Boost Your Decluttering Motivation

Do you feel in control of the clutter in your home or does your clutter have control of you? The problem with clutter is that it will taunt you, calling out demands every time you walk past it. It reminds you there is one more task yet to take care of and puts unnecessary pressure on you. Clutter can steal your sense of calm.

Does that happen to you? If so, perhaps it’s time to develop a new habit that will set you on your way to conquering clutter.

Why Declutter?

Ten people might give you 10 different reasons for decluttering their homes. Some like to keep up with what’s current, which means parting with the old in favor of new and modern. Another will tell you they fear leaving too much for their children to manage after they pass. Most will admit that living with less clutter just feels better all around. And, there is some truth to that. Having extra space in closets, cleared countertops, and a place to put every item you own can bring a sense of calm organization. On the other hand, items left lying around unattended can have the opposite effect. Because your home is an extension of you, how it looks and its efficiency or inefficiency can affect your mood and how well you process life.

Nevertheless, life doles out losses and triumphs, forced changes, and setbacks for most. Don’t get discouraged if you feel a tad behind in your home organization. For example, the family with the college student who moves back home with all their gear knows the chaos that comes with having to rehome several items until the child leaves again. The son or daughter who inherits mom or dad’s belongings after they have passed away or downsized knows well the emotional price tag that comes with dividing up the inherited possessions brought into their home.

Develop a Decluttering Mindset

So, how do you get motivated to declutter your home? You start with developing a decluttering mindset. You can practice and grow that mindset by dealing first with the items that come into your home on a regular basis. Doing so will help you learn to make quick decisions and to get into the habit of putting items where they belong sooner rather than later. When you get that process down, you will feel rewarded by the less cluttered look and the satisfying feeling that results.

Deal with Clutter as It Arrives

The secret habit to get into that will help boost your decluttering process is so easy, all you need is a nudge to get started. You see, every homeowner has the same challenge. All deal with this same basic type of clutter. What is it? You might call it spontaneous clutter. Spontaneous clutter includes things that come into your home often by mail or shopping. Spontaneous clutter includes parcel delivery boxes, plastic shopping bags, junk mail, received greeting cards, children’s school notes, party decor, and the like.

Yes, a cardboard box may look like a good box to be reused, but you can’t keep every box you receive. Plastic shopping bags are handy to line trash bins or litter boxes, but chances are you’ll have more than you need. Most can be put into recycling. Deciding it’s better to let them go is a good mindset to have.

Deal with Temporary Storage Habits

It can be tempting to put spontaneous clutter somewhere temporarily, planning to deal with it later. This is where most get into trouble, though. Too often, later becomes never. You forget why you kept certain things, and your motivation to deal with them fizzles out. Soon enough, your home looks messy, and you can’t find what you need. Often, these “someday” piles shout condemning thoughts and dole out unnecessary pressure.

Here are a few tips to help you deal with spontaneous clutter:
Have a recycling box with easy access for junk mail. How often do you really use those coupons anyhow?
Create a mental system that first includes being a good decision-maker. Create rules for what you will do with challenging items.
Decide not to leave things on hotspots (countertops, in the garage, etc.) even if you think it will be temporary. If a holding spot is needed, create a system for it.

Create Storage

Sometimes there is a reason to keep certain items like tax receipts, medical papers, school permission slips, and so on. In these cases, choose a location for them to be stored – a storage tray, shallow drawer, file folder, or binder.

As nice as greeting cards or magazines are, you can’t keep everything if you hope to stay organized. Recognize that the giving and receiving of greeting cards was the important part. Try not to become sentimentally attached to them. Cherish the memory of the friend or relative who gave it to you and let it go. If you must, keep special cards in a box or photo album. Enjoy magazines but have a deadline in mind for how long they’re allowed to stay. Unsubscribe to ones you never read.

Practice the Decluttering Habit

Your home should be your haven – a place of peace, comfort, and restoration. It makes sense to tend to your home on a regular basis as you might weed a garden. Get into the practice of weeding out clutter as soon as it arrives. Once you’ve established that habit, you can dive into bigger decluttering projects around your home.

Feeling in control of your clutter will have terrific payoffs both in the appearance of your home and in your ability to locate items as necessary. Once you have developed good habits in dealing with what comes into your home regularly, you will find it easier to make decisions on other types of clutter. In no time, you’ll enjoy the enhanced peace and calm that a clutter-free home brings.

Are you looking to sell your house as quickly as possible and for top dollar? If so, then you should focus on increasing the value of your home in order to make it easier to find a buyer and get a higher price. Here are 20 things you can do to increase the value of your house.

1. Recaulk windows, sinks, bathtubs, and backsplashes – These areas are notorious for being home to mold and grime. If you have a hard time cleaning them yourself, then it is likely that potential buyers will feel the same way. Caulking can go a long way towards increasing value because it makes those areas seem clean, fresh, and new.
2. Replace faucets – Replacing faucets is a small investment that goes a long way. Faucets tend to build up water stains and are difficult to clean. Replacing them gives buyers the feeling of a new home.
3. Replace window screens and screen doors – Over time, window screens can fade, warp, or tear, making the house look aged or dingy. Adding brand new screens is inexpensive and can add the impression that the house has been well maintained and cared for.
4. Paint the interior – A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for the interior of your house. It can make it look cleaner and brighter, which are both things that buyers are looking for. Choose neutral colors, such as eggshell or beige.
5. Replace lightswitch covers and electrical socket plates – Replacing worn light switch covers and electrical socket plates is another inexpensive way to update the look of your house. Lightswitch covers are just one place where dirty fingerprints can accumulate, so it makes sense that buyers will want a fresh start when they move into their new home.
6. Clean or replace carpets – Carpets are another home element where dirt and stains can accumulate, so it is important to have them professionally cleaned if needed. Replacing old carpet will make the entire house seem brand new.
7. Change door knobs and deadbolt locks – Another way to invoke the feeling that the house has shiny and new elements is by replacing the doorknobs throughout the house and any deadbolt locks.
8. Update light fixtures – Replacing old light fixtures with new ones is an easy way to update the entire house and give it a more modern look and feel. Choose fixtures that are simple and sleek.
9. Replace cabinet hardware – Replacing old cabinet hardware with new hardware is a cheap way to update the look of your cabinets. Choose hardware that is modern and simple.
10. Power wash the exterior – Power washing the exterior of your house is a great way to make it look cleaner and newer. It can also remove any dirt or stains that have built up over time.
11. Power wash the driveway and garage floor – Cleaning the exterior of your house naturally makes it look better, but power washing items like the driveway and garage floor can make them seem brand new.
12. Replace exterior lighting – If you have old, outdated exterior lighting, then replace it with new bulbs and light covers. Make sure the areas around porch lights are free of cobwebs and insects.
13. Trim trees and shrubs and mow the lawn – Trees and shrubs that are overgrown or unkempt can make your house look run-down. Trimming them back and keeping them well-groomed makes the house appear more cared for. The same goes for the lawn. A well-manicured lawn gives the impression of a well-maintained home.
14. Add a fresh coat of stain or paint to wooden decks and porches – If you have a wooden deck or porch, adding a fresh coat of stain or paint will help protect it from the elements and keep it looking new.
15. Clean gutters – Gutters that are clogged with debris and leaves can make your house look uncared for. Cleaning your gutters is an easy way to improve the exterior appearance of your home.
16. Add new landscaping – Adding new landscaping, such as flowers, plants, and shrubs, can really enhance the look of your house. Choose plants that are in season and add pops of color to the yard.
17. Stage your house for sale – The way your house looks when you put it on the market is extremely important. Staging it in a way that makes it look its best will help ensure that you get top dollar. Remove any clutter or unwanted items. Pack away anything you won’t need between now and when you move. Store any big items like china cabinets, unused desks, hutches, dressers, or anything bulky that will make rooms look smaller and stuffy. Pack up all of your personal items like collectibles, portraits of family or friends, books and magazines, religious decor, or any other item that represents your personality. You want a clean slate for buyers to imagine their own things on the walls and in the rooms.
18. Consider a pre-sale home inspection and appraisal – If you’re really serious about getting top dollar for your house, then consider having it inspected by a pre-sale home inspector. This is an inspector who specializes in finding any potential problems with the property so that you can address them before putting it on the market. This will give buyers peace of mind and show them that you’re taking every step possible to ensure that the house is in great condition. It may also encourage them to make a higher offer. An appraiser will assess the home for its current market value, including how well it has aged. Appraisers tend to measure in increments of $500, so taking advice from a listing appraisal to make additional improvements could raise the bank’s appraisal by at least that much.
19. Add smart devices – Adding smart devices like an outdoor camera, security system, or video doorbell can make your house seem more secure. This is a relatively inexpensive way to increase the value of your home without spending too much money. Smart thermostats are also popular upgrades that won’t break the bank.
20. Talk with your real estate agent – Your agent can give you advice on which improvements will yield the most return for your investment. Real estate agents are experts with insights into current market trends and home values. Ask a professional agent to tour your home with you, inside and out, to discover more ways that you can increase your home’s value.

There are plenty of inexpensive ways that you can make small upgrades and updates to help your house appraise for more and influence a buyer’s perceived value. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars or do a complete renovation. Ask your agent for more information about how to increase the sale price of your home.

There are always things to do in order to get your home ready to put on the market. Some are large ticket items, some small, and some may not be necessary at all. It takes a pair of skilled eyes to help you separate the must-do from the don’t-bother. An experienced, savvy real estate agent can assist you in deciding how to put your checklist together.

For example, your aged kitchen may really need a makeover, but that’s a very expensive project. So, you’re thinking about simply putting on new countertops to give the room a little punch. Your agent might agree or might say that’s only putting a bandaid on something that needs a total facelift. Your new countertops could stand out like a sore thumb instead of helping the kitchen’s appearance. New owners may want to do the complete remodel themselves and your new countertops will be ripped out anyway.

Another example: suppose there’s a large crack running down the corner of your living room wall all the way from the vaulted ceiling to the wainscoting. It has been there for years…in fact, you really never notice it anymore, so you plan to just leave it. Your agent will probably tell you that home hunters will spot that crack quickly and suspect it was caused by foundation problems. Fix the crack and repaint; it’s not an expensive job.

Agents are experts at evaluating what needs to be done. Your agent will tour your property inside and out to show you what needs to be done to attract qualified buyers. It is very difficult to look at your own home with an objective eye. You need to look at it the way prospective buyers will, and that’s a difficult task. It’s hard to see flaws after living with them for years. It also can be very emotional because your home is full of memories and your individual decorating choices. Deciding what to change or repair to give it a more neutral appearance can be a sensitive issue. You need an agent to walk you through the process.

Your final checklist will fall into three categories.

1. The unnecessary ones are either items that won’t make much difference to getting the house sold, or they are just too expensive for you to tackle in advance of putting it on the market.
2. Simple items are frequently cosmetic changes or quick, affordable replacements.
3. Serious issues are unavoidable and must be addressed before listing the house. These are the kinds of repairs you must do or risk having an interested buyer worry that your home may have multiple problems.

Your real estate agent is critical in helping you complete your final checklist. Once that step is complete, you can work through it until your house is ready to be staged, photographed, and listed.

Here’s an important tip:  don’t think you can hide major problems because any major issues will be discovered during the buyer’s professional inspection. Expensive surprises during inspection could scare away buyers looking for a turnkey house ready to occupy immediately. Also, many states have disclosure rules. Some require the seller to answer any question asked by the potential buyers. Others require the seller to voluntarily disclose any problems once the house is on the market.

You may be tempted to save some money and sell your home without the help of a real estate agent. You will likely regret that choice because of the concerns discussed here. In addition, your agent will give you excellent service in pricing your home, understanding the local market, publicizing your sale, and helping you negotiate the massive number of legal and regulatory requirements that you will have at closing. Make the right choice, and hire a valuable partner for your home sale, one of the largest financial transactions of your life.

 

Spring is here along with a new growing season. It’s time to get everything ready for new bedding plants, a beautiful summer lawn, and thriving trees and shrubbery. Hit all the points on this checklist, and you’ll be set to go. 

Make a Plan

A beautiful garden needs lots of preparation and maintenance. Develop a plan so you can give your carefully chosen plants a good growing season. Check your zone to see which plants thrive in your area. Refer to any notes you made about last year’s garden. If you don’t keep a gardening journal, now is a good time to start one. You will find that having notes on last year’s success and failures is an excellent basis for developing your plan. For flower beds, consider a variety of heights, colors, and textures to create a lovely vista with different blooms appearing from early spring until frost.

Tools and Supplies

Start with getting your tools ready since you can’t garden without them! Pull out all your spades, trowels, hoes, and clippers. Clean them well, and sharpen their edges. Oil them to remove rust and prevent any new corrosion. You will find it much easier to dig in the dirt with sharp tools.

Replenish supplies, including potting soil, mulch, soil additives, and fertilizer. Decide on any structures you might need, such as trellises, tomato cages, or stakes. Perhaps you need a new wheelbarrow or wagon. Treat yourself to a new pair of gardening gloves. Get everything you need so you are ready for the day when the sun is shining and the soil is warm enough for your seeds and new plants. 

Spring Cleaning

It’s time to clear out all the debris that gathered in your yard over the winter. Rake up brown dry leaves from all the corners and beds. Clip off dead stalks or vines from your perennials. Well composted mulch from last year can stay and be incorporated into the soil, but the rest needs to be raked away.

It’s never too early to weed, so start now. Get them out before any of their seeds germinate or they establish long roots.  Weeds will proliferate quickly and fight your plants for space in the garden. When possible, weed after it rains so the soil is soft and you can more easily pluck out their entire root system. 

Soil Prep

Soil gets compacted during the winter and needs to be loosened by tilling or turning. Once all the old leaves, sticks and debris are gone, you can work in soil nutrients, compost, and other amendments. Wait for a sunny day with dry soil. Soil prep enriches the dirt and breaks it up to allow better penetration of the nutrients, air, and water. You are looking for a consistency of loose cake crumbs. Rake it smooth and water lightly so it settles. Fertilize as needed for the plants you choose.

Prune Late Summer Bloomers

Spring is the right time for pruning some of your shrubs and trees. Leave the early bloomers alone because their buds are in place and will blossom soon. Feel free to prune others that bloom in summer. Their buds will appear on new wood that starts to grow in late spring so they are safe to trim now. 

Maintain Everything

Once your plants are in the ground, give everything a nice layer of mulch. It will help hold water on hot summer days while keeping the weeds down. Be sure to mulch around trees too, but don’t pile it up against the trunks. Don’t mulch areas where you are waiting for seeds to sprout, but do it around the plants as soon as they have germinated. Edge the lawn, and follow good lawn maintenance practices. Regularly deadhead the flowers that require it, weed all the time, prune, and tidy the lawn throughout the growing season. You’ll be rewarded with the fun of seeing your plants thrive which will provide a beautiful view of your lawn throughout the spring and summer seasons. 

Fall is a beautiful time of year! If you have your home on the market, make the most of the season to boost its curb appeal. If you have a gorgeous red maple or golden yellow aspen in your front yard, you already have a great head start. Make a list of the most important changes you need to do to win that vital first impression. As trees and shrubbery begin to lose their leaves, more of your home is exposed, so you might need to power wash or paint. Here are more suggestions to get you started.

Focus on the Front Door
Your front door is the focal point of your home. Whether you have a simple stoop or a wide front porch, this is the place to start with your fall facelift.

• Give your front door some zing with a new paint color or refresh the current one.
• Polish the door handle, lock, and knocker. If they are too tarnished, replace them.
• Make sure the mailbox or mail slot look sharp. Replace them if they have aged too much. The same goes for your house numbers.
• If you have a porch swing or furniture, give them a cozy autumn look with a warm throw and coordinating pillows. If your furniture has cushions, make sure they aren’t worn or moldy from being wet.
• Wash the windows and repair any cracks in the glass.
• Sweep away cobwebs and knock down wasp nests.
• Add a new welcome mat, perhaps with a seasonal theme. A new mat is practical as well as inviting.

Plant Fall Flowers
As summer flowers fade, replace them with autumn favorites in the rich colors of fall. Mums. asters, pansies and kale are always popular and come in many vibrant shades. Check to see what varieties thrive well in your area. Take a look at your flower boxes, planters, garden beds and hanging baskets. If you don’t want to redo them, then clear away all the withered plants and blossoms. If you think the garden still looks shaggy, a fresh layer of mulch would make the beds appear more tailored. Trim uneven shrubbery and clip out dead branches from bushes and trees.

Skip the Scarecrows
It can be fun to go all out with an array of traditional autumn decorations like hay bales, cornstalks, and Halloween spooks. You need to forego those this year while your home is on the market. Instead choose a wreath of fall foliage and berries for the door. A simple arrangement of a few pumpkins and a potted chrysanthemum or two will look great. Here’s a tip: cover live pumpkins with a light coating of peppermint or garlic oil to keep squirrels and other critters from nibbling on them.

Clear Leaves Off the Lawn
Keep your lawn cut and well trimmed throughout the growing season. A few scattered leaves give a pleasant, seasonal look to the yard, but too many look untidy. An accumulation of leaves can damage the grass and result in ugly dead spots. Keep your walkway and driveway swept clean, especially in advance of a showing. Gutters must have a neat appearance as well, so clean them out and consider installing leaf guards for the best effect.

Light It Up
It will be dark earlier so make sure your home is easy to see from the street and your sidewalks safe for visitors. If your front porch is too dimly lit, illuminate it with new lights or lanterns and use bright, long-lasting LED bulbs. Line walkways with lights; solar ones work well and need no power besides the sun. Strategically placed flood lights can make a beautiful improvement.You might want to use motion-sensor lights for added security and for lighting your driveway and sidewalk.

To sell your home quickly and for top dollar, you must make it look pristine and beautiful. The change of seasons from steamy summer to cool autumn brimming with fall colors can give you great curb appeal. Make your home a stand out in the autumn real estate market.

The arrival of the coronavirus, COVID-19, has changed virtually every aspect of life, including the momentum of real estate sales. Some home sellers are waiting, hoping that the situation improves as we find a new normal. Others have decided to put their homes on the market because of urgent reasons, such as a job transfer, financial difficulties, or an expanding family. Since we can’t hope to return to pre-pandemic real estate norms any time soon, sellers must adapt to get a “For Sale” in the yard and their property sold.

Although the current inventory is lower than normal, the demand for homes continues to be quite high throughout the country. A low inventory can definitely work to your advantage, but you and your real estate agent must figure out the best way to show your home safely and efficiently.

Nearly all home buyers shop online, but this method of marketing has never been more crucial. Virtual tours, including 3-D tours, make your property available for viewing 24/7. Your agent can conduct tours via Facetime on cell phones or tablets, through narrated videos that move viewers through the rooms, or using tools such as Facebook Live. Make sure your agent is willing to give your video the time it takes to be excellent and professional. This is not the time to depend on a few nice photos to entice buyers.

Your home must look its best for videos and for still photos featured in your online presentation. The majority of buyers want a home that is “move-in” ready. Pictures can show no flaws, so make sure your home is spotless with all personal items and clutter completely cleared away. Staging is imperative to make your house appealing; don’t skip this important step.

Be thoughtful and careful with pricing your home. Your agent can help you with a strategy so you don’t overprice your home. In an uncertain economy, buyers will be cautious. It is more likely for buyers to jump at a bargain now than to pay a premium or get into a bidding war.

Social distancing requirements and safe hygiene procedures are discouraging many sellers and agents from holding traditional open houses. In fact, they may be completely banned in your community. How agents are allowed to conduct actual showings may vary according to HOA requirements, city regulations, and personal comfort levels.

However, if you decide to allow potential buyers into your home, take every precaution to stay safe. Ask that all appointments be scheduled through your agent. Only one or two people should come for a viewing, but no children should come inside at all. Hand sanitizer, masks, disposable gloves and booties should be provided. Leave lights on to discourage visitors from flipping light switches. Leave all doors open and closet doors cracked a bit so no one needs to touch your door knobs. Ask accompanying agents to be the only person to open cupboards and drawers as their clients request and ask them to do it holding a disinfecting wipe. You may want to provide a document asking all visitors to sign in by confirming that they have no COVID-19 symptoms and that they have not been in recent contact with anyone who does. After each showing, disinfect all counter tops, door knobs, cupboard pulls, faucets, and light switches.

Note that people who want to make actual visits to your home are those who have real interest in it. Buyers are not touring dozens of houses in person as they would have before the coronavirus. If your home is on their short list, it is because they were impressed by your online presentation.

When you receive an offer, have your agent email it to you and review it together over the phone. Because you must sign original documents, have your agent leave the papers outside your door or in your mailbox. When you have signed, put them back outside for her to pick up. During this time of social distancing, closing companies are able to use software that allows them to conduct the closing remotely. Ask your agent to use a company that is willing to do this. If you do have to go in person, request a minimum number of people in the room. If you co-own the property with a spouse or partner, you might want to take turns going in to sign. Don’t be surprised if the closing period is 60 days or longer instead of the more standard 30 days. Title companies may be short staffed if they have chosen to furlough some of their staff. Many people are choosing to refinance now which increases the title companies’ work load. Home inspections may take longer and getting repairs complete might take longer, too.

The COVID-19 situation is evolving constantly and you must be flexible to get your home sold. You and your agent should be able to come up with creative strategies to find a buyer and complete this complex transaction.