How To Stretch Your Home Staging Dollars

<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWq7czq9H_pZu3-exvAesaPsvGLp9x2paLh_0wTYFUmCUCPaZr2NiL6hGGxtMrS2UwhN125eVVgho_29DrAnsYhzjR9Vds6Zz1gImBTqFUryxOPTRydQhVMCfBr9GP9RjOQA9FqhJxU0/s1600/competition+bhg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWq7czq9H_pZu3-exvAesaPsvGLp9x2paLh_0wTYFUmCUCPaZr2NiL6hGGxtMrS2UwhN125eVVgho_29DrAnsYhzjR9Vds6Zz1gImBTqFUryxOPTRydQhVMCfBr9GP9RjOQA9FqhJxU0/s1600/competition+bhg.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A DIY home stager needs to know her competition. Otherwise she<br />won't know if countertops should be granite and appliances<br />stainless, or whether laminate counters and white appliances<br />are just fine, as in this photo from Better Homes and Gardens. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Are you worried about how much it will cost to stage your home? <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Do you dislike the thought of putting money into a home that you’ll be leaving?<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">I’ve learned that effective home staging doesn’t have to be expensive. Your home can attract good offers even if you don’t have a big staging budget. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Or a mother-in-law who will loan you her antiques. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Or an interior designer friend who will take your hand. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Or a husband who loves fix-it projects and has the time to tackle them.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can do your own staging and you can do it inexpensively. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are only two tricks to it.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt;">Prioritize: Decide What’s Important</span><o:p></o:p></h3><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe you’ve already made that list of what needs tweaking, cleaning, organizing, or dressing up. My first trick is to separate the Must-Do from the It-Would-Be-Nice-To-Do. Ask yourself:</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Left undone, would this task or purchase give me black marks on an <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/02/advice-about-negotiations-and-home.html" target="_blank">official home inspection</a>?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is this something I have wanted to do almost from the time I moved into my home?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can this be accomplished without a reconfiguring of plumbing or electrical systems?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is this something family members, visitors, and others also think is a good idea?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is it a change I can take with me when I move?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does it offer <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/04/home-improvements-that-deliver-most.html" target="_blank">good return on my investment</a>?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do these changes represent features many buyers want, such as an eat-in kitchen, updated basement, or a modern outdoor living space ?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do other homes in my market, at my price point, offer this kind of feature?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does the improvement expand usable square footage?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does the improvement make the home easier to maintain or conserve energy?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFSjA4fJWFVejzAYMaT08jw3QWhKGglfQmJ1LwHJWDKXfT7JHERpQNGfdeuE2eE2JbVjrfutnt0N4p90XHs04Mle2dsJgW91-hB-3K2fd3Gn5Jm9KHg1rBguLkB8jquYglMYrjbpxOto/s1600/narrowhomeoffice_zpsf54084c9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFSjA4fJWFVejzAYMaT08jw3QWhKGglfQmJ1LwHJWDKXfT7JHERpQNGfdeuE2eE2JbVjrfutnt0N4p90XHs04Mle2dsJgW91-hB-3K2fd3Gn5Jm9KHg1rBguLkB8jquYglMYrjbpxOto/s1600/narrowhomeoffice_zpsf54084c9.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Trebuchet,sans-serif; line-height: 20.8px;">A home office is something most buyers want. If you can tuck one<br />into</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 20.8px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Trebuchet,sans-serif; line-height: 20.8px;">a narrow space, you'll be ahead of the game. If you can do it<br />on budget, you'll get good return on investment. Photo:LampsPlus</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, look at your answers. Bump to the top of your prioritized list the tasks you answered “yes” to. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">These are the projects that should take your time and money. Either eliminate or place low on your to-do list those items to which you answered “no.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">   </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But how much money should you spend? Real estate experts suggest spending one to two percent on improvements when you’re planning to sell your home. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s always reassuring to know that statistically you’re within guidelines. That means if you plan to list your home for $250,000, your staging budget should be between $2,500 and 5,000. You’ll want to spend it wisely. That’s where the second trick comes into play.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 18.0pt;">Source Right: Make Economical Purchases</span></h3><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Get Discounts.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Always inquire about price reductions. Don’t demand, just ask. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ask <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/04/insider-tips-notes-from-blue-collar-gal.html" target="_blank">people who do work for you</a> if they give discounts for paying with cash, or if you pay an invoice within the first week of receiving it. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><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/1-P1070543_zpsb11b9888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="333" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070543_zpsb11b9888.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The rocker is a thrifted deal find I painted white.<br />The side table is an old tv tray stand that <br />I upcycled by DIYing a mosaic top.<br />The planters are dollar store resin pots. <br />And the pansies are Walmart six-packs. <br />It all adds up to thrifty curb appeal. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ask stores if they give discounts to military, ministerial, disability, AAA, students, or seniors if you qualify for those groups. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ask if the item is going to go on sale. Watch for sales. Print or clip and use coupons. Even if you don’t have a coupon for a store, ask the salesperson if you qualify for one. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stores will often discount the last item in a line of bedding, or the end of a bolt of fabric, or a chair that's been a floor sample, or a dishwasher missing a manual, or a lamp with a chip you'll never notice. But only if you ask! </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Shop where you have a discount or loyalty card, whether online or at brick and mortar stores. Shop discount stores and outlet stores.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Buy Direct.</b> Patronize the local stoneyard for granite. Hire a handyman from your own hometown or neighborhood. Visit the largest area discount nursery for landscape shrubbery. Use online companies like <st1:city w:st="on">Dalton</st1:city> for carpets. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Sometimes buying direct means buying local, and sometimes it means shopping nationwide for the best deal. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">  <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Buy Second Hand.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Don’t turn up your nose at these kinds of outlets. Often you can find second hand places that sell appliances and furniture that look brand new. This could be scratch and dent merchandise, very slightly used, or come from a model home or manufacturer’s closeout.<br /><br />Furniture from places like Salvation Army and ReStore have frequently been donated by people with money and taste. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-every-garage-sale-shopper-needs-to.html" target="_blank">Garage sales</a> are a source of deeply discounted furniture, appliances and accessories for staging because sellers are usually motivated. Your purchases may need minor repairs or just a coat of paint to make them perfect for staging your home.<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">    <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><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/6af0630d-9de4-4130-94dd-edf2c5405dbe_zps684f67b3.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/6af0630d-9de4-4130-94dd-edf2c5405dbe_zps684f67b3.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Mike Row has personally spoken to Congress and<br />trade associations about his mission to change<br />perceptions of blue collar work. His foundation<br />awards trade school scholarships to people <br />willing to pursue a trade. Photo:Listal.    </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Do Things Yourself.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Know <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/07/lets-get-real-about-diy-projects.html" target="_blank">when to say yes to DIY.</a> If you clean your own home as though you were detailing your car, if you paint your walls like a pro, if you mulch and prune your own landscaping, if you declutter and organize your own closets, you’ve put money in your pocket.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />When I first began studying real estate, one of my teachers used to tell the class, “If you will do what others are not willing to do, you will have what others do not have.” It was just a new way of saying, “Work hard.” Or as Mike Rowe, one of my heroes, likes to say, “Work smart AND hard.”<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But there are also times when not hiring a professional or a qualified tradesperson is shortsighted (or illegal according to building codes and local ordinances). If you decide to lay ceramic tile in your bathroom and you’ve never laid tile before, the results could actually detract from the value of your home.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Plan Ahead.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most trades and products have a downtime, a period when their cost is lower than usual. Although it may be difficult to plan much in advance when you are staging your home, and you don’t know how long you’ll be living in your home, this scheduling approach is still worth considering. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />For example, buy heating fuel in the summer. Buy patio furniture and grills in October. And hire the heating and cooling guy in the spring or fall.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt;">The Lessons</span><o:p></o:p></h3><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember that if you spend $5,000, you can’t expect to raise your asking price $5,000. But you might sell your home faster, so fast that you’ll save more than $5,000 in carrying costs like insurance, mortgage interest, taxes and utilities.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep the big picture in mind, and don’t expect to make a huge profit by selling your home.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-ebook_cover1_zps9cb7beec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-ebook_cover1_zps9cb7beec.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Selling a home is like running a small business, so think like an entrepreneur and make all your staging decisions cost effective ones. Time and money both have to be budgeted if you’re going to stay sane and get the job done. These are the simple techniques I’ve used and I’ve seen others use to make home staging cost effective, and you can do it, too.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />There's more of this kind of sanity-saving advice in my<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html">home staging eBooks</a>. You can download them instantly and begin staging your own home today. They’re only $5 each!     </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt;">Top Photo: BHG</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>

How To Stretch Your Home Staging Dollars

A DIY home stager needs to know her competition. Otherwise she won't know if countertops should be granite and appliances stainless, or ...

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Ten Tips to Improve Your Autumn Curb Appeal

<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/P1020773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1020773.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A home on the market needs to look good all year long.<br />This home looks friendly, despite bare branches and dormant grass. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Instead of calling it “curb appeal,” I’m going to call it “front yard glamour.” Sound sexier? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Whatever you call it, the front of your home is the king pin of home staging. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Even though it’s now November, and I hope your home sells very soon, I like to plan ahead. That means thinking ahead to spring. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Once spring begins, the real estate market picks up quickly after slowing down for the winter holidays. So, spring’s when you want your front yard looking absolutely stunning! Planning ahead can make it happen. Here’s how:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tidy Up the Grounds</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you do nothing else, and before you do anything else, remove debris from around your home. Get rid of what’s accumulated from previous seasons. There might be things like plants felled by frost, tree limbs left from autumn storms, papers and leaves that have blown into the yard, shrubs that have died. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />Already, you’ve made a huge difference! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Salvage What You Want</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you’re a gardener, selling a home and moving gets complicated, because you’ll want to <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/05/sell-your-home-and-then-move-your.html" target="_blank">take some plants with you to your next home</a>. Fall is the time to divide those perennials like hostas, ferns, irises, and daylilies, to pot them up or store them in peat moss to make the move with you. You can also collect seeds from plants you love, and dig up tender bulbs and tubers from cannas, gladiolas, lilies, dahlias, caladiums, and elephant ears. </div><div class="MsoNormal">  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Put Away Signs of Summer </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Give your yard an up-to-the-minute look by putting into storage empty flower pots, fountains, summer sports equipment, cushions, hoses, pool toys, and umbrellas. I like to leave out some outdoor furniture so buyers are reminded of outdoor features like a patio, porch, or deck. <br /><br />If you have a bare spot in the lawn where a kiddie pool was all summer, can you convert it to a fire pit? If <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-favorite-15-minute-holiday.html" target="_blank">your flower boxes are empty</a>, can you fill them with evergreen boughs?   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you live where winters are severe, you’ll winterize your pool. If you live where winters are warm, leaving a pool uncovered provides an outdoor focal point that’s a selling feature to most buyers, but only if you are willing to maintain it through the winter. <br /><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-P1010061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="324" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1010061.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Most pools are situated behind a house, but sometimes they are still visible from the street. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">This home in Florida is located on </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">the Intracoastal Waterway, </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">so the pool is part of a different kind of curb appeal, or "canal appeal." </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Prune and Prune Some More</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">While there’s still some foliage on shrubbery and trees is a good time to <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/05/how-to-prune.html" target="_blank">prune</a>. You’ll be able to spot any dead or diseased branches, making sensible pruning easier.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Keep shrubs from crowding walkways. Keep them from blocking views from inside the house. Prune them back hard if they are getting leggy. Prune them so they’re wider at the bottom than at the top, so that sunlight can reach lower branches.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Plug in Some Bulbs</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Autumn’s the time to purchase and plant bulbs that will bloom in the spring. You can buy them locally at nurseries, garden centers and big box stores, but I like to get mine from a long-established company like <a href="http://terraceiafarms.com/" target="_blank">Terra Ceia</a> or <a href="http://brecks.com/" target="_blank">Brecks</a> where I know I’ll get my money’s worth in large and healthy bulbs. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Plan right, and there will be something blooming every month, possibly beginning even as early as February with plants such as snowdrops and narcissi. And squirrels don't like either of these bulbs. You will thank me for this advice, and you are welcome!   </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://images.whiteflowerfarm.com/140414a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="563" src="http://images.whiteflowerfarm.com/140414a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">They don't call them Snow Crocus for nothing! These small but welcome beauties<br />will bloom through snow-covered ground. Photo: White Flower Farm.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Top Dress Your Beds</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mulch is to your landscape what paint is to your home’s interior – the quickest and cheapest way to make everything else look better!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Whatever you use for mulch -- wood chips or bark, compost, or pine straw -- get out there and refresh it. If your mulch is stone, gravel, or rocks, make sure it’s free of weeds and other junk. I don’t recommend cocoa hulls because they are toxic to pets, and I don’t recommend cypress because harvesting it can deplete cypress swamps.   </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-P1020646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020646.jpg" width="558" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Stone works well as a mulch when there are enough plantings to keep the yard interesting. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Plant and Transplant Shrubs</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Any plant requires frequent watering when it’s just settling in. That’s why planting shrubs in the fall makes more sense than in springtime, when the warmer weather makes more demands on a plant. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Planting now gives any new small trees or shrubs a chance to establish their root systems before the ground cools during the winter. And you might get better deals on prices in the fall than in the spring. <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Test Your Soil</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I know it sounds geeky, but a soil test will let you know how to fertilize your lawn and ornamental areas, and what plants will thrive where you live. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Did you know that we homeowners typically over-use chemicals on our yards and gardens? Save money and save the environment by using only what your soil needs. Start by testing your soil. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Most <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>states offers this service for a small fee, as a function of your local county extension service. Here’s more <a href="http://www.whyy.org/91FM/ybyg/soiltests2.html" target="_blank">information on soil testing:</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Aerate Your Lawn</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">One thing the serious turf aficionados talk about is aeration. What it amounts to is putting lots of holes in the lawn -- holes that are not easily visible but allow the lawn to perk better. Aerating a lawn lets water, fertilizers, and air to move into the soil to encourage healthier grass. The opposite of an aerated lawn is a compacted lawn and we all know how that looks – bare! If you have compacted areas due to foot traffic, create a path of stepping stones to protect the lawn. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If your lawn is a warm season grass, aeration should be done in the spring. Cool season grass? Do it now. Here is <a href="http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-maintenance-care/aerating-and-thatch/how-do-i-aerate.php" target="_blank">more information on aeration</a>. </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-P1020668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020668.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Taking care of business now, in the fall, will pay off in the spring<br />with an enviable, lush lawn that buyers are bound to notice.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Fertilize the Soil</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This one is a little trickier than the others, because when you fertilize depends on where you live, what kind of grass you have, and what else you are growing.<br /><br />Best bet: check with dependable sources of information for your area, not people with vested interests such as chemical salesmen and lawn services. State universities and colleges, especially agricultural colleges, will give you impartial and current advice, so go to the websites for the these institutions in your state. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Wrap: </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now that your front yard is uncluttered and clean (just like your home’s interior) you can bring out a little winter decor. Maybe a <a href="http://www.birdbaths.com/bird-baths/solar/159+161+4295044962.cfm?source=googleaw&kwid=bird%20bath%20solar&tid=modbroad&gclid=CJnh45vKtrMCFayPPAodYVoAuQ" target="_blank">solar-heated birdbath</a> would enliven the front yard. If you live where winters aren't severe, you may be able to introduce winter color with annuals like pansies and flowering kale. And for the ultimate touch of front yard glamour, don’t forget to give a nod to the season with a front door winter wreath, maybe one <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/04/need-some-curb-appeal-dress-up-your.html" target="_blank">you've made yourself from rags</a>, or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/09/diy-tutorial-how-to-make-pine-cone.html" target="_blank">pine cones</a>. </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-P1030071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1030071.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This autumn grapevine wreath can quickly re-invent itself as a Christmas wreath once I </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">replace the orange berry garland with some seasonal picks, greenery, or a big red bow. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">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> includes one entire chapter on exterior home staging. If you have a home on the market, you can't afford to be without it. I guarantee it will help you sell your home! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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>

Ten Tips to Improve Your Autumn Curb Appeal

A home on the market needs to look good all year long. This home looks friendly, despite bare branches and dormant grass.  Instead of callin...

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A Simple Way to Get Feedback from People Who Tour Your Home

<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/tidyhouse3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/tidyhouse3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Do you know what people really think  of your home? <br />Here's how to get inside buyers' minds.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Hey, homesellers. Are you sick of people coming to look at your house and then never hearing from them again?<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you wonder </span></b>why they didn't make an offer? Do you question what they liked? Do you want to know what bothered them? What they thought of the price? The neighborhood? The floor plan? Your decor?<br /><br />Whenever I have a house for sale, I want feedback. It’s never too late to tweak the staging, add a simple upgrade, get rid of a minor problem, or …dare I say it… lower the price.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Even when <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-help-your-realtor-sell-your-home.html">working with a realtor</a>and doing all the right homework (like reading <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebook_02.html">my eBooks</a>), without feedback, you’re guessing how the market sees your home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Not everyone who views your home will tell his realtor what he really thought about your home. If a client acts disinterested, a good realtor will probe for reasons, because a good realtor wants to know what’s important to a client. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But some people feel bad saying negative things, or they may not understand fully what made them react to your home the way they did. So, not all feedback is helpful or complete.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">If a potential home buyer says</span></b>, “The house is nice, <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>but </b></i>…”</span><br /><ul><li>But they don’t like the carpeting. </li><li>But kitchen is too small. </li><li>But the appliances have to go. </li><li>But they’re not crazy about the neighborhood. </li></ul>What they are really saying is the house is overpriced.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">These comments mean they are seeing bigger kitchens, or better flooring, or newer appliances, or nicer neighborhoods for the same price. Without choosing the exact phrasing, they are saying that they know they can get more for their money. <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://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1010129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1010129.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Buyers typically look at similar homes in similar neighborhoods, at a similar price point.<br />This means you need to know your competition to arrive at a fair asking price.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It’s all about perceived value. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Staging is one way to increase the perceived value of your home. Another way is pricing it correctly. Getting feedback will help you in both cases.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you're going to <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-not-to-hire-realtor.html">hire a realtor</a>, she'll help you set your asking price. There are objective methods to arrive at fair market value, but fair market value also depends on how the market responds to your home. That's where feedback comes in handy.<br /><br />Here is how one realtor makes it easy to tune into what home buyers are saying about a listing. She simply sends this questionnaire out to every realtor who shows the property. She asks them to email or query the client, and get quick answers to these multiple choice questions.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">How would you rate the home's curb appeal?</span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Excellent</li><li>Good</li><li>Fair</li><li>Poor</li></ul><o:p></o:p><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></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/1-P1010030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1010030.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Some homes have curb appeal on two sides. This home for sale in Florida on the <br />Intracoastal Waterway needs to look good from front and back. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">How did the home's interior look?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Very comfortable and stylish</li><li>Clean and organized</li><li>Average</li><li>Needs improvement </li></ul><b><span style="font-size: large;">Are there parts of the home that need improving or updating?</span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>No improvements needed</li><li>Some exterior improvements needed</li><li>Some interior improvements needed</li><li>Appliances need updating or upgrading</li></ul><o:p></o:p><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/DSC00002-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/DSC00002-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A home in a subdivision is bound to be compared to the other homes in the same <br />(and nearby) subdivisions. A seller needs to match or beat these competing homes  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">How is the home priced compared to other homes?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Price is very appealing</li><li>Price seems fair</li><li>Home is somewhat overpriced</li><li>Home is substantially overpriced</li></ul><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/1-P1010009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1010009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A charming entrance is the beginning of what could become a purchase offer. <br />Knowing how buyers respond to your home can help you fine tune your property. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you considering making an offer on this home?</span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Undecided</li><li>No</li><li>Yes</li></ul><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Get the facts! </span></b></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">It takes less than a minute to get answers to these questions. I encourage you to share this idea with your realtor, so you’ll be on your way to knowing what’s good about your property and what might need some attention. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Fix your home to get the best grades possible from potential buyers. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Start by downloading my $5 <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar.</i></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

A Simple Way to Get Feedback from People Who Tour Your Home

Do you know what people really think  of your home? Here's how to get inside buyers' minds. Hey, homesellers. Are you sick of people...

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Roundup of 2011's Most Helpful Posts

<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="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/wreathonMirsdoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/wreathonMirsdoor.jpg" width="344" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>An herbal wreath is good for curb appeal.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>In case you missed them, here are my top ten posts for 2011. I chose these posts because I think they are the most helpful. If you are selling your home in 2012, you could consider this your basic reading list.<br /><br />Of course, I also recommend you 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>. It's indispensable, guaranteed!  <br /><br />With this kind of preparation, those wishes -- my own included -- for a happy and prosperous new year are bound to come true.     <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Take Step One</b></span>. I always work with a realtor. Do you know how to find the best one to sell your home? Here's my tips to guarantee you'll have the best salesperson and partner. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-not-to-hire-realtor.html">How to hire a realtor.</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Put chairs in Place.</b></span> Where to put what is a topic that drives lots of traffic to my site, so I know people are looking for answers. Read about the common mistakes of furniture arrangement and how to avoid them. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-arrange-furniture-most-common.html">How to arrange furniture. </a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Make Baths Win Buyers.</b></span> Bathrooms can be deal breakers. They are <i>that</i> important to buyers. Learn how to make yours pass the test, even if you're on a budget or your bathroom is dated. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-your-bathroom-staged-to-impress.html">How to stage a bathroom.</a><br /><br /><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/Rubberduck-1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Rubberduck-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Do you know the right way to stage a bath?  </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Decorate Outside, too.</b></span> We hear a lot about curb appeal, but yard art is something not always discussed in polite circles. Here's what even your best friends might not tell you. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-guidelines-to-choosing-and-using.html">How to choose yard art. </a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Learn Thrifting Tips.</b></span> I'm telling you all I know about how to get deals at garage sales, from what to wear and what to drive, to how to score those deals! <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-every-garage-sale-shopper-needs-to.html">How to be a great garage sale shopper.  </a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Minimize Stress and Get Results.</b></span> Need advice on making staging your home go more smoothly? Want to be more creative? Looking for ways to increase efficiency? Need to get organized and stay organized? Manage your time better? Develop a positive mindset? Let me point the way. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-take-work-out-of-staging-almost.html">How to make home staging less work.</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Learn the Secrets.</b></span> To using fake plants, that is. Yes, silks make a room come to life. But you need to know how to make them work for you, not against you. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/05/seven-secrets-to-making-silk-plants-and.html">How to stage with silk plants. </a><br /><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/setingroupwithrealstuff.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/setingroupwithrealstuff.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Artificial plants done right are convincing and add value to your rooms.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let's Make a Deal.</b></span> You can learn to negotiate like you mean it! How you deal with your buyer determines how much money you make. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/negotiating-101-how-to-get-what-you.html">How to get what you want when you sell your home.</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why You Should DIY. </b><span style="font-size: small;">I talk about what professional home stagers may not want you to know</span><span style="font-size: small;">. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/05/five-reasons-to-stage-your-own-home.html">Why stage your own home. </a></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Make a Headboard. </b></span>This post solves a common problem. And it's a quick and economical solution. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/bedroom-staging-diy-headboard-and-make.html">How to make a DIY headboard and a bed for staging.</a><br /><br />I hope you will continue to visit my site in the coming year. Whether you're a home seller, a decorator, a builder, an investor, or a do-it-yourselfer, you'll find more home staging advice and encouragement here in the months ahead.<br /><br /><br />

Roundup of 2011's Most Helpful Posts

An herbal wreath is good for curb appeal. In case you missed them, here are my top ten posts for 2011. I chose these posts because I think t...

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Open House Checklist. Ready, Set, Go!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.elcivics.com/lifeskills/images/open-house-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://www.elcivics.com/lifeskills/images/open-house-sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We're coming into prime house-hunting season, so if you are considering an open house, this would be the best time of year. <br />The weather is pleasantly comfortable, yards are looking perky, and people are looking ahead to a new season. <br /><br />The jury is still out on whether open houses really sell homes, but if your realtor suggests it, and you've staged your home, why not go for it? Use this handy checklist to get ready to show off your home. <br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE FLYER.</b></span> Have printed hand-outs that list the amenities you know your home has. Don't count on the realtor to list stats and features. Work with the realtor on this one to come up with something that sells the property by listing advantages instead of just data. "Enjoy resort-style living in your professionally designed backyard," instead of "Pool, patio." </li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/gold_pens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/gold_pens.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE PENS. </b></span>Encourage your realtor to distribute pens so people can make notations on the handout. It's easy for buyers to lose track of personal opinions after viewing a number of homes. You want them to remember what they liked about your home. I've used <a href="http://www.pens.com/site/search/index.jsp?catId=npc-cat10002">National Pens</a>.</li></ul><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE DETAILS.</b></span> Be as specific as possible when advertising your home's features on the hand-out. Name brands, models, and years. "2009 Whirlpool Quiet Action Plus model Dishwasher" looks better than "DW." Even if what you are describing is nothing unusual, the fact that you are giving specifics makes buyers think there's reason to brag. It builds confidence. <br /><ul><li> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE SIGNS.</b></span> Have plenty of directional signs so that people can find your open house. Balloons help. Don't be afraid to put the open house sign up 6 days in advance, one that says, "Open House, Sunday, 12 - 4." </li></ul><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.supranaturals.com/images/bottledwater.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.supranaturals.com/images/bottledwater.png" width="313" /></a></div><ul><li> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE ADS. </b></span>If the realtor agrees, promote on Craigslist and in any local papers. Ask if the open house will be promoted on the realtor's website.</li><li></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE FREEBIES.</b></span> Provide bottled water and wrapped mints. People love to get something for nothing. Sweet drinks and food can cause spills that stain. </li><li></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE BOOK.</b></span> Make sure people who show up sign a guest book, including their email address and phone number. Your realtor can follow up with visitors. It also discourages pilferage.</li><li></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE PRECAUTIONS.</b></span> Lock away or remove all valuables if you have not already. Remove prescription medications from the home. Like I said, people like getting something from nothing, and maybe bottled water isn't what they are after. </li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE PREPPING.</b></span> Of course, your home will be staged to be at its absolute best -- clean, uncluttered, and looking and smelling great. Need help? 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>for all my best tips and techniques on getting your home staged to sell. <i>  </i></li></ul>

Open House Checklist. Ready, Set, Go!

We're coming into prime house-hunting season, so if you are considering an open house, this would be the best time of year. The weather ...

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"Why Hasn't My House Sold?"

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Dirtywelcomemat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div></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-messy-master-bathroom_zps13ae5214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-messy-master-bathroom_zps13ae5214.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This is an actual photo from an actual MLS listing.<br />Does the owner look motivated? </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">If your home is on the market and you have not sold it, could the reason be little ole you? </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ask yourself if the person in the mirror looks like any of these six personalities. If you really want to sell your home, you may have to examine some of your own actions, then set about correcting them if they are obstructions to finding a buyer. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><b> </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MS. LEISURELY</b></span>. You're in no rush.  You want the real estate market to bounce back before you become a serious seller. Moving seems like so much work! You love your home, and you  don't want to "give it away."<br /><br />My advice: If selling isn't a necessity, staying in place might make more sense. Review your reasons for selling.     <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MR. UNBUDGEABLE.</b></span> You stay at home when your realtor shows the house.<br /><br />I don't know one house hunter who thinks meeting the seller at the initial walk-through is an advantage. Quite the contrary. It's a distraction and it's inhibiting. One of a realtor's roles is to be the liaison between buyer and seller. Develop a plan -- a place to go when your realtor brings a prospective buyer. <br /><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/Dirtywelcomemat.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Dirtywelcomemat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Are you guilty  of not being welcoming?</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b>RITA RELUCTANT.</b></span> You're not even sure you want to move. You're not crazy about the locale you're relocating to. You want to cry when you think about leaving your neighbors and close friends. You're dragging your feet and not taking offers seriously, or maybe your significant other isn't onboard.<br /><br />It's time for re-examining the big picture. An unmotivated seller has a hard time selling.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MISS INDEBTED.</b></span> You  have so much money in your home that you can't lower your asking price. Or you have other debts to pay.<br /><br />Can you schedule a consultation with someone whose opinions you respect? Realtor, accountant, mentor, parent, financial advisor, banker? For now, houses aren't the cash cows of years gone by. If you cannot afford to sell your home, perhaps you can rent it out. Or, you can bite the bullet, and settle for less than you want. If it helps, remember that in this market, you can still buy a lot of house for your money when you move.     <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MR. & MRS. UNPREPARED. </b></span>You haven't staged because you don't have the time or money or energy. You haven't exactly become your realtor's best friend, because you make it cumbersome for her to arrange viewings, or you don't pick up on her staging and repair suggestions.<br /><br />There is plenty you can do to enhance your home that does not take money, time or energy. Become part of your realtor's sales force, and take any advice she gives. You're paying for her expertise. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SUZY SECRETIVE.</b></span> You have not spread the word to friends and colleagues that your house is for sale. You won't agree to a for sale sign in front of your home.<br /><br />Sometimes the best sales leads come from word-of-mouth advertising. Your neighbors and others will know soon enough that your home is for sale. Get out of the closet, and become a seller. <br /><br />There may be other barriers you are putting up between you and buyers. Read 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>, to benefit from my experience buying and selling homes. <br /><br />

"Why Hasn't My House Sold?"

This is an actual photo from an actual MLS listing. Does the owner look motivated?  If your home is on the market and you have not sold it, ...

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Negotiating 101: How to Get What You Want

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></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://blstb.msn.com/i/B0/F136F1DAF5A855939D83B2303A94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://blstb.msn.com/i/B0/F136F1DAF5A855939D83B2303A94.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Make them an offer they can't refuse.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Your realtor calls, and says the words that make your heart beat faster. "We have an offer." <br /><br />Knowing how to respond to an offer to purchase your home makes a difference. In dollars. To quote the Turbo Tax software, "We want to make sure you get all the money that's coming to you."<br /><br />(Pat me on the back. I finished our Turbo Taxes. Love that program!) <br /><br />It's interesting, at least to <i>me</i>, that plenty of guidance is available online, in the media, and in books about buying smart. But about selling smart, not so much. Let's balance that scale a bit, right here and now. <br /><br />Here are my tips based on what I have learned from buying and selling homes, and on what I have learned from others and from my studies. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tip #1</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Always Counter.</b> </span>Opening offers are just that. Most buyers expect they will have to increase their initial figure. To not come back with your offer -- any offer --  makes you a greedy bad guy. You never know where the talks will wind up if you don't counter.<br /><br />If you accept an offer without discussing other figures or contingencies, your buyers will always wonder how low they could have gone and walked away with your property. A prime principle of successful negotiating is that when it's over, all parties feel they got what they wanted.    <br /><br />In fact, the more times initialed papers go back and forth, the more committed emotionally the buyer is to having the deal go through. It doesn't take long for buyers to begin planning on where they will set up their big plasma screen, and how many people they will invite to their housewarming party, even though the negotiating ball is still in the air. Keep the ball in the air.<br /><br />I wrote <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-staging-helps-negotiations.html">here</a> about how staging helped us to not act too quickly when we received an opening, low offer on the condo we sold last year.<br /><br /><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://imagecache6.allposters.com/LRG/56/5699/DJPUG00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://imagecache6.allposters.com/LRG/56/5699/DJPUG00Z.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Clint's characters always know how to<br />get exactly what they want.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tip #2</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Know Your Bottom Line.</b></span> Have you done your homework? You should know how much it costs each month you stay in your home.<br /><br />Know the realistic value of your home in today's market, not based on what you paid for it, what you have to get to pay off credit cards, or how much you love your home.<br /><br />Spring for an appraisal. The bank won't loan Mr. Buyer any more than appraised value. Note: A real estate broker's market analysis is not as accurate as a full-fledged appraisal and holds no weight with banks. Having a recent, professional appraisal is a powerful tool to have in your hands.<br /><br />Your bottom line will be influenced by deadlines in your life. Your realtor will be able to give you typical days on market figures for comparable properties in your locale. If you need or want to relocate fast, your price can reflect that.   <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tip #3</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Have Backup Options. </b></span>It's not fun to think about, but it will strengthen your position during negotiations to have some plans in case you are on the market longer than you like. Patience is an asset when it comes to dealing. Not only do you not want to <i>feel </i>desperate, you don't want the buyer to <i>think</i> you are desperate.<br /><br />If your carrying costs are really high, you may choose to vacate your prettily staged home, and become a renter in a smaller, more economical place. Some sellers live in an RV or with relatives. It's temporary.<br /><br />Staging your home helps convey the message to buyers that you are comfortable and not ready to accept whatever comes along. Don't have piles of packed boxes in the garage, shed, or guest room. Get them off-site, even if it means your Dad's garage.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tip #4</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Be the Mystery Seller.</b> </span>The more a buyer knows about you, the more leverage he has. This is especially true if you are near foreclosure or bankruptcy, if one spouse has already relocated, if you are selling an inherited property, if you are a professional house flipper, or if you have not had any offers.<br /><br />At the same time, it's just smart negotiating to learn as much as you can about the prospective buyer. If he is relocating from a state where property values are high, your place may seem like a bargain, and you can anticipate an easier road to an agreed upon price. If he has been house hunting for two years, he is either very choosy or not a serious buyer, and you can let the drama just play out without getting yourself in knots. If he is a professional rehabber, he'll be giving you bottom-feeder prices. If he is shopping for a second home, money is probably not as big a problem as with a young, first-time home buyer, and you shouldn't have to compromise.<br /><br />If you are a FSBO seller, the rules change, and sitting face to face with a buyer calls for a different set of tactics. I'll blog about negotiating as a FSBO at another time.<br />   <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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbzlWFV2-dFQ2CwOBp9EG9iboGgQnOJUROEtgvcUVdY7ZeGA9y-HxSp1Au8SJfxUqe0QiFfrDhyphenhyphen_TC3MRspJxZhsMIsF7J9rilQ6KgehgC128PEaZsWtBRr8nS9ZZ-q5QfRiyQr1wt2U/s1600/The+Group+1966+Candice+Bergen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbzlWFV2-dFQ2CwOBp9EG9iboGgQnOJUROEtgvcUVdY7ZeGA9y-HxSp1Au8SJfxUqe0QiFfrDhyphenhyphen_TC3MRspJxZhsMIsF7J9rilQ6KgehgC128PEaZsWtBRr8nS9ZZ-q5QfRiyQr1wt2U/s640/The+Group+1966+Candice+Bergen.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>In her first movie, The Group, Candice Bergman (right) plays a mysterious woman<br />who turns out to be the strongest character in the dynamic plot.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tip #5</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fiddle with Contingencies.</b></span> Be creative. You can say, "I won't come down another $20,000, but I will leave the piano for you," the one you didn't want to move anyway. Let them keep some of your staging furniture. Throw in the patio furniture and the riding mower.  <br /><br />If you can't give in on the big things (money), negotiate minor points. Delay the closing to meet their schedule, or move the closing up to make them happy. This tactic makes buyers feel like they are getting things for nothing.<br /><br />Offering to pay the buyer's closing costs doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is. Most buyers are stretched and need to finance most of their purchase. If they don't have to roll in the closing costs to their mortgage, it means more to them than the actual closing costs amount. You have saved them a boatload of interest money.<br /><br />Offer to finance part of their down payment for them if you can. You'll make money instead of the banks making it. A lawyer can draft the paper work. <br /><br />All these things indicate that you want the deal to go through. The buyer feels like you are on his side rather than fighting him.<br /><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTB9ktmA0EHhf5_jzsEpl44Ukt4uxOHx7H6Zsr3Y1ctngexfkXYy44dY-KOAtiWe5l3_Hu7jhCTj5EHic7aODRsB32SxIW-W9rSOM7UhrmCikfs0PlnkG9hr7HlKsDFTK2qQG_YBwP36f2/s320/pwo291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTB9ktmA0EHhf5_jzsEpl44Ukt4uxOHx7H6Zsr3Y1ctngexfkXYy44dY-KOAtiWe5l3_Hu7jhCTj5EHic7aODRsB32SxIW-W9rSOM7UhrmCikfs0PlnkG9hr7HlKsDFTK2qQG_YBwP36f2/s640/pwo291.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">In their roles in Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere come to an agreement about </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">their relationship by discussing contingencies, but each maintain their own sense of integrity. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tip #6</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Build a Relationship on Integrity.</b></span> Always take the high road. The usual vibe of real estate negotiating is adversarial. Buyers and sellers always assume it is a competition. That's wrong. Assume the best of your buyer, and behave in a way that shows you are willing to work with him. Working with a realtor, especially an experienced, hard-nosed negotiator (not necessarily Ms Nice Gal), will assure that you are not taken advantage of. In a FSBO transaction, it's even more important for buyers and sellers to trust each other.  <br /><br />One false step and you've destroyed credibility and trust. Example of missteps might be: speaking negatively to your listing agent about the buyer, withholding facts about the condition of your property, or attempting to skirt the laws or ethics of real estate sales.<br /><br />One of the earliest homes Mr. Lucky and I bought we bought from a man who, when he arrived at the closing, asked the lawyer to transfer the money to his brother rather than himself. He was either avoiding taxes or avoiding having to pay his estranged wife her share. The lawyer closed his book and said, "Come back when you want to do this right." It made the seller look like a snake in the grass, didn't endear him to us, and clued us to be extra vigilant in the deal.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tip #7</b></span><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Get Outside Support.</span> </b>Whenever negotiating seems to be deadlocked, refer to a third party. It's like calling in an umpire to make a call. A third party can justify your position with facts and figures. An impartial third party can diffuse an emotional situation or clear up a deadlock.<br /><br />Take your lessons from the Big Boys. International peace talks and labor/union disputes are usually conducted with help from an arbitrator. If you are FSBO, you can pay a realtor to represent you.  <br /><br />Your third party could be a home inspector or an appraiser. Or it could be paperwork that substantiates your position, like documentation for things like repairs or warranties. Specifics like tax statements, electric bills and co-op or homeowner association records, can build your case for why you are firm on your last offer.<b> </b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tip #8</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let Realtors Be Buffers. </b></span>But let your own realtor convey the image of you as a regular guy, not a fast-talking wheeler dealer. Take your time considering the offers. A written offer usually has a 24-hour shelf life, meaning you must respond or the offer becomes void. People like to do business with people who are like them, and likable, so give all offers the courteous attention and time they deserve. <br /><br />Your realtor is here to run interference for you and keep the business of negotiating businesslike, not personal. She will shield you from giving away too much information about your position, and too much money. A good realtor will offer constructive advice on how to proceed.<br /><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://swoonsandsnarls.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/reiner-quiz-good-men.jpg?w=500&h=296" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="379" src="http://swoonsandsnarls.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/reiner-quiz-good-men.jpg?w=500&h=296" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Tom Cruise and his team of military lawyers pursued a vigorous defense for the men </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">they represented in court, in A Few Good Men. You want a realtor with that kind of tenacity.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tip #9</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Be Flexible.</b></span> Don't walk away over a small difference. Keep the big picture in mind. If you and your prospective buyer are just 2% of your asking price apart, examine how much it could cost you to reject the offer. Review your negotiating options. Or, stick to your price, but ask them for additional favors or contingencies.<br /><br />At the same time, know when to hold. We once signed with a realtor to sell a house, and had an offer as soon as a neighbor told friends about it, even before the MLS listing went live. We settled on a price barely below asking price because the house was so new to the market and we knew there would be other interested buyers. Sometimes holding to a predetermined price point lets buyers know you're in a strong position. It all depends on how motivated you are to sell fast. <br /><br />Follow your realtor's advice. You're paying her for it. The realtors are working for both parties and they want to see a deal happen, so they will continue to negotiate until it's obvious nothing is going to happen, or else there is agreement, and a sale!<br /><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/IMG_5099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="486" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_5099.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I'm not a movie star, but I've staged many homes and I can help you stage yours. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you need staging suggestion</b><b>s </b></span>to make your home irresistible? A staged home sells faster and for more money, so there's less chance that buyers will try to grind away at your selling price. 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>, helps you do all the right things to attract buyers <i>and</i> keep them interested. You can go to my eBook page and download your copy now. <br /><br />

Negotiating 101: How to Get What You Want

Make them an offer they can't refuse. Your realtor calls, and says the words that make your heart beat faster. "We have an offer....

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Five Things to Do to Sell Your Home

I could not have said it better than Barbara Cocoran did in an interview this week with Matt Lauer.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ZXkNIy1zNg?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><br />Funny thing is, watching this video, I count six tips to sell your home. To summarize, Barbara says:<br /><br />1. Time your selling right. February happens to be a good time.<br />2. Price your property 10% below your competitor's asking price, even though you may hate to do it <br />3. Get an inspection before listing your home. Fix what needs fixing.<br />4. Offer financial incentives upfront. Don't wait until you are negotiating to sweeten the deal.<br />5. Wage war online, including hiring a professional photographer.<br />6. Spend money on three key areas -- kitchen, living room, and front facade.<br /><br />Watch the video clip to learn the logic and details of each of these pointers. It's a terrific nutshell primer on selling a home in today's market. Thanks, from one Barbara to another.

Five Things to Do to Sell Your Home

I could not have said it better than Barbara Cocoran did in an interview this week with Matt Lauer.  Funny thing is, watching this video, I ...

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What Home Sellers Can Learn from Todd Smith

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5G7c7M-Ln1vtG9VBNugTCODCRASD19z-FanhOpCOuWJSA2e-Jgydl-5mMgit8XlHNluedX786WBvsNuQ3HV70uz_qfTgPr5JH62ZlGmF5FUNyfbvOdwR4gy2fP9sNZjxC_REk4TVAl88/s1600/first+thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5G7c7M-Ln1vtG9VBNugTCODCRASD19z-FanhOpCOuWJSA2e-Jgydl-5mMgit8XlHNluedX786WBvsNuQ3HV70uz_qfTgPr5JH62ZlGmF5FUNyfbvOdwR4gy2fP9sNZjxC_REk4TVAl88/s640/first+thanksgiving.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Since it's Thanksgiving Day, I wanted to share a post from blogger, author, and entrepreneur, Todd Smith. Todd's <a href="http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/11/23/give-thanks-with-a-grateful-heart/">comments</a> have to do with cultivating a grateful mind, an important habit for all of us, and especially for people who have a home to sell. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What's Your Position?</b></span><br />Many home sellers are simply wanting to get out from under a mortgage they aren't able to keep up with. Others might be a few steps away from foreclosure. I hope you are not one of those. I hope you have decided to sell your home for all the best reasons -- a new job, a more suitable home, a more desirable neighborhood, better schools, or purely for the adventure that a change brings.<br /><br />When you visit Todd's site, <a href="http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/">Little Things Matter</a>, be sure to read "Meet Todd," because he has an interesting personal story about how he worked to become a successful real estate agent. Whether you are an agent, or someone who works with a realtor, you'll be impressed with his attention to detail as formula for success.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Start Small Because Small Matters </span></b><br />While I've designed my site to give you advice on staging your home to sell faster for a good price, Todd offers up an abundance of smart information on all kinds of life skills, from managing your time and your money, to building better relationships and losing weight. His stress is always on the small but important details.  <br /><br />Home staging and decorating share that same need for attention to detail.  <a href="http://www.eddieross.com/eddie_ross/">Eddie Ross</a> said that one of the things he learned while working for Martha Stewart was that details are what make the difference in crafts, table settings, decor...whatever.     <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Don't Let D.O.M Spell Doom </b></span><br />Paying attention to details, and keeping a thankful mindset are especially helpful when your home has been on the market for a longer time than you expected. I talk about the challenges of living in a home that's seen too many days on the market in my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/11/perfect-diy-headboard-for-staging.html">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar.  </i><br /><br />I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving, counting your blessings. My readers will be among the many blessings I count.

What Home Sellers Can Learn from Todd Smith

Since it's Thanksgiving Day, I wanted to share a post from blogger, author, and entrepreneur, Todd Smith. Todd's comments have to d...

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If Lovin' You Is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Right

<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;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQjRLn_xFVD8M6Rii25oj3gcPZiXUqsddPHs2HemhrHXIGufoI&t=1&usg=__JoYBkuRijB3IMFngmgUy_Nf67A0=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Can you love something too much?</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Waiting for a buyer is a little like waiting for your soul mate. Only not. You can't be that fussy.<br /><br />Do you have a picture of the perfect buyer in your mind?<br /><br />If so, erase it.<br /><br />Just as you staged your home, stage your mind. Keep it clear and open. An open mind will look thankfully at whoever crosses your threshold with an offer.   <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What prompted this post </b></span>is a short news article I read about a family who has a property to sell, one they've rehabbed themselves over the 40 years they've lived there. They've raised a family there. They've celebrated many milestones there. As a result, they've become emotionally attached to their precious property. Mistake!<br /><br />I also remember seeing one of those-sell-your-home shows on HGTV about a young man who was selling the house he had grown up in and inherited. His sentimentality caused him to put a price on the property higher than the appraised value, and at the same time, he was resistant to making changes to the house because of all the memories it  held for him.<br /><br />You just cannot do this and expect to sell your home for a good price. As Cher says to Nicolas Cage in <i>Moonstruck</i>, "Snap out of it!"<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eJSi4GAQf-s?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eJSi4GAQf-s?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Not only will this </b></span>kind of emotionalism prevent sellers from pricing a property correctly, they're more likely to be too choosy about buyers. In fact, in both these examples, the property owners admitted they are waiting for someone who will love their houses and take care of them the way they have. I call these people "not serious sellers."<br /><br />If you are serious about selling, lose the preconceived notions of who the next owner will be.  Yes, it's gratifying to sell to someone who will always tend to your rose garden, appreciate your faux-finished vanities, and will use the home office you've lovingly built as an office, not as a family room or another bedroom, damn it!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Once upon a time</b></span>, 52 years ago, when I was 16, I dated a young man my age of whom my parents did not approve, which was probably part of his appeal, but never mind. He wasn't college-bound, and he wore his hair in the style of a "juvenile delinquent," a la John Travolta in <i>Grease</i>. My sister's theory is that my bald Dad was just jealous of all that hair. The point is that he was a gifted artist, and I felt that we were soul mates.<br /><br />He approached my parents with a plan, that we would be allowed to see each other, but not leave the house. That meant dates were limited to playing ping pong and listening to records in the basement rec room. The basement had cement walls, and since we both enjoyed painting (some things never change) we spent months painting a mural on the walls of the basement.  You can only play so much ping pong.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When it came time</b></span> to sell that house seven years later, my mother said her one regret was leaving that mural behind. I hope it didn't cloud her judgement about what was an acceptable offer for the house.<br /><br />I tell that story because I believe each of us could tell a similar story. It's only natural to form heartfelt attachments to your home. I've found that decluttering can help you begin the process of putting aside your emotions. Once your favorite family photos, trophies, framed certificates and souvenirs are packed up, you'll be further along on the path to detachment. Painting, rearranging furniture, and other staging tactics will also help distance yourself from the home, preparing you mentally for your next one.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>One last note</b></span> about the pitfalls of waiting for your perfect buyer.<br /><br />By being too selective, you could be breaking fair housing laws. I find it hard to believe in our slow housing market that anyone would screen buyers based on whether they will tear down the property or not, or whether they have too many children, or are not the "right color" for your neighborhood, but it happens. Don't let this be you.<br /><br />A real estate agent is bound by standards of the industry to present any serious, written purchase offer. Work with your agent and your buyer, and stay within the law, no matter what your personal opinions are.<br /><br />Be sure to download my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspsot.com/p/ebook_02.html">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar,</i> if you want to learn both the basics and all the little secrets to getting a home sold!

If Lovin' You Is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Right

Can you love something too much? Waiting for a buyer is a little like waiting for your soul mate. Only not. You can't be that fussy. Do ...

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How Staging Helps Negotiations

<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;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRAsAGnODAeyEFOTzuK0Emeuh7dFhgHKov_fiOTjaqPaH_5DLs&t=1&usg=__32siuBdDyCbm_CZPOJ61t51YQGc=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="275" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our condo sold, and we're reminded that every offer is a serious offer even if it sounds goofy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Today I discovered yet one more advantage to staging your home for sale.  It gives you a distinct leg up in negotiations.<br /><br />Two days ago we received an offer on the condo we have had on the market for 145 days.  It was a <i>very </i>low offer. The interesting thing is that the written offer came to our realtor with a $5,000 deposit and the verbal information that the buyer planned to put the same offer in to another unit in the same complex if we refused the price and terms.  The terms included the demand that we provide a home warranty, and that we accept a lower selling price if the property appraised for a lower amount.<br /><br />We didn't like the price or the terms.  Nevertheless, we countered by reducing our listing price a few thousand, still nowhere near his offer.  He countered by raising his offer a few thousand, still nowhere near our adjusted price. We refused to go lower.<br /><br />Here's where staging helped.  We knew the other unit was not staged. Both units were priced about the same and have the same floor plan. The knowledge that our property showed well provided the confidence to hold firm at our price. It was a showdown, and the buyer blinked. He agreed to our price.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRAsAGnODAeyEFOTzuK0Emeuh7dFhgHKov_fiOTjaqPaH_5DLs&t=1&usg=__32siuBdDyCbm_CZPOJ61t51YQGc=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>We knew we were gambling, that the buyer could walk away, and we might wait months for another offer.  Rather than be hustled by his warning that he had a back-up plan -- buying the other unit -- we were comfortable waiting him out. We were comfortable because we staged, so we knew we had the competitive edge.<br /><br />We've since learned that the reason our buyer opened with a low ball offer was that he had a relative advising him. When the deal looked like it wasn't going to happen, he told his adviser to step aside and he made what he knew was a more fair offer. Lesson here: take all offers seriously because you never know where negotiations will lead.<br /><br />Tomorrow we'll sign papers to seal the deal.  Another victory for effective home staging!

How Staging Helps Negotiations

Our condo sold, and we're reminded that every offer is a serious offer even if it sounds goofy. Today I discovered yet one more advantag...

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Advice About Negotiations and Home Inspections

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Harborwalk/homeinspection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Harborwalk/homeinspection.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A home inspection is helpful whether </i></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i>you are selling a home or buying a home.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Any offer you get to buy your home on the market needs to be taken seriously.<br /><br />As a seller, you should <i>always </i>counter an offer. There's a couple of reasons why this makes sense.<br /><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reason One</b></span><br />The more times papers get passed back and forth, the more emotionally invested the buyer becomes to the offer going through.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reason Two</b></span><br />Not many buyers will open with their top bid. We didn’t.        <br /><br />The good news is that our offer was accepted. The owner did not even counter-offer. That fact is fascinating to me. It makes me wonder if we could have bought it for less. Well, can’t get greedy, now, can we?<br /><br />My head is swimming with possibilities for this unit. My challenge will be to keep it under budget. However, for me, frugality is like an Olympic sport. It takes punishing practice and constant dedication, but I’m up for it! <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Official Inspection or Not? </b></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/frontdoor-home-inspection2-200x3001_zps51fbc49d.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/frontdoor-home-inspection2-200x3001_zps51fbc49d.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Home inspectors are trained and licensed<br />so you know there are standards that<br />are understood by the real estate industry.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>We decided not to have a home inspection, even though we usually do. One reason is that both Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Lucky did a thorough examination of the property. The other reason is that the unit is part of a condominium that is well managed. <br /><br />However, a home inspection is valuable, especially if you are buying a home without knowledgeable advisers, or without much homeowner experience yourself. When buying a home, you can’t count on the seller or the realtor to educate you about every square inch. Even new homes can have surprises, especially when a builder tries to cut corners to increase profits.<br /><br />When selling a home, it can be worth the money to hire a home inspector so there are no surprises once you’re under contract. A home inspection will tell you what repairs ought to be made to keep a buyer and his financing people happy.  <br /><br />A home inspection report that shines a favorable light on your property can become part of the selling package that you or your realtor can show prospective buyers.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Taking Risks vs Taking Chances </b></span><br />Not having an official inspection when buying can be risky. Most realtors suggest it, and some insist on it.<br /><br />Any real estate investment is a risk. The difference between taking a risk and taking a chance is information. We chose to reduce the risk factor here by learning as much as we can about the property and having an experienced builder do a thorough study of the building, the electrical system, the roof, water heater, appliances, foundation, attic space, moisture content of walls and ceiling, heating and cooling systems, and plumbing. <br />  <br />Our closing is set for March 11. We have two weeks before the big push. I call it that because we need to get in and get out in four weeks, a self-imposed deadline. We set a deadline not just to make it more interesting (Ha!) but to keep costs low. The faster it sells, the lower our carrying costs are.<br /><br />Are you selling a home? Do you want advice on repairs, cleaning, and staging it? Then download 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>. I give you a money-back guarantee, so there's NO risk!<br /><br />

Advice About Negotiations and Home Inspections

A home inspection is helpful whether  you are selling a home or buying a home. Any offer you get to buy your home on the market needs to be ...

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We're Wearing Down Our Pencils

<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/Harborwalk/budgetcalculations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Harborwalk/budgetcalculations.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Frugal home staging can mean hours with your calculator.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>When you’re buying or selling a home, you’re talking big numbers. That’s why doing the homework is important.  <br /><br />Our homework over the weekend was collecting prices, a.k.a. walking the aisles at Lowes with pad and pencil. We’ve tweaked and crunched and reverse engineered all the figures to see if we can make money, and everything points to a yes.  <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As excited as I am</b></span> about the possibility of beginning a new rehab and staging project, I <br />have to act fairly cool about the possible purchase because I don't want Mr. Lucky to think I'm not being totally realistic, businesslike, calculating, unattached. If he suspects I’m too emotional about the purchase, it'll just make him be more cool headed and reluctant. You know, to balance me.<br /><br />Do other couples play this game? <br /><br />I'm really hoping we can put it together because it's totally win/win: getting to do what we enjoy, and make money, too!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Finally, we submitted</b></span> the offer. We’re waiting. <br /><br />I’ve collected all our pages of calculations and price projections and put them in a loose-leaf binder in a section marked “Budget and Estimates.” I’ve added sections for “Measurements and Specifications,” and for “Staging.”  <br /><br />I’m trying hard not to get ahead of myself because we don’t have a deal, but I can’t help envisioning that cute little 1270-square foot condo set right and dressed up for buyers.  <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’ll be disappointed </b></span>if all parties can’t agree on a price that will work for us.  We took the price Ms. Speedy thought we could get after we described what we wanted to do, then deducted all our projected costs and what we’d like to earn, to arrive at our offering price. Fingers crossed.

We're Wearing Down Our Pencils

Frugal home staging can mean hours with your calculator. When you’re buying or selling a home, you’re talking big numbers. That’s why doing ...

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