easily overwhelmed. Even a simple <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/tips-for-cleaning-and-organizing-closet.html" target="_blank">closet cleaning</a> can be stressful for some, while someone else can take a complete kitchen remodel i<span style="color: #333333;">n stride.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Whether you do all your own staging, turn it over to an accredited home stager, or go with some combination, only you can decide. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">If you stage your own home and use my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i>, as a guide, I guarantee your results won’t look anything like the way the online poster described self staging. You’ll be on our way to staging like a pro. I’ll give you your money back if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Avocado walls and swagged drapes, indeed! </span></span><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Top photo: Better Homes and Gardens</span></span><br /></div></div>

Should You Stage Your Own Home? Or Hire a Pro?

An inviting front entrance like this colorful one -- so important for curb appeal --  is easy to stage by basic staging principles.  So I wa...

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The Pros and Cons of Renting Your Home on the Market

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tenantscreeningblog.com/wp-content/uploads/for-rent-sign-in-yard3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.tenantscreeningblog.com/wp-content/uploads/for-rent-sign-in-yard3.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;">When my friend Christina’s husband accepted a job out of state, they knew they’d be moving. Soon. With all their furniture. </span><span style="background-color: white;">One of the realtors they spoke with suggested renting out their 4-bedroom home instead of selling it.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">They talked to a property manager, worked the numbers, and discovered that the rent they could reasonably expect would cover the cost of the home’s mortgage, insurance, taxes, professional property management, and maintenance. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, they became landlords, and made their move. For now, they’ve become renters themselves. Meanwhile, they’re saving up, and learning the “lay of the land” in their <st1:city w:st="on">new city</st1:city>, in preparation for the day when they can buy again. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Does this approach make sense? Yes, for some people. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The rental market is healthier than ever. The New York Times describes the <span id="goog_61149784"></span>rental market as <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/realestate/changing-midstream-to-rental-from-condo.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y" target="_blank">"white hot," and "torrid."</a><span id="goog_61149785"></span> According to a recent, nationwide <a href="http://www.dsnews.com/articles/rental-market-attracting-residents-despite-price-increases-survey-2012-06-28" target="_blank">survey of property managers</a>, more people are renting, and at prices higher than previous years.<br /><br />Why? Because people who have lost their homes to foreclosures, and people who have difficulty obtaining credit are now renting.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of renting your home while you wait for a better market to sell it? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">On the Plus Side...</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Get On With Your Life.</span></b> You’re able to move without waiting. In Christina's case, her husband’s company helped with moving expenses, and even paid the mortgage until a tenant moved in, which didn’t take long. Even if you don’t have such a sweet deal, you could collect a security deposit and one month’s rent as soon as you have a committed renter. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Just Pack and Clean.</span></b> You don’t have to keep your home picture perfect while you wait for a buyer. Tenants are more forgiving, and don’t expect to see a staged home. They aren’t plunking down a huge investment and going into debt. As long as your home is clean and everything works, you’re golden. <br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k483/Mir_Haynes/IMG_16831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k483/Mir_Haynes/IMG_16831.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">You can leave an empty, unstaged house behind. If it's clean, and it's priced right, it will rent!  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Leave the Closing Table with Cash, Not Debt.</span></b> Rather than settle for less than what you want for your home, you can wait for the real estate market to improve. According to <a href="http://www.dsnews.com/articles/zillow-one-third-of-homeowners-underwater-9-out-10-current-2012-05-23" target="_blank">Zillow</a>, one third of American homeowners are upside down with their home mortgages -– owing more than they can expect to sell for. If that’s your situation, renting might make sense. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Test the Waters.</span></b> Have you ever moved into a new town and later wished you had moved into a different neighborhood? It takes time to learn a locale. Not every realtor knows the best schools, the politics, the perks and problems, and where your favorite haunts will be. Perhaps you’re moving and still don’t have an employer in your new town. It makes sense to know where you’ll work before you invest in a home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Vacant Homes Go Downhill.</span></b> With a renter in your home, the home can pay for itself and be cared for. A good lease stipulates that the tenant be responsible for things like lawn care. A tenant should also be required to pay utility bills. A home that has electricity, heating and cooling, and running water, is preferable to <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/08/staged-and-vacant.html" target="_blank">a shut down property</a>. Neighbors like it, and vandalism is less likely<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You Have a Landlord to Call.</span></b> Being a homeowner is demanding. By comparison, being a tenant is easy. When the dishwasher malfunctions, when the chimney needs cleaning, when the garage door doesn’t close right, when shingles blow off the roof, you’re not the one to pay the repair person.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">On the Other Hand...</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Show Me The Money.</span></b> Moving takes cash in hand or cheap credit. Most American homeowners don’t have enough money in the bank to relocate without the profit that comes from a home sale. Especially if they are moving to look for work. This might be your situation.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It Feels Like A Step Backwards.</span></b> True, being a renter can seem like financial backpedaling. Chances are your new rental home won’t be your dream home. But not always. In Christina’s case, she likes her rental better than the home she left behind!<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zihuatanejocondos.net/photos/condo_complex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://www.zihuatanejocondos.net/photos/condo_complex.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Could it be that living in an apartment complex temporarily will feel like a vacation?  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Markets Turn Around Slowly.</span></b><span style="background-color: white;"> It may be years before your home reaches the point where you can command a decent selling price. Meanwhile, the property needs to be managed and maintained.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Good Tenants Are Scarce.</span></b> I’ve been a landlady for almost 20 years, so I can tell you that it’s almost impossible to tell what kind of tenant a person will be.<br /><br />I ask prospective tenants to bring me printouts of their credit reports. I telephone their employers and previous landlords. I assess their appearance, their language, their children’s behavior. <span style="background-color: white;">I casually glance in their cars to see if they are neat.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">I even search online (yes, even Facebook) for any information I can gather.</span><br /><br />In the end, it’s still a gamble. It’s rare that a renter takes care of a home the way a homeowner would. (My apologies to those of you who are perfect tenants and you probably know who you are.)<br /><br />Bank of America sees the value of keeping homeowners in their homes as renters <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-mortgage-to-rent-20120526,0,2758365.story?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">rather than foreclosing</a> on them. It's a win/win situation. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Costs Can Go Up.</span></b> When you have a good tenant, you don’t want to lose him by increasing his rent. But taxes and insurance costs can rise. You can get hit with heavy maintenance, like a furnace that floods in a hurricane, appliances that need replacing, or other costs not covered by insurance, security or your savings.<br /><br />It’s always a delicate balance deciding between the benefits of raising rent, and risking a vacancy that could cost you more than you’ll gain. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: right;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT5DMw4ToR7vazeUXT7c_ZVKrpD_joFrte4bRbb17mqzZakXyf0fA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT5DMw4ToR7vazeUXT7c_ZVKrpD_joFrte4bRbb17mqzZakXyf0fA" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Buy-It-Rent-Profit-Landlord/dp/1416589848/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341680401&sr=8-1&keywords=buy+it+rent+it+profit" target="_blank">Real estate investing books </a>like this one can <br />teach you how to be a successful landlord.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">Property Management Is Iffy.</span></b> Just like finding a good tenant, finding a property management team is difficult.<br /><br />My experience is that property managers like properties to run on their own, and are reluctant to hassle tenants who are not doing their share.<br /><br />Find me a company called Tough Love Property Management, and I might sign up, but meanwhile, I’ll manage my own properties because I’m a hands-on kind of gal. That’s difficult to do when you live elsewhere.<br /><br />If you live close enough to your rental property to <a href="http://www.tenantscreeningblog.com/landlord-tips/landlord-basics-tips-for-success/" target="_blank">manage it yourself</a>, you need to get up to speed on regulations and smart procedures. It's a business that needs to be run like a business, a profitable and lawful one.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Homes Age.</span></b> Just like like cars and unlike wines, homes get older and show signs of age. Those new appliances, the fluffy carpeting, the newly painted walls -- they don't look as perky as they did before a tenant spent a few years living in your home.<br /><br />Although the property itself may hold its value, when it's time to get serious about selling, you'll probably need to repair and update some features. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tenants Have Rights.</span></b> Every landlord and former landlord has horror stories about tenants from hell who have done more damage than the security deposit can cover. Typically, the eviction process favors tenants. And it takes months. Months when you are not collecting rental income.<br /><br />Rather than a lease, I use a month-to-month rental agreement that can be terminated by either landlord or tenant with 30 days notice. Leases protect tenants more than they protect property owners.<br /><br />Some smart landlords I know have discovered that, rather than begin an eviction process, it's often faster and less costly to pay a problem tenant a few hundred dollars to get gone.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">It's Not For Sale.</span></b> Although some folks keep their real estate listing active, and put a renter in the house, I don't see this as a smart move. A renter doesn't have much motivation to maintain a staged home, keeping it show-ready, clean, organized, and decorated to please buyers. In fact, once the property sells, the renter gets booted.<br /><br />Taking down the for sale sign does mean that potential buyers won't know about your property.   <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Summary:</span></b> Whether you wait for a buyer, or decide to put a renter in your home depends on your circumstances. The criteria will include how rushed you are, how flush you are, how far away you're moving, what the local rental market is like, what your mortgage and other costs are, whether you already have employment, whether you can get financial assistance from an employer, and whether you have reliable home management people.<br /><br />And guess what. Christina's tenants are talking to her about buying the house. <br /><br /><br /><br /></div><center><a href="http://www.handymancraftywoman.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/lars72/733blog%20design%20images/WAW_BUTTON.png" /></a></center>

The Pros and Cons of Renting Your Home on the Market

When my friend Christina’s husband accepted a job out of state, they knew they’d be moving. Soon. With all their furniture.  One of the real...

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How Container Plantings Can Help You Sell Your Home

<div id="content-wrapper"><div id="crosscol-wrapper" style="text-align: center;"><div class="crosscol section" id="crosscol"><div class="widget HTML" id="HTML1"><div class="widget-content"><div id="navcontainer"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="main-wrapper"><div class="main section" id="main"><div class="widget Blog" id="Blog1"><div class="blog-posts hfeed"><div class="date-outer"><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry"><div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/flowersinpotnice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/flowersinpotnice.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm forever singing the praises of silk plants and flowers, but when it comes to adding curb appeal with real, fresh flowers in containers, I'm singing even louder. </span><br /><br /><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Books have been written about the ins and outs of container plants – the right soil mixture, the right containers, the right location, the right plants.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to limit my advice here to how these plantings can earn their keep when your home is for sale. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s what containerized plantings can do for you, the home seller.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hello!</span></b> They will greet home buyers at the front entrance with something fresh, alive, and colorful. Just keep them close to the door.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Look! </span></b>They draw attention to a selling point, such as a view, an unusual amenity, or a recent upgrade. Just keep the planting subtle so it doesn't overpower the selling point.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't Look.</span></b> They hide less than perfect or not so pretty features of your property. Just place them so they distract the eye.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Define.</span></b> They emphasize the style of your home, for example, cottage, contemporary, mid century modern, country, urban, or Mediterranean, to name a few. Just match the style of your containers and plants to the mood of your home.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Transplant. </span></b>They make it easy for you to pot up your favorite plants in preparation for the move to the next home. Just make them look like they are part of your staged exterior. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Fluff.</span></b> They can fill in bare spots in a sparse or boring landscape. They can dress up a walkway, or spiff up a shady sideyard. Just keep the containers large for that lush, high-quality appearance.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/hayrack1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/hayrack1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>There is no rule that says window boxes must contain flowers. These hayrack baskets are </i><br /><i>planted with caladiums, and decorate the shady side of the home. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Point.</span></b> They can keep the eye moving around an exterior space such as a porch or patio, so that the entire area gets noticed. They can even act as directional aids, encouraging people to "walk this way." Just keep the containers in the same family for a unified look -- all clay, all metal, all stone, all wood, all baskets or all ceramic. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Upgrade</span></b>. Good quality flower pots are impressive. They can elevate the quality quotient of a house. Even inexpensive plastic pots can be faux-finished to look like <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-to-faux-finish-plastic-flower-pot.html" target="_blank">granite or concrete,</a> or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/03/make-your-very-own-garden-planter-that.html" target="_blank">weathered stone</a>, so there is no excuse to have cheap-looking planters as part of your home staging. Just make the investment in time or money, and keep the pots when you move.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Transform. </span></b>They make an area look more friendly and comfortable. Plants in pots can convert a concrete slab into a refreshing oasis, a balcony into a private retreat, or unused porch into an outdoor living room. Just concentrate on what areas you want to emphasize to avoid a funeral parlor look. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Distinguish.</span></b> A striking container plant, or a group of plants in attractive pots will set your home apart. When people go house hunting, they often view a few houses in one afternoon. That bucket of fluorescent double impatiens on your front porch might be the sweet, identifying marker home buyers remember when they mentally review the homes they toured. Just make sure the plants look tended, not neglected. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_3939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_3939.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><i><span style="font-size: small;">If the plants you use do not fill the container completely, or you don't have a focal point,<br />some kind of sculpture or whimsical garden ornament can rescue the arrangement.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/Pepperplantscloser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/Pepperplantscloser.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I found these ornamental peppers growing in urns outside my hotel in Saint Augustime, </i><br /><i>Florida. To me, they captured the spirit of a sunny location. Plants can remind </i><br /><i>home buyers of the </i><i style="color: #222222;">kind of climate they are buying into. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/porchwplants2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="498" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/porchwplants2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The trailing ivy in this handsome planter box will look good all year long with very <br />little attention. It compliments the simple lines of an old fashioned home. Coleus is another</i><br /><i>low-maintenance, foliage plant, but is grown as an annual, unlike this ivy. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/restaurantinManteoNC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/restaurantinManteoNC.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A traditional home calls for traditional plantings, and these red geraniums in </i><br /><i>wooden window boxes were the perfect choice. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/Shuttersandcrepemyrtles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/Shuttersandcrepemyrtles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I took this photo in Charleston, South Carolina. The soft plantings in almost invisible <br />window boxes added just the right amount of color to this elegant facade. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My message</span></b> here is that plants are powerful. But if they are going to work for you, the home seller, they had better look healthy and appropriate to the setting.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">It took me years to learn how to create </span>long-lived containers of gorgeous flowers instead of <span style="color: black;">ho-hum or problematic containers of plants. </span><span style="color: black;"> Some secrets I learned along the way:</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">For container plantings to live up to their potential, it's often advised that they follow the "Thrill, fill, and spill rule." </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent;">The "thrill" plant is usually a single, dramatic, tall plant that serves as the focal point that gives height and structure to the arrangement. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent;">The "fill" plants make up the bulk of the planting and cover the surface of the soil mix. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent;">And the "spill" plants cascade over the edge of the pot, softening and grounding the grouping. </span></div><div style="color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span transparent="transparent"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But, as my examples show, it's not always necessary to include all three of these plant choices. As a DIY home stager, sometimes you just want some greenery in a space to freshen the look. Or you want to add an accent color to a lacklustre garden area. Or a simple focal point to a porch.</span></span></span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv298/theliebertfamily/Blog1/renovations-9_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv298/theliebertfamily/Blog1/renovations-9_300.jpg" width="335" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Yellow flowers and yellow pot highlight this <br />friendly front door. Source: unknown.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The most popular location for a container planting is by the front door. For this spot, choose plants that will give you all season color, that don't need extra attention like twice-a-day watering. I prefer annuals over perennials because the bloom time is longer. </span></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another option is to limit your choices to large foliage plants. You might discover everything you need in the houseplants section of your nursery. A healthy, typical houseplant -- usually a tropical plant -- will be happy for many months in a shady corner of your porch or deck.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/potondrive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/potondrive.jpg" width="337" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This pot was placed along the side of a house, <br />leading people towards the backyard. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Balance.</span></b> Choose a pair of <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-make-topiary.html" target="_blank">topiaries</a> to flank your entrance if you want to add some formality and balance to the front of your home. </span></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Highlight.</b></span> Choose colors that highlight the best features or focal points of your home's exterior, like the front door, unusual architectural features, or any special details or niceties.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Color. </span></b>Choose either bright, saturated bloom colors, or muted pastels. I prefer to go with one scheme or the other in each container -- either saturated or subtle. White blossoms and most greenery will compliment either of these color schemes. If your arrangement is monochromatic, such as all pinks or just greenery, make sure there is a variety of textures. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Tip: </span></b>Choose pots that drain well. Plants die when their roots can't receive oxygen. They don't get oxygen from stagnant water, so water has to percolate through the soil mix. As a home seller, you do not want to showcase dying or sick plants, and you do not want to fuss with removing and replacing interior pots every time you water your plants. </span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Timesaver. </span></b>Choose plants that are "self cleaning," the nursery industry's term for flowering plants that do not require deadheading. Unless you find it therapeutic to inspect your flowers and gently remove spent blooms on a daily basis, look for self-cleaners. Impatiens do this. Marigolds and geraniums don't. </span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Grow.</span></b> Choose a soil mix that contains a slow release fertilizer, so you can sail through most of the summer without dealing with that chore. </span>Use a soil mix made especially for potted plants.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/199913235_c1bb6372d71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/199913235_c1bb6372d71.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>What not to do: Cluster a sad </i><i>collection of small, unimpressive plants in uncoordinated pots.</i></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Plants are a must.</span></b> During the spring, summer and autumn months, most people touring homes on the market expect to see fresh flowers growing in boxes, baskets, or pots. Even if you have a tiny set of front steps, or a fire escape off one window, don't disappoint them with nothing at all, or with dying plants or tacky <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-guidelines-to-choosing-and-using.html" target="_blank">yard art.</a> By following some simple guidelines, you can cash in on the magic that plants add to any home. </span><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: #222222;">For more tips on how to prepare your home for the real estate market, download my $5 <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. </i>I promise you won't be disappointed!</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

How Container Plantings Can Help You Sell Your Home

I'm forever singing the praises of silk plants and flowers, but when it comes to adding curb appeal with real, fresh flowers in containe...

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Setting Goals -- Six Steps That Get Results

<div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p><br /><o:p></o:p></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_2547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_2547.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I used this silly photo to remind me of the life I wanted.</i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><o:p>Is selling your home one of the goals you hope to accomplish in 2012?</o:p><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If so, can we talk? I want to share with you what I know about setting goals.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When I met Mr. Lucky in 1990, both of us were starting over, refugees who had fled failed marriages. He was living in a campground in a $3500 camper, working for someone else for $10 an hour. I was earning even less, and paying $250 a month for my rental apartment, which was basically half a doublewide trailer.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But both of us had lived in better circumstances and knew we wanted a better life again. Even before we married, we set mutual goals and together we have created a satisfying lifestyle, more comfortable and more interesting than we ever imagined.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We decided that our path to financial freedom would be through real estate investments. We had the skills and determination, so we set specific goals. We wrote these goals down and read them aloud to each other each evening. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We quit our jobs and went into business as painting contractors, something Mr. Lucky had been doing for 10 years. He trained me, and soon we were employing others and handling large accounts. Evenings we studied how to buy and sell properties, how to negotiate prices, how to calculate fix-up costs and interest rates, and how to find and keep good tenants. Midday we listened to audio tapes about real estate investment as we ate brown bag lunches in our work van. We joined a real estate investors club and listened to speakers, borrowed books, and attended seminars. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_2573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_2573.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>On some jobs, the lunch break gave us a distant view. These are mountains near Asheville, NC.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal">In a year’s time, we had enough savings and education to start buying houses, fixing them, staging them, and selling or renting them. Today, we are completely debt-free, and depend on our rental properties to support us. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m not an authority on how to set and reach goals, but I know what has worked for us, and I also did my homework for this post. Here’s what the experts say.   </div><div class="MsoNormal">    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 1.  Look at the Big Picture. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Double-check that your goal -- <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/05/are-you-reason-your-home-isnt-selling.html">selling your home -- is really what you want.</a> If you’re not on board with the idea, or if your entire household isn’t supportive, the path will be uphill. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Make sure your goal doesn’t contradict other goals you have. I knew that investing in real estate did not compromise my ethics or my dedication to my family or health. Will the sale of your home support or undermine the other important expectations you have in your life right now?<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_2559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_2559.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This is our notebook we reviewed daily.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">STEP 2. Write and Recite Your Goals</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When you see what you want spelled out on paper, your subconscious begins believing! You can carry this visualization even further by describing in detail what you want, and even collecting pictures of your goals. <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> is terrific for doing this. Twenty years ago, I chose clippings from magazines to represent what we were working for, and put them in a cheap photo album, photos of dreams that are reality today.<br />         </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Be positive rather than negative when defining your goals and new year’s resolutions. Instead of writing, “I will not sleep late on Saturdays,” write, “I will use each Saturday morning to deep clean a different room.” If you have low expectations of yourself, recite positive affirmations such as, “I will be happy with less clutter in my life.” A proactive state of mind is indispensable to achieving success.    </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Be realistic. Educate yourself about how quickly homes are selling and at what prices where you live. Work with your realtor to establish fair market value, based on proven formulas and statistics. Mr. Lucky and I knew we couldn’t buy spacious four-bedroom homes as investments. Our first property was a one-bedroom home. But it came with enough land that we were able to subdivide the lot, and have a new house built on the property, which we sold for a handsome profit. Life is full of happy surprises when you begin with realistic expectations. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_2572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_2572.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mr. Lucky painting a home under construction.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 3. Define What Needs to be Done</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><br />List the steps to reach your goals. Mr. Lucky and I knew we had to have a certain amount of money for a down payment on our first property. We knew we had to cultivate a relationship with a bank. We knew we had to build a good credit history so we could qualify for a mortgage.<br /><br />List whatever you need to do to get your property sold.  This list might include:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><ul><li><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-not-to-hire-realtor.html">Call a realtor.</a></li><li>Write down what is especially desirable about your home, and what doesn’t work for you. Then, determine if any of these problems can be fixed.</li><li>Start your cleaning and de-cluttering process.</li><li>Download my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebook_02.html">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar</i>, to learn all the ways staging can help sell your home, and the easy steps to staging frugally and effectively.</li><li>Let friends and family know you plan to sell.</li><li>Study the area you plan to relocate to, whether across town or to the other side of the globe. You’ll have a better handle on what’s ahead and what you need to bring from your present home.</li><li>Examine <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/01/staging-uses-many-skills.html">the skills you have</a> and consider how you can use the tools and knowledge you have at your fingertips.</li></ul></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 4. Divide Your Goals into Smaller Goals.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Break larger tasks down into smaller steps. Be specific. Logically organize the things you need to do in order to be efficient. For example, if you plan to replace the doorknobs and hinges in your house, first get prices online, then read how to do it, then purchase what you’ll need, then set aside one morning to do it.<br /><br />Small steps make even the overwhelming jobs doable. Once underway, many tasks take on a life of their own. Often you will amaze yourself by what you are capable of doing if you just take the first step, then the next one, then the next one… </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If any one told me, shy and easily intimidated me, 20 years ago that I would be able to manage my own rental properties, I would have laughed at them. Now, being a landlady is easy and enjoyable! Baby steps.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Step 5. Set Deadlines for Your Goals.</b></span><br /><br />Make a schedule for all your goals and tasks. Review similar projects you’ve tackled in the past so you can give yourself deadlines that make sense. Deadlines keep you focused, and on schedule. And they provide a sense of accomplishment. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Be realistic about deadlines. If you know you hate yardwork, find someone who can do this for you. Mr. Lucky and I knew we didn’t have skills to do finished carpentry, so we hired the best carpenter we knew. In business, time is money, and selling a home is a business proposition.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 6. Track yourself.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_2571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_2571.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>One client wanted every door a different color!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>If you don’t track results you won’t know if and when you’ve reached your goals. You wouldn’t start a diet without either weighing yourself along the way, or watching how your clothes are fitting you. Small successes build confidence and point the way. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Knowing that you’ve reached a goal lets you know you can move on to another project, or just relax!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: right;"></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tracking calls for adjusting your goals as you progress. You’ll need to be flexible. Consider alternatives if your top choices seem impossible or impractical.<br /><br />Are you able to rent your home and still move?<br /><br />Would it be smarter to remodel your home and remain in it?<br /><br />Are you able to owner finance your home to a buyer who doesn’t qualify for a conventional loan?     </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you are serious about selling your home, make more than a new year’s resolution about it. Set it as a goal, and start walking towards it!<br /><br />Happy New Year! May all your goals be reached.<br /><br /><br /></div></div>

Setting Goals -- Six Steps That Get Results

I used this silly photo to remind me of the life I wanted. Is selling your home one of the goals you hope to accomplish in 2012? If so, can ...

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Bedroom Staging: DIY Headboard and Make-Believe Bed

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1593.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>Do you need to stage an empty bedroom, or make a glam headboard to gussy up a drab bed?<br /><br />You've probably seen photos and tutorials for DIY headboards on the web, but many of them don’t make sense for someone staging a home for sale.<br /><br />Someone who's trying to save money for that down payment on the next house. Someone who doesn't want to buy and then move or store heavy sheets of plywood. Someone who has other things to do than spending all day hand-tufting a piece of pricey decorator fabric. Someone who can't stand the thought of making holes in the newly painted walls.<br /><br />Is that you?  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1610.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Here is a hassle-free, DIY headboard you can make to <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-stage-bedroom.html">stage a bedroom</a>. You can make it from a fluffy blanket or puffy quilt. I used a duvet with a large quilted pattern to make the grey headboard on the right. Even a sleeping bag is the right thickness. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What's so Special? </b></span><br /><br />This headboard is made from a sheet of foam core sheathing sold in the insulation aisle at home improvement centers. It’s lightweight, and will cost about $10 for the half-inch thickness I used. <br /><br />To cover the piece of foam core in the tutorial, I used a faux fur throw. It was as wide as the queen size inflatable bed I used. It even had a subtle border that I was able to run across the top of the headboard. It was plush enough to soften the edges of the foam core panel. A thick covering like this means you don't have to bother with a layer of polyester batting or expensive foam. Easy!  <br /><br />The inflatable is my choice for staging an empty bedroom. It’s cheaper and more practical than investing in a box spring and mattress, and easier to deal with on moving day.  <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What You Need</b></span><br /><ul><li>One inflatable bed, and pump</li><li>Four milk crates, of equal dimensions</li><li>One 4- by 8-foot sheet foam core insulation</li><li>Yardstick</li><li>Ball point pen   </li><li>Utility knife</li><li>One thick blanket like a quilt, duvet, or fake fur throw</li><li>Masking tape or duct tape </li></ul><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How to Do</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Blow up the inflatable, and put the head of it against one wall, where you want the bed to be. Set one milk crate about a foot inside each of the four corners of the bed. <br />    <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1519.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />“Dry fit” the foam core behind the bed to check the size. I had already trimmed my 4- by 8-foot piece to roughly the size I knew I wanted, adding a few extra inches. Mark the width you want the headboard to be. It should be a little wider than the bed. You can make rounded corners by tracing around a plate on the upper two corners. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1520.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Measure carefully so the headboard will sit squarely. My orange yardstick shows where I wanted to cut the panel. Mark the cut-off line with the pen. Cut the foam core panel with the utility knife, using a sawing motion, being careful not to cut carpeting.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1524.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Bend the foam core panel to break it, then finish cutting all the way through, using the utility knife.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1526.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Lay your blanket face down on the floor. Center the headboard on the blanket. If there is a large pattern to your blanket, or if it has a centered design, center the design. If the fabric has an obvious up and down design (like letters or figures), be sure “up faces up.”  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1528.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Wrap the blanket around the foam core panel edge. Place masking or duct tape at intervals all around. My blanket had stretch to it, so I used lots of pieces of tape to make sure it was stretching evenly. Re-check your front design.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1532.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Finish taping so all edges lie flat and are secure. Duct tape is preferable if you plan to use the headboard long term.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1537.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Slide the headboard behind the bed. If you want to make it taller, you can tape a string to the back and hang it on small nails. Usually, setting it on the floor works fine.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1535.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Your new headboard is complete. With the right bedding, you can create any look you want for staging your bedroom.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1542.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />To hide the fact that the bed is an inflatable, you’ll need to make a bedskirt. Later this week, I’ll post my tutorial showing how to make the tailored bedskirt shown below, with box pleats at the corners and center. It calls for just three and a half yards of fabric. Fabric that you can use again another time. Like, after you have sold your house want to make curtains for your new home!          <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="618" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1596.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Bedrooms are often the first room buyers look at when they tour homes. An empty bedroom is a missed opportunity to showcase your home as a comfortable, accommodating and special place, yet it can be the most economical room to stage. A beautifully made bed, a <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/08/you-can-make-headboards-from-recycled.html">headboard</a>, some <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-get-hang-of-picture-hanging.html">art</a>, some <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/05/seven-secrets-to-making-silk-plants-and.html">plants</a>, a bedside table or two, and you're done!      <br /><br />For more ideas on how to stage your own home on a shoestring, download <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">my $5 ebook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. </i><br /><i><br /></i>

Bedroom Staging: DIY Headboard and Make-Believe Bed

Do you need to stage an empty bedroom, or make a glam headboard to gussy up a drab bed? You've probably seen photos and tutorials for DI...

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How January Is Good To Home Stagers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/purpledoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/purpledoor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My father-in-law had a tradition of opening wide the front door on New Year's Eve to welcome the new year. Are you ready for the adventure ahead in 2011? And, don't you just adore this blue door? </i></div><br />This could be the start of something big.<br /><br />This could be the start of the year you sell your house and make more money than you thought you could.<br /><br />Because you staged it! Starting now. <br /><br />Now, January, is the time of starts. People are beginning new regimens, new habits, new plans to achieve new goals.  <br /><br />Many people have postponed plans to move until after the holidays. Now, the search begins in earnest. Springtime is peak time for relocating. Families want to settle in before school starts in the fall, and no one wants to move in the heat of summer, or in the fickle weather of winter.<br /><br />As a house seller, are you gearing up for the spring house-hunting season? Here are three steps worth taking.<br /><br /><b>1. Do Your Homework</b>. It's never too early to begin researching the market. What are houses similar to yours selling for? Listing for? Looking like? What's your least acceptable offer? Do you know a realtor? A home inspector? Do you have a budget for staging and moving? A timeline?  <br /><br /><b>2. Plan Your Staging</b>. Educate yourself about what styles will work for your home and what your typical buyer expects. Investigate off-site storage facilities or other options for storing excess furniture and belongings. Begin listing what furnishings would help to stage your property to maximize the home's potential. Download my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebook_02.html">eBook</a>, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar, to learn everything you need to know.  <br /><br /><b>3. Look for Deals. </b>Shop thrift stores and estate sales to find steals on accessories. At the beginning of the year, many people go on organizing binges, discarding what doesn't work for them but might be perfect for staging <i>your</i> home.  At the same time, you can begin decluttering your own home of whatever doesn't do your home justice.<br /><br />Use January to kick-start your campaign to get your home sold. Listen to Bobby Darin. This could be the start of something <i>grand.  </i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1nxzzBXVJzs?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></i></div>

How January Is Good To Home Stagers

My father-in-law had a tradition of opening wide the front door on New Year's Eve to welcome the new year. Are you ready for the adventu...

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Tips for Storing Stuff Off-Site.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pittsburgh-pa.findstoragefast.com/files/37690/gallery/images/ImageHandler-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://pittsburgh-pa.findstoragefast.com/files/37690/gallery/images/ImageHandler-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Have you ever rented a self-storage unit? I have. A few times. When we were selling a residence. It's kind of a hassle, but it sure helps your home look more like a model home.<br /><br />And I was always glad when it was time to actually start serious packing, because the job was already underway.    <br /><br />Getting the extra furniture, overflow from your closets, out-of-season belongings, and trinkets with too much personality to an off-site storage place is way-preferable to stacking them in the garage, or clustering them in the guestroom.  As with almost everything else, it helps to have a plan. Here's mine. <br /><br /><b>LIST</b> the items you plan to store.  Figure out how you'll pack them. <br /><ul><li>Boxes of uniform size are best for for books, clothes, kitchen items, linens, toys.</li><li>Plastic storage tubs with lids can be stacked for fragile items or for long term storage of off-season things.</li><li>Awkwardly-sized items like furniture, bikes, garden tools, and sports gear won’t stack but still take room. </li></ul><b>PRIORITIZE</b> boxed items you may have to access during storage, so they can be packed close to the front of the unit. <br /><br /><b>GET</b> your boxes from the paint store. They're free and they are all the same size -- four-gallon.  <br /><br /><b>PACK  </b> things like dishes and framed photographs between layers of sheets and towels that you're packing as well.<br /><br /><b>AVOID</b> storing items in containers that don't stack, if possible. Examples would be laundry baskets of toys, shopping bags of toiletries, or bundles of blankets. Boxed items stack straight so you'll fit more things into your space.  Nest together odd-shaped things when packing the unit.  <br /><br /><b>MARK</b> all boxes clearly to indicate contents. Be specific. Write "Stuffed armadillo, ping pong paddles, high school yearbook, beer mugs, tennis trophies," not "family room stuff." If strangers will be doing the moving for you, do not label boxes with valuables. Too tempting. They may disappear. Instead, number them and keep a master list for contents. Write on the sides, not the tops of boxes. Mark what is fragile because they should be stacked up high when stored and also when packed for moving.<b> </b><br /><br /><b>ESTIMATE</b> the size of the unit you'll need. Here are rough guidelines.  <br /><ul><li>  5' x 5'  unit holds a chest of drawers, a mattress set, and stacks of plastic tubs or boxes.  </li><li>  5' x 10' unit will hold furnishings of a mid-size bedroom, including a queen-size bed, dresser, TV, and a few storage boxes. If you have no furniture, calculate that it will accommodate 100 medium boxes. </li><li> 10' x 10' unit will hold the equivalent of the contents of an entire family room or two full bedrooms. </li><li> 10' x 15' unit will hold the contents of up to three bedrooms. Good for large items such as couches, tables and chairs. </li><li> 10' x 20' will hold the contents of a 5-bedroom house, including a refrigerator, washer/dryer, dining room table, chairs and large boxes. Since you're probably not storing appliances, you'll have that much more room for boxes and furniture. </li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infiniteselfstorage.com/images/gallery/store_photos/1613/slideshow/large-self-storage-units-ohio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://www.infiniteselfstorage.com/images/gallery/store_photos/1613/slideshow/large-self-storage-units-ohio.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b> </b><br /><b>PROTECT</b> your belongings. Don't take a chance on storing clothing, electronics, upholstered items, art work, musical instruments, or family heirlooms in a unit that is not climate controlled.<br /><br /><b>CHOOSE</b> a site that is convenient if you might be digging into your stored goods now and then. If you don't expect to need the stored  items, you can probably save money by being able to choose from facilities less conveniently located.<br /><br /><b>ASK</b> management if your unit will be available 24 hours a day. Is it clean and brightly lighted? Do you feel secure when coming and going? Is it easy to load and unload from your car?  <br /><br /><b>STACK</b> strong items on the bottom -- things like tables, plastic totes and chairs. Stack to the ceiling if possible to use all the space you're paying for. Leave a narrow pathway so you can easily find items later.<b> </b><br /><br /><b>CONSIDER</b> off-site storage for things like an RV, a boat, or vehicle not being used. It will improve your curb appeal. <br /><br />Every time I've used a self-storage site, I was able to stage my home more effectively, and make our moving day go more smoothly. I hope these tips do the same for you.

Tips for Storing Stuff Off-Site.

Have you ever rented a self-storage unit? I have. A few times. When we were selling a residence. It's kind of a hassle, but it sure help...

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